PHILADELPHIA - Taking 15 victories on the day, the Nebraska wrestling team is sending three Huskers to title bouts in the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships. NU notched numerous program-bests in Sessions III and IV, and seeks to bring NCAA hardware home as the tournament’s medal and championship bouts take place Sunday, March 23.

The Huskers' fiery day two performance notched a 15-6 record between the two sessions. NU closed the day second in team standings, with 101.5 points, the most in program history. The Big Red garnered three finalists, tying the team best of three in 1984. Nebraska also tallied eight All-American claims, a team record. Ridge Lovett (149) also joined the Huskers’ 100-Win Club, the 32nd to accomplish the feat all-time.

Session III action began on Friday morning, with quarterfinal and wrestleback bouts at 125. No. 9 Caleb Smith took the mat first, where he and No. 23 Tanner Jordan (SDSU) had a tight 4-4 regulation matchup. The pair went to SV-1, where Smith shot and scored with a takedown for the 7-4 win, improving to 12-2 all-time in SV-1, and sticking around in consolations. At 133, No. 17 Jacob Van Dee was next, claiming a 4-2 decision against No. 18 Julian Farber (UNI).

The first Big Red quarterfinal bout of the day, No. 1 Brock Hardy (141) met No. 9 Jacob Frost (ISU) on the mat. The Husker knocked off Frost in 4:13 with a fall, to claim his third All-American honor, a spot in the semifinals and his fourth-straight bonus-point win. Next up in the quarterfinals was a Big Ten Championship rematch at 149, with No. 2 Ridge Lovett facing No. 7 Kannon Webster (ILL). Lovett put up 12 against Webster, to shut him out with a 12-0 major decision to become a four-time All American, and book his matchup for the semifinals.

In the 157 quarterfinals, No. 3 Antrell Taylor took on No. 11 Matty Bianchi (UALR). In a close bout, the sophomore Husker came out on top, defeating Bianchi 4-3 for the semis spot and his second All-American honor. At 165, No. 12 Christopher Minto and No. 4 Terrell Barraclough (UVU) met in the quarterfinal. Minto trailed the No. 4 seed for the majority of the bout, but used a last-second takedown to upset Barraclough with an 8-7 victory. In his first NCAA Tournament appearance, the redshirt freshman became an All-American with his fourth top-10 win, and moved on to the round of 12.

No. 8 Lenny Pinto (174) was up next, against No. 23 MJ Gaitan (ISU) in wrestlebacks. The Husker made quick work of the bout, notching his 13th tech. fall of this season, this one 18-1 in 1:53. In the 184 quarterfinal, No. 12 Silas Allred faced No. 4 Dustin Plott (OKST). Plott, the 2024 NCAA runner-up, led the whole bout, and defeated Allred 12-5.

At 197, No. 20 Camden McDanel won 4-1 over No. 19 Andy Smith to keep his tournament run alive. Back up at 125, No. 9 Smith took on his second wrestleback match, and grabbed a 4-1 decision over No. 16 Blake West (NIU). No. 17 Van Dee (133) kept it going for NU, with a 9-3 win against No. 23 Sean Spidle (CMU). At 174, No. 8 Pinto notched bonus points for the Big Red, defeating SoCon Champion No. 17 Sergio Desiante (CHAT), 15-7, for a major decision. To close the session, No. 20 McDanel (197) claimed a 9-3 upset against No. 11 Luke Stout (PRIN).

The Huskers closed the Friday morning session with 65.5 points, landing a second-place team standing with four semi finalists with All-American status. All nine from NU stayed alive, to continue tournament bouts in the round of 12 Friday evening.

Session IV began at the Wells Fargo Center with a bang for the Big Red, as No. 9 Smith (125) earned his second-straight All-American honors with an SV-1 win over No. 6 Jett Strickenberger (WVU). It was the Husker’s third SV-1 victory in this NCAA Tournament alone. At 133, No. 17 Van Dee followed suit, defeating No. 21 Angelo Rini (IND) 4-2 to achieve his first All-American honor. The sophomore won four consecutive matches to do so, putting his season win total at 18. Both Smith (5-4 to No. 2 Matt Ramos (PUR)) and Van Dee (4-2 No. 8 Braeden Davis (PSU)) dropped their following bouts, but are set to compete for seventh on Saturday morning.

