Nebraska Cornhuskers wrestling

Nebraska Cornhuskers wrestling
Founded1911; 114 years ago (1911)
UniversityUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln
Athletic directorTroy Dannen
Head CoachMark Manning (25th season)
ConferenceBig Ten
LocationLincoln, Nebraska
ArenaBob Devaney Sports Center
(Capacity: 8,309)
NicknameCornhuskers
ColorsScarlet and cream[1]
   
NCAA individual champions
11
All-Americans
136
Conference Tournament championships
1911, 1915, 1924, 1949, 1993, 1995, 2009

The Nebraska Cornhuskers wrestling team competes as part of NCAA Division I, representing the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Big Ten Conference. Nebraska primarily hosted meets at the NU Coliseum from 1926 until moving to the larger Bob Devaney Sports Center in 2013.

Since its inception in 1911, the program has won seven conference tournament titles and produced eleven individual NCAA champions with 136 All-America selections. Rulon Gardner and Jordan Burroughs became Olympic gold medalists after their collegiate careers; Burroughs is the most decorated American wrestler of all-time and is considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers ever.[2][3]

The team has been coached by Mark Manning since 2000.

Conference affiliations

[edit]

Coaches

[edit]

Coaching history

[edit]
No. Coach Tenure Overall Conference
1 Raymond G. Clapp 1911–1927 17–17–1 (.500) 8–7 (.533)
2 John Kellogg 1928–1931 13–15–1 (.466) 9–10–1 (.475)
3 R. G. Lehman 1932 2–3 (.400)
4 Harold Ecklund
C. E. Thomas		 1933 0–2 (.000)
5 Jerry Adam 1934–1947 16–72–4 (.196) 5–26–2 (.182)
6 B. R. Patterson 1948–1950 13–18–1 (.422) 8–5–1 (.607)
7 Al Partin 1951–1954 15–24–4 (.395) 4–12 (.250)
8 Don Strasheim 1955–1957 3–25–0 (.107) 0–9 (.000)
9 Bill Smith 1958–1960 2–31–1 (.074) 0–11 (.000)
10 Mickey Sparano 1960–1961 5–3–1 (.611) 1–2 (.333)
11 Robert Mancuso 1961–1964 15–23–1 (.397) 4–8 (.333)
12 Orval Borgialli 1964–1978 72–106–6 (.408) 15–43–3 (.270)
13 Bob Fehrs 1978–1985 95–51–2 (.649) 6–24 (.200)
14 Tim Neumann 1985–2000 199–77–6 (.716) 31–35–3 (.471)
15 Mark Manning 2000–present 294–107–3 (.731) 93–61 (.604)

Coaching staff

[edit]
Name Position First year Alma mater
Mark Manning Head coach 2000 Omaha
Bryan Snyder Associate head coach 2011 Nebraska
Tervel Dlagnev Assistant coach 2021 Nebraska at Kearney
James Green Assistant coach 2023 Nebraska

Venues

[edit]
Nebraska hosted wrestling meets at the NU Coliseum from 1926 until 2013

The University of Nebraska broke ground on the NU Coliseum in 1924, adjacent to the recently completed Memorial Stadium.[7] Initially intended to be a part of the stadium complex, the Coliseum was funded as a standalone project using gate receipts from 1923 football games. It was designed by architects Ellery L. Davis and Walter Wilson, both university alumni who had worked on several buildings around NU's campus, including Memorial Stadium.[7] Upon its completion in 1926, the Coliseum hosted most of the university's indoor athletic events.

