Rowe, Huskers upset No. 1 Penn State
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By the Lincoln Journal Star
Mike Rowe made the most of his first match of the college wrestling season.
The sophomore 141-pounder scored a 6-4 victory over second-ranked Jake Strayer to spark Nebraska to a 19-13 upset of No. 1 Penn State on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the NWCA National Duals tournament in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
It was the first time a Husker team had beaten a No. 1-ranked opponent since a 24-20 win against Iowa in the semifinals of the 1993 National Duals at the NU Coliseum.
Earlier Saturday, the 10th-ranked Huskers beat No. 9 Northwestern 25-9 in a first-round dual.
Rowe’s win capped a three-match Husker win streak to start the dual.
At 125 pounds, defending national champion Paul Donahoe scored a takedown with two seconds left in the second period to break a 2-2 tie and went on to a 13-4 major decision win over seventh-ranked Mark McKnight, giving NU a 4-0 lead.
No. 8-ranked Kenny Jordan scored only an escape and a riding-time bonus in beating Tim Haas 2-0 at 133 to put the Huskers up 7-0.
Then came Rowe’s gritty debut. He overcame a bloodied forehead in the second period and scored a reversal with a minute left in the third period to regain the lead at 5-4 and held on for the win.
“I found out after the (Northwestern) match. About a half hour later, coach came to me and said ‘be ready,’ ” Rowe said. “I’d been pressing hardcore in practice all season to get ready, so I came in (to the tournament) prepared for whatever match I had to wrestle. It’s a pretty good way to start the season.”
NU’s Jordan Burroughs (149) and Chris Oliver (157) dropped decisions in the next two matches as Penn State closed the gap to 10-6.
But Stephen Dwyer (165), Brandon Browne (174) and Vince Jones (184) won the next three matches to clinch the Husker victory.
Nebraska coach Mark Manning said the win against Penn State tested his team physically and emotionally.
“Up and down the lineup, we showed a lot of fight and showed that our conditioning is real good,” Manning said. “We came out and did battle, went toe-to-toe with the No. 1 team in the country and we did it at every weight class. This team showed a lot of character.”
In today’s semifinals, the Huskers face a familiar foe — No. 6-ranked Minnesota, the defending national champion. A month ago, the Golden Gophers beat a short-handed NU 25-13 in Minneapolis. The Huskers forfeited two matches because two starters — Donahoe and Oliver — were injured.
Manning said that familiarity with Minnesota could help the Huskers achieve their goal today.
“Today was really nice, but there’s not much time to think about it and enjoy it,” Manning said. “Right now, we’re putting ourselves in position to possibly win this tournament.
“Obviously, we have two tough opponents tomorrow, but we’ve got to wrestle well. It’s going to take another great effort.”
Briefly
* No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney and No. 2 Nebraska-Omaha held off upset bids to reach today’s semifinals. The Lopers beat Carson-Newman 35-6 in the first round, then needed a pinfall victory from top-ranked heavyweight Tervel Dlagnev to beat Western State 19-18 in the quarterfinals. The Mavericks outlasted Mercyhurst 21-13 in the opener before facing No. 7 Ashland in the quarters. Both teams advance to semifinal matches today at 11 a.m.
* In the NAIA meet, No. 6-seeded Dana lost both of its matches — 32-10 to Oklahoma City and 29-12 to Missouri Valley — and was eliminated.
— Karl Vogel
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