Nebraska Wrestling Has A Historic Runner Up Finish

PHILADELPHIA - Ridge Lovett (149) and Antrell Taylor (157) won NCAA titles on Sunday night, helping Nebraska wrestling to its best performance and finish ever at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships. The Huskers finished as NCAA team runner-up, with 117.0 points.

NU garnered eight All-America honorees at the tournament, with three semifinalists and two champions. Nebraska’s title winners bring home the first individual championship since 2011 (Jordan Borroughs) and the first two in a year since 1984 (Jim Scherr and Bill Scherr). 

The Big Red wrestlers put together 17 bonus-point wins for the fifth-highest point total by a runner-up in NCAA history. Prior to this season, the team’s best finish in standings and points was in 1993, finishing third with 79.5 points. The tournament run earned Head Coach Mark Manning the 2025 NCAA Tournament Coach of the Year award.

In the 149 championship match, No. 2 Lovett took on familiar foe and top-seed Caleb Henson (VT). The pair went scoreless through periods one and two, despite a last-second takedown ruling for Henson, which was reversed after further review. Lovett got on the board with an escape in the third period, which he protected for the final stretch to secure the NCAA title. The Husker became the first national champion since Burroughs in 2011 for NU, in what was his final collegiate bout and 101st victory. Lovett avenged his 1-2 record against Henson, and will bring the 149 title back to Lincoln as a four-time All-American.

At 157, No. 3 Taylor faced No. 8 Joey Blaze (PUR) for the fourth time in the past month, this one for the NCAA championship. Taylor took a late first period lead with a takedown and an escape in the second to head to the final two minutes up 4-0. Blaze got on the board with an escape and a penalty point. The Boilermaker could not get a takedown, and Taylor closed the seven minute stretch with a 4-2 victory. The sophomore’s title win marked the first time since 1984 (Jim Scherr and Bill Scherr) that the Huskers had two NCAA champions. Taylor claimed his second All-American honor, and his 50th career win in Philadelphia, and finished his sophomore season 27-4.

The first Husker on the finals mat, No. 1 Brock Hardy (141) met No. 3 Jesse Mendez (OHST) for the championship bout. Hardy got an early 5-0 lead with a takedown and two nearfall points, but the Buckeye battled back, going on a 10-1 run. The returning NCAA Champion finished the deal, defeating the Husker 12-9. Hardy concludes his 14-bout win streak and electric postseason as an NCAA finalist. The Husker went 27-4 with 20 bonus point wins, and earned All-America status for the third year straight.

Saturday morning started with consolation semifinals, as No. 12 Christopher Minto (165) faced No. 7 Hunter Garvin (STAN). The Husker trailed for most of the bout, but came from behind in the third period for his third top-10 upset, defeating Garvin 8-4 for his spot in the third-place match. Minto battled No. 2 Peyton Hall (WVU) in his last bout of the tournament, but fell in a 13-5 major decision. The No. 12 seed had a huge NCAA campaign, with last-second comebacks and upsets, and secured All-America status and a fourth place finish in his first NCAA run.

In his seventh-place bout, No. 9 Caleb Smith (125) put up 18 points for an 18-5 major decision over No. 10 Stevo Poulin (UNCO). The Husker claimed his finish in seventh, concluding his collegiate career in Philadelphia with his second All-American honor in hand. At 133, No. 17 Jacob Van Dee pulled out a 7-2 upset against No. 13 Tyler Knox (STAN) to lock in his seventh-place podium finish. The sophomore out-performed his seed to receive his status as a first-time All American.

No. 12 Silas Allred (184) went for seventh next, claiming the win with a 4-2 decision over No. 22 Donnell Washington (IND). The junior closed the season 23-8, and claimed an All-American honor with his seventh-place finish. At 197, No. 20 Camden McDanel was the last Husker in the seventh place bout. The freshman All-American finished in eighth, falling in his final bout to No. 6 Mac Stout (PITT) in a 12-3 major decision.

The final podiums featured two Husker champions, one runner-up, three finishing in seventh and one in eighth. The top-eight performances from eight Huskers set the program record for All-Americans garnered at an NCAA Tournament.