Nebraska's basketball programs moved to the NU Sports Complex (later the Bob Denavey Sports Center) in 1976. Volleyball and wrestling remained at the Coliseum, though the Devaney Center was often used for larger wrestling events.[7] The West Haymarket Arena (known as Pinnacle Bank Arena for sponsorship purposes) was built in 2013 to host basketball, and Nebraska permanently moved its wrestling program a renovated Devaney Center.[7] The Devaney Center's listed capacity is 8,309, though Nebraska has never sold out the venue for a wrestling meet.[8] A program-record crowd of 6,736 watched top-ranked Penn State defeat No. 7 Nebraska on January 17, 2025.[9]

The program practices and trains at the Hendricks Training Complex, a workout facility attached to the Devaney Center.[10]

Championships and awards

[edit]

Team conference championships

[edit]

Individual awards

[edit]

NCAA champions

[edit]
Year Wrestler Weight
1963 Mike Nissen 123 lbs
1984 Jim Scherr 177 lbs
Bill Scherr 190 lbs
1991 Jason Kelber 126 lbs
1993 Tony Purler 126 lbs
1995 Tolly Thompson HWT
2000 Brad Vering 197 lbs
2004 Jason Powell 125 lbs
2007 Paul Donahoe 125 lbs
2009 Jordan Burroughs 157 lbs
2011 165 lbs

Conference champions

[edit]
  • John Kellogg – 1924 (125 lb)
  • Adolph Simac – 1929 (155 lb)
  • Mike DiBiase – 1947 (HWT), 1948 (HWT), 1949 (HWT)
  • Bob Yambor – 1948 (121 lb), 1949 (121 lb)
  • Michael Sparano – 1949 (136 lb)
  • Herb Reese – 1949 (175 lb), 1950 (175 lb), 1951 (HWT)
  • Harold Gilliland – 1950 (126 lb)
  • Ed Husman – 1953 (HWT)
  • Max Kitzelman – 1954 (HWT)
  • Charles Bryant – 1955 (167 lb)
  • Harold Thompson – 1962 (147 lb)
  • James Raschke – 1962 (HWT)
  • Johnnie Selmon – 1981 (134 lb), 1982 (142 lb)
  • Bill Scherr – 1982 (190 lb), 1984 (190 lb)
  • Jim Scherr – 1984 (177 lb)
  • Gary Albright – 1984 (HWT)
  • Cody Olson – 1987 (177 lb)
  • Sonny Manley – 1989 (HWT)
  • John Buxton – 1990 (118 lb)
  • Joe Malecek – 1990 (HWT)
  • Jason Kelber – 1991 (126 lb)
  • Chris Nelson – 1992 (190 lb)
  • Tony Purler – 1993 (126 lb)
  • Frank Velazquez – 1993 (134 lb), 1994 (134 lb)
  • Matt Lindland – 1993 (158 lb)
  • Steve Baer – 1995 (126 lb)
  • Temoer Terry – 1995 (150 lb)
  • Jason Kraft – 1995 (158 lb), 1996 (158 lb)
  • Tolly Thompson – 1995 (HWT), 1996 (HWT), 1997 (HWT)
  • Brad Vering – 1998 (177 lb)
  • Ryan Tobin – 1998 (190 lb)
  • Bryan Snyder – 1999 (157 lb), 2000 (157 lb), 2001 (157 lb), 2002 (157 lb)
  • Jason Powell – 2001 (125 lb)
  • B. J. Padden – 2005 (197 lb), 2006 (197 lb)
  • Brandon Browne – 2008 (174 lb), 2009 (174 lb)
  • Jordan Burroughs – 2008 (149 lb), 2009 (157 lb), 2011 (165 lb)
  • Paul Donahoe – 2008 (125 lb)
  • Vince Jones – 2009 (184 lb)
  • Craig Brester – 2009 (197 lb)
  • Stephen Dwyer – 2010 (174 lb)
  • David Klingsheim – 2011 (125 lb)
  • James Green – 2014 (157 lb)
  • Robert Kokesh – 2014 (174 lb)
  • Silas Allred – 2023 (197 lb)
  • Ridge Lovett – 2024 (149 lb)

