OSU wrestling downs Nebraska

OSU wrestling defeated No. 6 Nebraska, 22-12, in wrestling on Sunday afternoon at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The Cowboys won six of 10 bouts, with No. 2 Sergio Vega (141) and No. 7 Troy Spratley (125) collecting pivotal bonus points. The win improved the Cowboys to 8-1, while the loss dropped the Cornhuskers to 6-3. The win is OSU’s second over Nebraska this season, with the first coming in the third-place match of the National Duals Invitational in November. Additionally, the Cowboys now have five ranked wins this season, including three top-10 wins. 

“Great environment here today,” coach David Taylor said. “This was a really good match for both programs. They have a really good team, and it was a great dual.

We had some good and some bad things, but that’s the way things go. I’m grateful to be able to get this win.”

The most anticipated match of the afternoon was No. 2 Vega against returning three-time All-American No. 3 Brock Hardy. Vega picked up a major decision win in their meeting at the National Duals and followed it up with a first-period pin in today’s action to mark the first time Hardy has been pinned in his career. The true freshman now has four top-10 wins just eight bouts into his college career. 

As exciting as that win was, the dual-clinching moment came at 197 pounds. With the Cowboys leading 16-12 and two bouts to go, No. 7 Cody Merrill l rode out No. 12 Camden McDanel in the third period to take a 2-1 win and seal the dual for the Cowboys. The win was Merrill’s second over McDanel and fourth of the season. 

No. 17 Casey Swiderski (149) picked up a dominant 7-2 upset win over No. 5 Chance Lamer in his first dual action of the season for the Cornhuskers. The win is Swiderski’s sixth in his last seven matches and marks his first ranked win as a Cowboy. 

The Cowboys’ lead-off man, No. 7 Spratley, picked up his fourth consecutive win with his major decision over Kael Lauridsen. Spratley has now collected bonus points in both contests against Nebraska against two different opponents. 

No. 2 Dee Lockett (165), another true freshman, earned his fourth ranked win on the season with a 4-1 win over No. 10 LJ Araujo in sudden victory. The win improves Lockett to 8-0 on the season and marks his third top-10 win on the season.

No. 7 Konner Doucet (HWT) took care of business to wrap up Sunday’s victory with a 2-1 win over Cade Ziola. The win is Doucet’s fourth in a row and improves him to 8-1 in his final season. 

True freshman No. 2 Landon Robideau (157) had the first loss of his collegiate career to returning NCAA champion and sixth-ranked Antrell Taylor in a tightly-contested bout. 

No. 21 Ronnie Ramirez, No. 13 Alex Facundo and No. 10 Zack Ryder also dropped their bouts to top-10 foes. 

The Cowboys are back in action in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Jan. 3 at the Southern Scuffle, and return to dual action inside Gallagher-Iba Arena on January 11 against Oklahoma. 

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