Kicking off semi final matches for the Big Red, No. 1 Hardy (141) faced No. 5 Cael Happel (UNI). After dropping his bout at UNI to Happel in January, the junior avenged his loss with an 11-4 decision, booking his spot in the title match. The win was the Husker’s 14th straight. Hardy will take on No. 3 Jesse Mendez (OHST) in the final.

At 149, No. 2 Ridge Lovett met No. 3 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) on the semifinal mat. The Husker used a huge first period lead to take his 100th career victory, 14-8, and return to his second NCAA final. Lovett will face No. 1 Caleb Henson (VT) in the championship match. No. 3 Antrell Taylor (157) was up next, against No. 2 Meyer Shapiro (COR) in his semifinal bout. The Husker pulled off a dominant 7-2 upset performance, securing the sophomore a spot in the final against familiar foe No. 8 Joey Blaze (PUR).

Next, No. 12 Minto took on No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) in the 165 semifinal. The undefeated top-seed defeated Minto 13-2, but the Husker continues his campaign on Saturday morning in the consolation semifinals.

Back in the wrestleback bracket, No. 8 Lenny Pinto (174) faced No. 5 Simon Ruiz (COR), but lost in a tight 2-1 decision, ending the junior’s NCAA run. At 184, No. 12 Silas Allred claimed All-American status, defeating No. 15 Dylan Fishback (NCST) 4-0. Allred lost in his last bout of the day, 8-1 to No. 8 Jaxon Smith (MD), but will wrestle for seventh on Saturday morning.

At 197, No. 20 Camden McDanel became the first true freshman Husker All-American since James Green in 2011-12, after he defeated No. 24 Gabe Sollars (IND), 7-3. McDanel dropped his next consolation match, 4-2, to No. 15 Joseph Novak (WYO), but will wrestle for seventh on Saturday morning.

Final Matchups
141: No. 1 Brock Hardy vs No. 3 Jesse Mendez (OHST)
149: No. 2 Ridge Lovett vs No. 1 Caleb Henson (VT)
157: No. 3 Antrell Taylor vs. No. 8 Joey Blaze (PUR)

Up Next
The 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships wrap up on Saturday, March 22, with Session V to start at 10 a.m. (CT). The medal rounds will be broadcast on ESPNU. Action resumes at 6 p.m. (CT) on ESPN for Session VI, championship bouts.

Team Standings
1. Penn State (135.5)
2. Nebraska (101.5)
3. Oklahoma State (91.0)
4. Iowa (73.5)
5. Minnesota (47.0)
6. Cornell (46.0)
7. Northern Iowa (44.5)
8. Ohio State (44.0)
9. Illinois (40.5)
10. Virginia Tech (40.0)

125: No. 9 Caleb Smith (4-2) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 23-7 won in sudden victory - 1 over Nick Babin (Pittsburgh) 13-11 (SV-1 3-0)
Champ. Round 2 - Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh) 22-4 won by decision over Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 23-7 (Dec 7-3)
Cons. Round 2 - Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 23-7 won in sudden victory - 1 over Tanner Jordan (South Dakota State) 24-10 (SV-1 7-4)
Cons. Round 3 - Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 23-7 won by decision over Blake West (Northern Illinois) 24-7 (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 4 - Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 23-7 won in sudden victory - 1 over Jett Strickenberger (West Virginia) 19-8 (SV-1 12-9)
Cons. Round 5 - Matt Ramos (Purdue) 30-2 won by decision over Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 23-7 (Dec 5-4)

133: No. 17 Jacob Van Dee (4-2) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Ryan Miller (Pennsylvania) 23-8 won by decision over Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 18-11 (Dec 8-4)
Cons. Round 1 - Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 18-11 won by major decision over Hunter Leake (California Baptist) 7-10 (MD 13-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 18-11 won by decision over Julian Farber (Northern Iowa) 18-8 (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round 3 - Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 18-11 won by decision over Sean Spidle (Central Michigan) 29-11 (Dec 9-3)
Cons. Round 4 - Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 18-11 won by major decision over Angelo Rini (Indiana) 22-11 (MD 8-0)
Cons. Round 5 - Braeden Davis (Penn State) 16-6 won by decision over Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 18-11 (Dec 4-2)