All-Americans

[edit]
  • Newt Copple – 1942 (145 lb)
  • Herb Reese – 1949 (175 lb)
  • Max Kitzelman – 1954 (HWT)
  • Dan Brand – 1958 (HWT)
  • Harold Thompson – 1962 (147 lb)
  • Mike Nissen – 1962 (123 lb), 1963 (123 lb)
  • Joe George – 1971 (167 lb)
  • Al Freeman – 1981 (142 lb), 1983 (142 lb)
  • Johnnie Selmon – 1982 (142 lb)
  • Jim Scherr – 1982 (177 lb), 1984 (177 lb)
  • Bill Scherr – 1982 (190 lb), 1983 (190 lb), 1984 (190 lb)
  • Gary Albright – 1982 (HWT), 1984 (HWT), 1986 (HWT)
  • Ray Oliver – 1983 (167 lb)
  • Gil Sanchez – 1987 (134 lb)
  • Jason Kelber – 1989 (126 lb), 1990 (126 lb), 1991 (126 lb)
  • Scott Chenoweth – 1989 (167 lb), 1990 (167 lb), 1991 (177 lb)
  • Paul Herrera – 1990 (142 lb)
  • Corey Olson – 1990 (177 lb), 1992 (177 lb), 1993 (177 lb)
  • Chris Nelson – 1990 (190 lb), 1992 (190 lb)
  • Joe Malecek – 1990 (HWT)
  • John Buxton – 1993 (118 lb)
  • Tony Purler – 1993 (126 lb)
  • Frank Velazquez – 1993 (134 lb)
  • Mike Eierman – 1993 (142 lb)
  • Rulon Gardner – 1993 (HWT)
  • Scott Gonyo – 1994 (118 lb)
  • Brad Canoyer – 1995 (118 lb)
  • Steve Baer – 1995 (126 lb)
  • Temoer Terry – 1995 (150 lb), 1996 (158 lb), 1998 (158 lb)
  • Ryan Tobin – 1995 (190 lb), 1996 (190 lb), 1998 (190 lb)
  • Tolly Thompson – 1995 (HWT), 1996 (HWT), 1997 (HWT)
  • Chad Nelson – 1996 (167 lb)
  • Jose DeAnda – 1999 (141 lb)
  • Bryan Snyder – 1999 (157 lb), 2000 (157 lb), 2001 (157 lb), 2002 (157 lb)
  • Brad Vering – 1999 (184 lb), 2000 (197 lb), 2001 (197 lb)
  • Paul Gomez – 2000 (125 lb)
  • Todd Beckerman – 2000 (133 lb), 2001 (133 lb)
  • Ati Conner – 2001 (174 lb)
  • Jason Powell – 2002 (118 lb), 2003 (125 lb), 2004 (125 lb)
  • Justin Ruiz – 2002 (197 lb), 2003 (197 lb)
  • Matt Murray – 2004 (141 lb)
  • Travis Shufelt – 2004 (149 lb)
  • Jacob Klein – 2004 (165 lb), 2006 (174 lb)
  • Travis Pascoe – 2005 (184 lb)
  • B. J. Padden – 2005 (197 lb), 2006 (197 lb)
  • Paul Donahoe – 2007 (125 lb), 2008 (125 lb)
  • Jordan Burroughs – 2008 (149 lb), 2009 (157 lb), 2011 (165 lb)
  • Stephen Dwyer – 2008 (165 lb), 2010 (174 lb)
  • Brandon Browne – 2008 (174 lb), 2009 (174 lb)
  • Craig Brester – 2008 (197 lb), 2009 (197 lb), 2010 (197 lb)
  • Vince Jones – 2009 (184 lb)
  • James Green – 2012 (157 lb), 2013 (157 lb), 2014 (157 lb), 2015 (157 lb)
  • Josh Ihnen – 2012 (184 lb)
  • Robert Kokesh – 2013 (174 lb), 2014 (174 lb), 2015 (174 lb)
  • T. J. Dudley – 2015 (184 lb), 2016 (184 lb), 2017 (184 lb)
  • Eric Montoya – 2016 (133 lb), 2017 (133 lb)
  • Austin Wilson – 2016 (165 lb)
  • Tyler Berger – 2017 (157 lb), 2018 (157 lb), 2019 (157 lb)
  • Aaron Studebaker – 2017 (197 lb)
  • Chad Red Jr. – 2018 (141 lb), 2019 (141 lb), 2020[c] (141 lb), 2021 (141 lb)
  • Taylor Venz – 2018 (184 lb), 2020[c] (184 lb)
  • Isaiah White – 2019 (165 lb), 2020[c] (165 lb)
  • Mikey Labriola – 2019 (174 lb), 2020[c] (174 lb), 2021 (174 lb), 2022 (174 lb), 2023 (174 lb)
  • Ridge Lovett – 2020[c] (133 lb), 2022 (149 lb), 2024 (149 lb)
  • Collin Purinton – 2020[c] (149)
  • Peyton Robb – 2020[c] (157 lb), 2022 (157 lb), 2023 (157 lb), 2024 (157 lb)
  • Eric Schultz – 2020[c] (197 lb), 2022 (197 lb)
  • Christian Lance – 2022 (HWT)
  • Liam Cronin – 2023 (125 lb)
  • Brock Hardy – 2023 (141 lb), 2024 (141 lb)
  • Caleb Smith – 2024 (125 lb)
  • Antrell Taylor – 2024 (165 lb)

