Nebraska wrestling starts strong at NCAA Championships

TULSA, Okla. — Nebraska's Silas Allred made it two wins this month over the defending national champion in his weight class.

After Allred defeated Penn State's Max Dean 6-3 in the Big Ten tournament 197-pound final, Allred knocked off Dean in the second round of the NCAA meet Thursday night, taking control for a 7-2 win.

Allred, competing at nationals for the first time, got a takedown in the final seconds of the second period for a 4-2 lead. He then put an exclamation point on the win with another takedown in the match's final seconds.

That capped a successful opening day for the Huskers. Nebraska moved five of its seven wrestlers into Friday's quarterfinals.

Also going 2-0 on the day were Liam Cronin (125), Brock Hardy (141), Peyton Robb (157) and Mikey Labriola (174). Nebraska is tied for sixth in the team standings with 15.5 points. Penn State leads with 26, Iowa is next with 20.5.

Robb, who was ranked No. 1 before losing in the Big Ten final, was the most dominant Husker with two technical falls. In the second round, he beats Wisconsin's Garrett Model 16-1.

Labriola, who like Robb was unbeaten this season before losing in the league final, moved into the quarters with a 3-1 win over Utah Valley's Demetrius Romero. Labriola trailed 1-0 after two periods, but scored the deciding takedown with about 35 seconds left.

Cronin, seeded third, and fourth-seeded Hardy each picked up a pair of fairly routine wins.

NU went 6-1 in the first round with Bubba Wilson providing the biggest surprise.

Wilson, seeded 25th after going 16-13 this season, was tied 1-1 with eighth-seeded Matthew Olguin of Oregon State at the end of regulation. Wilson then got a takedown in sudden victory for the 3-1 upset. Wilson lost 10-0 to ninth-seeded Shane Griffith in the second round.

Iowa moved five wrestlers into the quarters, including top seed Spencer Lee (125) and Real Woods (141).

Also at 197, North Carolina State's Isaac Trumble, a Millard South grad, won his opening match but was pinned in the second round.