In a tight Big Ten road battle, the No. 7 Nebraska wrestling team fell 16-19 at No. 3 Iowa on Friday night. Despite two upset bout wins, the Huskers lost their second conference dual of the season in Iowa City. 

The conference dual started at 125, with #8 Caleb Smith taking the mat against #26 Joey Cruz. Smith used an escape and the ride time point to push past the Hawkeye and get three on the board for the Big Red, winning 2-1, and notching his 99th career win. After a tough loss last weekend, #15 Jacob Van Dee met Iowa’s #3 Drake Ayala at 133. The tight top-15 bout ended in the Hawkeye’s favor, Ayala winning with a 4-2 decision.

Up at 141, #6 Brock Hardy notched bonus points over Cullan Schriever. The junior used takedowns, an escape and ride time to dominate the Hawkeye in a 14-2 major decision, pushing the team score to Nebraska 7, Iowa 3. A top-five battle was up next at 149, the third-ever meeting for #2 Ridge Lovett and #4 Kyle Parco. In a tight bout with a scoreless first period, Parco came out on top, defeating Lovett with a 3-2 decision. The loss was Lovett’s first in a dual this season, and third to Parco. At 157, #4 Antrell Taylor faced Miguel Estrada. Taylor defeated the Hawkeye with a 4-2 decision, putting another three on the board for the Big Red, and claiming his 40th career win.

Leading 10-6, and after an intermission, the top-10 bout at 165 started with #8 Christopher Minto and #2 Michael Caliendo. Caliendo took his 72nd career win over the redshirt freshman, with a 5-1 decision, cutting Nebraska’s lead to one. With the loss, Minto falls to 16-2 on the season. At 174, #14 Lenny Pinto pulled out a massive win over #6 Patrick Kennedy in a high-scoring bout. With less than 10 seconds in the third period and a tie-score with the Iowa ride time point, Pinto used four nearfall points to lock in the 15-11 win, and push the Big Red lead to four. The upset was Pinto’s 30th career dual win.

Taking the mat at 184, #8 Silas Allred and #5 Gabe Arnold met in a top-10 bout. After a scoreless first period, Allred took a 1-0 lead. Arnold evened the score, taking the match to sudden victory. The junior fought back, scoring with a takedown in overtime, to win 4-1, and extend the Huskers lead to seven. At 197, #20 Camden McDanel took on #1 Stephen Buchanan. The freshman battled Buchanan through three periods, but lost by fall in 6:52.

Only ahead by one, the heavyweights took the mat for the final bout of the night. Up against #11 Ben Keuter, Husker #21 Harley Andrews lost in a scoreless fight. Kueter defeated the sophomore 9-0, pushing the Hawkeyes ahead, to secure the 19-16 win.

The loss to No. 3 Iowa, by a margin of three, was the closest loss since 1987-88. The Huskers fell to 9-3, 4-2 Big Ten.

UP NEXT
The Huskers return home for their final home matchup of the season. Hosting #22 Indiana on Feb. 16 at 12:30 p.m., the dual will feature Senior Day celebrations and will be streamed on Big Ten Plus. 

No. 7 Nebraska 16, No. 3 Iowa 19
125: #8 Caleb Smith dec. #26 Joey Cruz (IOWA) 2-1 (NEB 3, IOWA 0)
133: #3 Drake Ayala (IOWA) dec. #15 Jacob Van Dee 4-2 (NEB 3, IOWA 3)
141: #6 Brock Hardy major dec. Cullan Schriever (IOWA) 14-3 (NEB 7, IOWA 3)
149: #4 Kyle Parco (IOWA) dec. #2 Ridge Lovett 3-2 (NEB 7, IOWA 6)
157: #4 Antrell Taylor dec. Miguel Estrada (IOWA) 4-2 (NEB 10, IOWA 6)
165: #2 Michael Caliendo (IOWA) dec. #8 Christopher Minto 5-1 (NEB 10, IOWA 9)
174: #14 Lenny Pinto dec. #6 Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) 15-11 (NEB 13, IOWA 9)
184: #8 Silas Allred dec. #5 Gabe Arnold (IOWA) SV-1 4-1 (NEB 16, IOWA 9)
197: #1 Stephen Buchanan (IOWA) pinned #20 Camden McDanel (6:52) (NEB 16, IOWA 15)
HWT: #11 Ben Kueter (IOWA) major dec. #21 Harley Andrews 9-0 (NEB 16, IOWA 19)

Huskers Post Second Straight Run-Rule Victory

The No. 19 Nebraska softball team (3-0) run-ruled its second opponent on Friday night as the Huskers downed Bethune-Cookman, 9-1, in five innings at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla.

Hannah Camenzind (1-0) grabbed the victory in the circle after walking zero batters and registering three strikeouts in four innings. Caitlin Olensky tossed a perfect fifth inning for the Big Red. Halyne Gonzalez (0-1) took the loss for the Wildcats (0-2). 

The Husker defense thrived and Bethune-Cookman did not hit a ball out of the infield all night. Bella Bacon notched a career-high nine putouts and Ava Kuszak had a career-high six assists. 

Lauren Camenzind produced three RBIs, which tied her career high. Camenzind and Samantha Bland each notched two hits.

Kuszak notched her second home run of the day to open the scoring against the Wildcats. Bland reached base on a double down the left field line and scored on two wild pitches to give the Huskers a 2-0 advantage.

Nebraska continued the damage in the bottom of the second, posting three runs and four hits. Bacon got to first, then stole second and was sent home on a Hannah Camenzind single. The hit also sent Abbie Squier, who walked as the previous batter, to third. Squier then scored on a throwing error and Hannah Camenzind reached home on a wild pitch as the Big Red stretched its lead to 5-0.

The Huskers kept it going in the bottom of the third, sparked by a Lauren Camenzind triple that scored both Hannah Camenzind and Squier. Lauren Camenzind crossed the plate after a Wildcat error and extended the advantage to 8-0.

Bethune-Cookman registered its first score of the game with an unearned run in the top of the fourth.

In the bottom of the fifth, Williams came in to pinch run for Squier, who doubled to right field. A Lauren Camenzind single scored Williams and locked up the 9-1 run-rule win for the Big Red.

The Huskers will continue play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic tomorrow, Feb. 8, by taking on No. 13 Texas Tech in a nationally televised matchup at 3 p.m. (CT). The game will be televised on MLB Network and can be heard across the Huskers Radio Network. 

Postgame Notes

• Hannah Camenzind recorded her first start and win in the circle for the Huskers. 
• Bella Bacon had a career-high nine putouts. 
• Ava Kuszak posted six assists, a career best. 
• Lauren Camenzind’s three RBIs tied her career high.
• The Huskers run-ruled two straight opponents on Friday, marking the first time that’s happened since NU had two run-rule victories on the same day in February of 2023.