Seasons

[edit]
Conference tournament champion
Year[4] Coach Record Conference Conference
championship 		Postseason[d] Final
rank[e]
Independent (1910–1915)
1911 Raymond G. Clapp 0–0 1st[a]
1912 Did not compete[f]
1913
1914
1915 Raymond G. Clapp 1–0 0–0 1st[a]
MVIAA / Big Eight Conference[b] (1916–1996)
1916 Raymond G. Clapp 0–1–1 Not available
1917 Did not compete[f]
1918
1919 Raymond G. Clapp 0–1 Not available
1920 Did not compete[f]
1921
1922 Raymond G. Clapp 2–1 0–0 Not available
1923 4–1 1–1
1924 2–3 1–1 1st
1925 1–4 0–2 5th
1926 4–2 3–1 3rd
1927 3–4 3–2 4th
1928 John Kellogg 3–4 2–3 5th NCAA 5th
1929 3–3–1 2–2–1 3rd
1930 5–3 3–2 3rd
1931 2–5 2–3 4th
1932 R. G. Lehman 2–3 4th
1933 Harold Ecklund
C. E. Thomas		 0–2 5th
1934 Jerry Adam 1–4–1 1–3–1 T–5th
1935 1–7 0–5 5th
1936 2–6 2–2 6th
1937 4–4–1 1–1–1 5th
1938 1–7–1 0–3 4th
1939 3–6–1 1–1 4th
1940 1–7 0–2 4th
1941 0–9 0–2 4th
1942 0–8 0–2 Canceled[g] NCAA T–12th
1943 Did not compete[h]
1944
1945
1946 Jerry Adam 0–8 0–2 Canceled[g] NCAA T–9th
1947 3–7 0–3 3rd
1948 B. R. Patterson 2–8 2–3 2nd
1949 6–4–1 3–0–1 1st NCAA T–7th
1950 5–6 3–2 2nd
1951 Al Partin 4–6–1 2–3 T–4th
1952 0–9–1 0–5 4th
1953 9–1 2–1 T–4th
1953–54 2–8 0–3 5th NCAA T–14th
1955 Don Strasheim 0–12 0–3 5th
1956 2–6 0–3 5th
1957 1–7 0–3 5th
1958 Bill Smith 1–9 0–3 6th NCAA T–17th
1958–59 1–9–1 0–5 6th NCAA T–39th
1959–60 0–13 0–3 6th
1960–61 Mickey Sparano 5–3–1 1–2 6th NCAA T–21st
1961–62 Robert Mancuso 9–2–1 4–1 4th NCAA 9th
1962–63 2–14 0–4 6th NCAA University Division 13th
1963–64 4–7 0–3 7th
1964–65 Orval Borgialli 5–11–1 3–4–1 6th
1965–66 2–13 1–5 5th
1966–67 3–10 0–5 6th
1967–68 4–12–1 1–4 7th
1968–69 4–9 0–3 7th
1970 6–5–2 1–1–2 5th
1970–71 8–5 2–2 4th
1971–72 9–5–1 2–2 4th
1972–73 4–10 0–4 4th NCAA University Division 21st
1973–74 7–6 1–4 6th
1974–75 8–3 3–2 4th NCAA Division I T–45th
1975–76 6–6 2–2 5th
1976–77 2–6 0–2 6th
1977–78 4–6–1 0–3 6th NCAA Division I T–55th
1978–79 Bob Fehrs 9–10 1–4 6th
1979–80 16–9–2 1–4 6th NCAA Division I 39th
1980–81 16–4 0–4 4th NCAA Division I 32nd
1981–82 14–5 1–3 4th NCAA Division I 6th 16
1982–83 17–4 1–3 3rd NCAA Division I 6th 6
1983–84 15–5 1–3 4th NCAA Division I 4th 14
1984–85 8–14 1–3 4th NCAA Division I 41st
1985–86 Tim Neumann 16–5 1–3 4th NCAA Division I 12th 13
1986–87 12–6 2–2 4th NCAA Division I 14th