141: No. 1 Brock Hardy (4-0) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 27-3 won by major decision over Nash Singleton (Oregon State) 13-11 (MD 12-3)
Champ. Round 2 - Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 27-3 won by tech fall over Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven) 27-6 (TF-1.5 6:17 (19-3))
Quarterfinal - Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 27-3 won by fall over Jacob Frost (Iowa State) 33-9 (Fall 4:13)
Semifinal - Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 27-3 won by decision over Cael Happel (Northern Iowa) 27-4 (Dec 11-4)

149: No. 2 Ridge Lovett (4-0) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 24-2 won by decision over Sam Cartella (Northwestern) 16-12 (Dec 10-8)
Champ. Round 2 - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 24-2 won by tech fall over Ty Whalen (Princeton) 21-5 (TF-1.5 6:09 (15-0))
Quarterfinal - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 24-2 won by major decision over Kannon Webster (Illinois) 16-8 (MD 12-0)
Semifinal - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 24-2 won by decision over Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) 23-3 (Dec 14-8)

157: No. 3 Antrell Taylor (4-0) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 26-4 won by tech fall over James Conway (Missouri) 18-17 (TF-1.5 5:55 (19-4))
Champ. Round 2 - Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 26-4 won by fall over Jude Swisher (Pennsylvania) 26-9 (Fall 2:16)
Quarterfinal - Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 26-4 won by decision over Matty Bianchi (Little Rock) 26-6 (Dec 4-3)
Semifinal - Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 26-4 won by decision over Meyer Shapiro (Cornell) 14-2 (Dec 7-2)

165: No. 12 Christopher Minto (3-1) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 22-6 won by major decision over Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) 13-7 (MD 13-1)
Champ. Round 2 - Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 22-6 won by major decision over Julian Ramirez (Cornell) 23-3 (MD 11-1)
Quarterfinal - Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 22-6 won by decision over Terrell Barraclough (Utah Valley) 31-3 (Dec 8-7)
Semifinal - Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) 26-0 won by major decision over Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 22-6 (MD 13-2)

174: No. 8 Lenny Pinto DNP (3-2)
Champ. Round 1 - Dalton Harkins (Army West Point) 21-11 won by decision over Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 25-7 (Dec 6-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 25-7 won in sudden victory - 1 over Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) 14-5 (SV-1 12-7)
Cons. Round 2 - Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 25-7 won by tech fall over MJ Gaitan (Iowa State) 17-11 (TF-1.5 1:53 (18-1))
Cons. Round 3 - Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 25-7 won by major decision over Sergio Desiante (Chattanooga) 23-4 (MD 15-7)
Cons. Round 4 - Simon Ruiz (Cornell) 25-6 won by decision over Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 25-7 (Dec 2-1)

184: No. 12 Silas Allred (3-2) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Silas Allred (Nebraska) 22-8 won by fall over Malachi DuVall (George Mason) 20-7 (Fall 6:38)
Champ. Round 2 - Silas Allred (Nebraska) 22-8 won by fall over Bennett Berge (South Dakota State) 27-7 (Fall 6:42)
Quarterfinal - Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State) 21-5 won by decision over Silas Allred (Nebraska) 22-8 (Dec 12-5)
Cons. Round 4 - Silas Allred (Nebraska) 22-8 won by decision over Dylan Fishback (NC State) 16-8 (Dec 4-0)
Cons. Round 5 - Jaxon Smith (Maryland) 24-8 won by decision over Silas Allred (Nebraska) 22-8 (Dec 8-1)

197: No. 20 Camden McDanel (4-2) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Trey Munoz (Oregon State) 11-5 won by decision over Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 24-13 (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round 1 - Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 24-13 won by major decision over Tucker Hogan (Lock Haven) 22-8 (MD 13-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 24-13 won by decision over Andy Smith (Virginia Tech) 14-9 (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 3 - Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 24-13 won by decision over Luke Stout (Princeton) 16-4 (Dec 9-3)
Cons. Round 4 - Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 24-13 won by decision over Gabe Sollars (Indiana) 19-13 (Dec 7-3)
Cons. Round 5 - Joseph Novak (Wyoming) 28-6 won by decision over Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 24-13 (Dec 4-2)

Huskers Edged by USC in Series Opener

Nebraska opened its weekend series at USC with a 5-3 loss to the Trojans at Great Park on Friday night in Irvine, Calif.

Nebraska (9-12, 1-6 Big Ten) scored three runs on five hits, while USC (13-8, 3-4 Big Ten) totaled five runs and nine hits.

