*NOTE* - I want to make it clear what this is and what this is not. What this is NOT is an overview of the entire team. What this is, is a who’s who preview of THIS season 2022-2023. Meaning that I am going to talk about the starters who I feel will have an impact THIS year. Those who will win big matches in duals. Those who will earn placings in major tournaments like CKLV, RENO, MIDLANDS, MATMEN INVITE, SOUTHERN SCUFFLE, CONFERENCES & NCAA’s. In some cases a weight class will have multiple talented wrestlers. I will note that & I will also be making posts later on about the best wrestle-offs to look forward to this season. Then after that is determined I will make post later into the season of who our best backups are in the nation.
This post will NOT include redshirts. Those who are redshirting this season will be included in a separate post entitled “22’-23’ Best Redshirts.”
I think among the great modern day coaches, Mark Manning never gets enough credit or recognition. He has the Huskers ready to go year in and year out & it seems while his contemporaries often receive praise, he doesn't. He should. What sticks out most to me in recent times is his ability to replace. He graduates top talent nearly every season & without wait, he has someone worthy as a replacement right away. Nebraska graduated four of their top wrestlers last season & all four spots have been adequately filled. They are very capable of qualifying all 10 varsity spots to the NCAA's.
Gone is Chad Red Jr, who despite not having a great ending to his collegiate career, did have a great collegiate career. He had finishes of 7th, 8th & 6th at the NCAA's, making a BIG 10 final & placing 4th-5th & 3rd at the CKLV. Taylor Venz an All American as a freshman with a 4th place finish, never did find his way back on the award stand but did finish one match shy three times. Also a BIG 10 finalist during his career, he was twice a CKLV runner-up with other finishes of 5th & 3rd. It was very rewarding to see Eric Schultz finally earn All American honors with a 7th place finish. A three time BIG 10 runner-up, he was also a two time CKLV runner-up. Last but certainly not least Christian Lance, who really stepped it up a notch in his final season to earn a 3rd place showing at CKLV & an 8th place All American honor at the NCAA's.
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| 125 lbs Liam Cronin |
If he's healthy & he can stay healthy, the two time NCAA qualifier will earn his third qualification this season. No doubt about it.
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| 133 lbs Boo Dryden OR Kyle Burwick OR Alex Thomsen |
It'll be fascinating to see what unfolds at 133 lbs for Nebraska. You have three talents at the weight, all of which have earned NCAA qualification in the past. Boo Dryden a transfer of Minnesota was an NCAA qualifier in 2021. Kyle Burwick, a transfer of Wisconsin a two time NCAA qualifier in 2021 & 2022. For record, Dryden & Burwick have met three times. Ironically enough Burwick winning a 15-0 technical fall & a 4-3 decision, it was Dryden who took the last decision 5-2. I also wouldn't count out Alex Thomsen yet, who was an NCAA qualifier at 125 lbs in 2020. If he can find his strength & his power at 133, he's a threat to win this spot as well.
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| 141 lbs Brock Hardy |
Sophomore Brock Hardy has shown signs that he will be an excellent replacement for Chad Red Jr this season. Among indications, a 9-2 decision of Michael Blockhus of Minnesota.
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| 149 lbs Ridge Lovett |
Boy Ridge Lovett sure did turn it up and turn it on last season didn't he? The three time NCAA qualifier finished 2nd at the NCAA's & 3rd at the CKLV. He struggled with Austin Gomez of Wisconsin, although he finished ahead of him at the NCAA's. Gawd 149 lbs is tough this season & I'm sticking to my guns that keeping Yianni Diakomihalis from winning his fourth NCAA title is either THE hardest thing to do in NCAA wrestling this season or it is the second hardest thing to do in NCAA wrestling. Let's keep in mind though that in the two times that they did meet, Lovett took Diakomihalis into sudden victory. That speaks for itself.
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| 157 lbs Peyton Robb |
Like teammate Lovett, Peyton Robb took out a new lease last season. The three time NCAA qualifier looked like a brand new man. First knocking off returning NCAA champion Austin O'Connor & then taking 4th in an incredibly tough weight class at the NCAA's. Will he contend for the national title this season? I think so.
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| 165 lbs Bubba Wilson |
This is a guy, who because of injury & misfortune started off on the bottom of the ocean & inch by inch he has be crawling with anticipation to eventually make it to the top of the mountain. He showed signs of what he's capable of last season. A 3-1 victory over R.J. Mosley of Gardner Webb, most notably a 5-3 decision of two time All American Cam Amine of Michigan. He was 8th at the CKLV & an NCAA qualifier. I still don't know if he's 100% or not, but man once he gets to that 100% mark make like Marty McFly & brace yourself cause as Doc Brown would say, "you're gonna see some serious......."
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| 174 lbs Mikey Labriola |
Do I think that Mikey Labriola on his best day could upend both Carter Starocci of Penn State & Mekhi Lewis of Virginia Tech? Yes, I do. I also think he's one of the only 174 lbs'ers capable of doing so. He wrestles his top game & I mean at his very, very best, he's capable of beating them both. I won't give that distinction to many. Thus far he's been 6th-3rd-7th in the NCAA's, a four time NCAA qualifier. 4th-3rd-champion at the CKLV. Starocci won a controlled 6-1 match the last time they met, but he needed sudden victory the time before that. He'll be favored to take home the bronze, but silver as well as gold are both within his ability.
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| 184 lbs Nathan Haas |
Not 100% positive what to make of Nathan Haas yet. A 5-2 victory of Minnesota's Owen Webster gives a sign to be positive though.
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| 197 lbs Silias Allred |
I'm anxious to see what this guy can do with a full season of varsity wrestling. I think we'll see a lot of good things out of him this season. To give a hint, last season he stuck All American Yonger Bastida in 6:44
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| HWT Cale Davidson |
His best win at HWT as far as I'm concerned has been Iowa's Aaron Costello. However his best win over all (at 197 lbs) has been Jay Aiello of Virginia. He can garner more wins like that, this poses very well for the Huskers.
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