1987–88 8–9–1 0–3–1 4th NCAA Division I 39th
1988–89 12–6–2 1–3–1 4th NCAA Division I 17th 9
1989–90 21–2–1 4–1 2nd NCAA Division I 5th 4
1990–91 11–6 2–3 3rd NCAA Division I 10th 9
1991–92 13–4 1–3 3rd NCAA Division I 11th 8
1992–93 10–2 3–1 1st NCAA Division I 3rd 2
1993–94 12–6 3–3 3rd NCAA Division I 29th 7
1994–95 17–3 3–3 1st NCAA Division I 6th 3
1995–96 15–3–1 2–2–1 2nd NCAA Division I 5th 3
Big 12 Conference (1996–2011)
1996–97 Tim Neumann 15–6 3–2 4th NCAA Division I 12th 10
1997–98 10–6 2–3 3rd NCAA Division I 21st 10
1998–99 17–6 3–1 4th NCAA Division I 15th 4
1999–00 10–7–1 1–3 4th NCAA Division I 8th 11
2000–01 Mark Manning 11–6 1–3 4th NCAA Division I 8th 9
2001–02 8–9 0–4 4th NCAA Division I 8th 9
2002–03 16–7 1–3 4th NCAA Division I 13th 17
2003–04 19–3 2–2 2nd NCAA Division I 5th 2
2004–05 19–2–1 3–1 3rd NCAA Division I 19th 3
2005–06 12–5 2–2 3rd NCAA Division I 16th 5
2006–07 10–7–1 1–3 4th NCAA Division I 16th 18
2007–08 14–3 3–1 2nd NCAA Division I 4th 4
2008–09 17–3–1 3–1 1st NCAA Division I 4th 4
2009–10 9–11 0–4 5th NCAA Division I T–12th
2010–11 14–5 2–2 4th NCAA Division I 12th 13
Big Ten Conference (2011–present)
2011–12 Mark Manning 15–4 5–3 8th NCAA Division I T–21st 8
2012–13 11–6 4–4 7th NCAA Division I 13th 12
2013–14 12–2 6–2 5th NCAA Division I 11th 8
2014–15 14–1 8–1 7th NCAA Division I 9th 11
2015–16 11–6 5–4 4th NCAA Division I 8th 12
2016–17 12–4 6–3 4th NCAA Division I 9th 5
2017–18 10–4 7–2 5th NCAA Division I 9th 13
2018–19 12–5 5–4 5th NCAA Division I 10th 8
2019–20 11–3 6–3 2nd Canceled[i] 4
2021 7–1 3rd NCAA Division I 12th 3
2021–22 6–5 3–5 7th NCAA Division I 5th 11
2022–23 12–3 7–1 3rd NCAA Division I 8th 4
2023–24 12–2 6–2 3rd NCAA Division I 9th 3

International competition

[edit]

Olympics

[edit]
Rulon Gardner upset Aleksandr Karelin in the 2000 Summer Olympics to win Nebraska's first Olympic wrestling gold medal

Nine Nebraska wrestlers have combined to compete in thirteen Summer Olympiads, each representing the United States. The earliest of these was Adrian Brian, a featherweight freestyle wrestler who competed in the Greco-Roman division in Antwerp in 1920. Nebraska does not include Brian in its published records, but an Omaha World-Herald report prior to the 2016 Summer Olympics concluded Brian competed in at least one match in Antwerp.[4][12]