Dylan Carey was 1-for-4 with a two-RBI double, and Tyler Stone went 1-for-4 with an RBI double. Devin Nunez, Robby Bolin and Colin Cymbalista posted one hit apiece.

Will Walsh dropped to 2-4 on the season after giving up four runs on eight hits in six innings. The southpaw struck out six batters and issued zero free passes. Drew Christo pitched the final two innings, surrendering one run on one hit with two strikeouts.

A pair of hits in the bottom of the first had the Trojans out front 1-0 through one. A one-out triple off the center-field wall, followed by an RBI single to right, gave USC its early lead.

Four straight two-out hits from the USC offense in the bottom of the third grew the lead to 4-0 for the Trojans. Two consecutive singles had runners on first and second, before a two-RBI double to left field made it a three-run game. An RBI single down the left-field line after the RBI double plated one more for the Trojans.

Nebraska tallied three runs on four hits to make it a one-run game in the fourth frame. Leadoff walks to Nunez and Cayden Brumbaugh had runners on first and second with no outs, while Stone lifted an RBI double to center to score Nunez.

Carey followed Stone’s double by lacing a two-RBI double down the left-field line to plate Brumbaugh and Stone and bring the Big Red within 4-3 through four innings.

USC doubled its lead to 5-3 with a leadoff solo homer to right to begin the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Huskers were retired in order in the eighth and ninth innings to clinch the 5-3 series-opening win for USC on Friday night.

Nebraska and USC continue the weekend series tomorrow afternoon at Great Park in Irvine, Calif. First pitch between the Huskers and Trojans is set for 4 p.m. CT on B1G+.

Huskers Open Series With Dominant Win

Behind a balanced offense and a one-hit shutout from Jordyn Bahl, the No. 21 Nebraska softball team only took six innings to down the Minnesota Golden Gophers, 8-0, on Friday night at Bowlin Stadium.

Seven different athletes notched at least one hit for the Huskers (21-8, 2-1 Big Ten), including two from both Hannah and Lauren Camenzind and Kacie Hoffmann. Hoffmann’s came in the form of a three-run homer in the bottom of the third, her fifth home run of the season. 

Bahl claimed the win in the circle to move to 11-3 on the season. In 6.0 innings, she allowed only an infield single while striking out seven batters. Natalie Susa (1-1) took the loss for the Gophers, who moved to 13-16 on the season (2-3 Big Ten). 

NU had 10 hits on the day, including eight with runners on base. Bahl and the Husker defense held Minnesota to just 1-of-18 at the plate. 

The Big Red took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Ava Kuszak walked to open the inning and H. Camenzind reached first on a hit up the middle. Olivia DiNardo got to first, an error sent H. Camenzind to second and Kuszak went to third to load the bases. Kuszak got out on a throw home, but Hoffmann reached to keep runners on every base. A L. Camenzind single scored H. Camenzind and Hoffmann crossed the plate on a Gopher error.

Hoffmann knocked a three-run homer in the bottom of the third to score H. Camenzind, who walked, and Katelyn Caneda, who pinch ran for DiNardo. NU led 5-0 going into the fourth.

The Huskers extended the lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the fifth. Hoffmann singled and Kennadi Williams came in to pinch run. She was then scored by a L. Camenzind double. A Bland groundout advanced L. Camenzind to third and a Bacon single sent her to the plate. 

Nebraska wrapped up the run-rule victory in the bottom of the sixth. Kuszak walked to get to first and advanced to third on a H. Camenzind double. DiNardo singled to center field to score Kuszak, and the Big Red clinched the 8-0, six-inning victory.

NU will face off against the Gophers again tomorrow, March 22 at 1 p.m. (CT). The game will be televised on Nebraska Public Media, streamed on B1G+ and heard across the Huskers Radio Network. 

Postgame Notes

• Jordyn Bahl extended her hitting streak to 13 games with a single in the third inning.
• Bahl allowed no runs for the fifth start this season and zero earned runs for the eighth start.
• Kacie Hoffmann has five home runs this season, including two three-run homers. 
• The Huskers are now 21-2 when they hit at least one home run. 
• Nebraska is now up to 15 run-rule victories this season. The most run-rule wins by a Husker team is 17 in 2015. 
• Samantha Bland tied her career high with six assists.