Twin brothers Bill and Jim Scherr, both former NCAA champions, competed in the freestyle division in Seoul in 1988.[13] Rulon Gardner won NU's first Olympic wrestling gold medal in Sydney in 2000, upsetting three-time defending gold medalist Aleksandr Karelin. It was one of just two losses Karelin suffered in his 889-match senior career, and is considered one of the biggest upsets in sports history.[14][15] Jordan Burroughs won gold in London in 2012 but was upset while attempting to repeat as champion in Rio de Janeiro four years later and failed to medal.[2]

Olympiad City Wrestler Country Event Place
1920 (VII) Belgium Antwerp Adrian Brian United States United States Greco-Roman FWT Did not place
1960 (XVII) Italy Rome Daniel Brand United States United States Freestyle LHWT 5th
1964 (XVIII) Japan Tokyo United States United States Freestyle MWT Bronze
Bob Pickens[j] Greco-Roman HWT 6th
1988 (XXIV) South Korea Seoul Bill Scherr United States United States Freestyle 100 kg Bronze
Jim Scherr Freestyle 90 kg 5th
2000 (XXVII) Australia Sydney Rulon Gardner United States United States Greco-Roman 130 kg Gold
Matt Lindland Greco-Roman 76 kg Silver
2004 (XXVIII) Greece Athens Rulon Gardner United States United States Greco-Roman 120 kg Bronze
Brad Vering Greco-Roman 84 kg 11th
2008 (XXIX) China Beijing United States United States Greco-Roman 84 kg 12th
2012 (XXX) United Kingdom London Jordan Burroughs United States United States Freestyle 74 kg Gold
2016 (XXXI) Brazil Rio de Janeiro United States United States Freestyle 74 kg 9th

World Championships

[edit]
Jordan Burroughs won six gold medals at the World Wrestling Championships and is the most decorated American wrestler of all-time

Twelve Nebraska wrestlers have combined to compete in forty-seven events at the World Wrestling Championships, winning twenty-five medals. Burroughs's six gold medals are more than any other American in the competition's history.[2]

Nebraska's World Wrestling Championship medalists
Wrestler Championship Event Medal
United States Daniel Brand 1962 Toledo Freestyle LHWT 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
United States James Raschke 1963 Sofia Greco-Roman HWT 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
United States Bill Scherr 1985 Budapest Freestyle 90 kg 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold
1986 Budapest Freestyle 100 kg 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver
1987 Clermont-Ferrand Freestyle 100 kg 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
1989 Martigny Freestyle 100 kg 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver
United States Jim Scherr 1986 Budapest Freestyle 90 kg 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
1987 Clermont-Ferrand Freestyle 90 kg 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver
1989 Martigny Freestyle 90 kg 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver
United States Rulon Gardner 2001 Sofia Greco-Roman 130 kg 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold
United States Matt Lindland Greco-Roman 85 kg 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver
United States Justin Ruiz 2005 Budapest Greco-Roman 96 kg 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
United States Tolly Thompson Freestyle 120 kg 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
United States Brad Vering 2007 Baku Greco-Roman 84 kg 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver
United States Jordan Burroughs 2011 Istanbul Freestyle 74 kg 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold
2013 Budapest Freestyle 74 kg 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold
2014 Tashkent Freestyle 74 kg 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
2015 Las Vegas Freestyle 74 kg 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold
2017 Paris Freestyle 74 kg 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold
2018 Budapest Freestyle 74 kg 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
2019 Astana Freestyle 74 kg 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
2021 Oslo Freestyle 79 kg 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold
2022 Belgrade Freestyle 79 kg 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold
United States James Green 2015 Las Vegas Freestyle 70 kg 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze
2017 Paris Freestyle 70 kg 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver

Professional wrestling

[edit]

Mike DiBiase won three heavyweight conference championships during his collegiate career. Following a brief amateur boxing career, "Iron Mike" entered professional wrestling. He participated in the American Wrestling Association until his death in 1969.[17] He was the adoptive father of famed WWE performer Ted DiBiase, known as "the Million Dollar Man."

James Raschke wrestled and played left tackle during his time at Nebraska. He gave himself the title "Baron" upon entering professional wrestling and became famous for his violent takedown nicknamed "the claw."[18]

Gary Albright medaled in the Big Eight Championship in 1984 and 1986, and began his professional wrestling career with Stampede Wrestling in 1988 using the stage name "Vokhan Singh." He became popular after signing with All Japan Pro Wrestling, winning two AJPW World Tag Team Championships. He returned to the United States in 1996, dying of a heart attack during a performance in 2000 at age thirty-six.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c In 1911 and 1915, Nebraska participated in the Western Intercollegiate Wrestling, Gymnastics, and Fencing Association Invitational, an open tournament that determined a Big Ten wrestling champion until 1921.[4][5]
  2. ^ a b c In 1928, the ten member schools of the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association agreed to a splintering of the conference – Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma retained the MVIAA name and Drake, Grinnell, Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State), and Washington University formed the Missouri Valley Conference. The MVIAA became commonly known as the Big Six, and later the Big Seven and Big Eight. Its name was officially changed to the Big Eight in 1964.[6]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h All-America selections are typically based on performance in the NCAA championship. When the 2020 championship was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NWCA selected an All-America team based on performance throughout the conference season prior to the cancelation.[11]
  4. ^ The first NCAA Division I Championship was held in 1928.
  5. ^ The National Collegiate Wrestling Association began weekly polling of collegiate wrestling coaches in 1981.
  6. ^ a b c Nebraska's wrestling program competed sporadically in its early years, often playing only a single meet per season and sometimes none at all.
  7. ^ a b Canceled due to World War II.
  8. ^ Nebraska did not field a team from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II
  9. ^ Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  10. ^ Pickens, the first African-American to represent the United States in Olympic wrestling, played football at Nebraska but did not wrestle at the school.[16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Power of Color" (PDF). Nebraska Athletics Brand Guide. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Jordan Burroughs breaks U.S. wrestling record for Olympic, world titles". NBC Sports. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  3. ^ Bill Evans (4 October 2021). "N.J. native Jordan Burroughs joins John Smith as most accomplished wrestler in U.S. history". NJ.com. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "2024–25 Media Guide" (PDF). Nebraska Athletics. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Big Ten Wrestling: A History of Champions". Indiana Athletics. 4 March 2006. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  6. ^ Braden Gall (29 June 2012). "The History of Big 12 Realignment". Athlon Sports. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d Zach Siegler (7 February 2013). "After 87 years, Nebraska Coliseum closes its doors". The Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  8. ^ Evan Bland (30 January 2025). "Nebraska volleyball to expand Devaney Center with goal to reach 10,000 seats". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  9. ^ Joseph Maier (17 January 2025). "Nebraska wrestling dominated by No. 1 Penn State despite two thrilling upsets". On3.com. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  10. ^ Josh Harvey (13 October 2011). "Nebraska Unveils Hendricks Training Complex". 247Sports. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  11. ^ Nate Naasz (17 April 2020). "NWCA Division I Coaches Group announces 2020 All-America Teams". USA Wrestling. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  12. ^ Sam Pospisil (16 August 2016). "Nebraska native Adrian Brian found way into 1920 Olympics". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  13. ^ Craig Neff (14 September 1988). "Scherr and Scherr Alike: Twin brothers Jim and Bill Scherr, from Mobridge, S. Dak., anchor a U. S. team that may be the best since the Gable gang of '72". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  14. ^ Matthew Jussim (26 April 2021). "The 15 Greatest Underdog Sports Stories of All Time". Men's Journal. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  15. ^ Matt Vasilogambros (2 May 2016). "Leicester City, the Unlikeliest of Winners". The Atlantic. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  16. ^ "Robert Pickens". The History Makers. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  17. ^ "Mike Dibiase". National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  18. ^ Ross Raihala (1 May 2021). "Pro wrestling vet Jim Raschke grapples with life, legacy in new film 'The Claw'". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
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