Team Standings
1. Penn State (177.0)
2. Nebraska (117.0)
3. Oklahoma State (102.5)
4. Iowa (81.0)
5. Minnesota (51.5)
5. Ohio State (51.5)
7. Cornell (50.0)
8. NC State (46.5)
9. Northern Iowa (45.5)
10. Illinois (44.5)

125: No. 9 Caleb Smith 7th (4-2) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 23-7 won in sudden victory - 1 over Nick Babin (Pittsburgh) 13-11 (SV-1 3-0)
Champ. Round 2 - Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh) 22-4 won by decision over Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 23-7 (Dec 7-3)
Cons. Round 2 - Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 23-7 won in sudden victory - 1 over Tanner Jordan (South Dakota State) 24-10 (SV-1 7-4)
Cons. Round 3 - Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 23-7 won by decision over Blake West (Northern Illinois) 24-7 (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 4 - Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 23-7 won in sudden victory - 1 over Jett Strickenberger (West Virginia) 19-8 (SV-1 12-9)
Cons. Round 5 - Matt Ramos (Purdue) 30-2 won by decision over Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 23-7 (Dec 5-4)
7th Place Match - Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 24-7 won by major decision over Stevo Poulin (Northern Colorado) 24-6 (MD 18-5)

133: No. 17 Jacob Van Dee 7th (4-2) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Ryan Miller (Pennsylvania) 23-8 won by decision over Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 18-11 (Dec 8-4)
Cons. Round 1 - Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 18-11 won by major decision over Hunter Leake (California Baptist) 7-10 (MD 13-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 18-11 won by decision over Julian Farber (Northern Iowa) 18-8 (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round 3 - Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 18-11 won by decision over Sean Spidle (Central Michigan) 29-11 (Dec 9-3)
Cons. Round 4 - Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 18-11 won by major decision over Angelo Rini (Indiana) 22-11 (MD 8-0)
Cons. Round 5 - Braeden Davis (Penn State) 16-6 won by decision over Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 18-11 (Dec 4-2)
7th Place Match - Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 19-11 won by decision over Tyler Knox (Stanford) 28-9 (Dec 7-2)

141: No. 1 Brock Hardy 2nd (4-1) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 27-3 won by major decision over Nash Singleton (Oregon State) 13-11 (MD 12-3)
Champ. Round 2 - Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 27-3 won by tech fall over Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven) 27-6 (TF-1.5 6:17 (19-3))
Quarterfinal - Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 27-3 won by fall over Jacob Frost (Iowa State) 33-9 (Fall 4:13)
Semifinal - Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 27-3 won by decision over Cael Happel (Northern Iowa) 27-4 (Dec 11-4)
1st Place Match - Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) 30-3 won by decision over Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 27-4 (Dec 12-9)

149: No. 2 Ridge Lovett 1st (4-0) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 24-2 won by decision over Sam Cartella (Northwestern) 16-12 (Dec 10-8)
Champ. Round 2 - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 24-2 won by tech fall over Ty Whalen (Princeton) 21-5 (TF-1.5 6:09 (15-0))
Quarterfinal - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 24-2 won by major decision over Kannon Webster (Illinois) 16-8 (MD 12-0)
Semifinal - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 24-2 won by decision over Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) 23-3 (Dec 14-8)
1st Place Match - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 25-2 won by decision over Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech) 22-1 (Dec 1-0)

157: No. 3 Antrell Taylor 1st (4-0) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 26-4 won by tech fall over James Conway (Missouri) 18-17 (TF-1.5 5:55 (19-4))
Champ. Round 2 - Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 26-4 won by fall over Jude Swisher (Pennsylvania) 26-9 (Fall 2:16)
Quarterfinal - Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 26-4 won by decision over Matty Bianchi (Little Rock) 26-6 (Dec 4-3)
Semifinal - Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 26-4 won by decision over Meyer Shapiro (Cornell) 14-2 (Dec 7-2)
1st Place Match - Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 27-4 won by decision over Joey Blaze (Purdue) 24-6 (Dec 4-2)

165: No. 12 Christopher Minto 4th (3-1) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 22-6 won by major decision over Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) 13-7 (MD 13-1)
Champ. Round 2 - Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 22-6 won by major decision over Julian Ramirez (Cornell) 23-3 (MD 11-1)
Quarterfinal - Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 22-6 won by decision over Terrell Barraclough (Utah Valley) 31-3 (Dec 8-7)
Semifinal - Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) 26-0 won by major decision over Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 22-6 (MD 13-2)
Cons. Semi - Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 23-6 won by decision over Hunter Garvin (Stanford) 23-9 (Dec 8-4)
3rd Place Match - Peyton Hall (West Virginia) 35-2 won by major decision over Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 23-7 (MD 13-5)

174: No. 8 Lenny Pinto DNP (3-2)
Champ. Round 1 - Dalton Harkins (Army West Point) 21-11 won by decision over Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 25-7 (Dec 6-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 25-7 won in sudden victory - 1 over Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) 14-5 (SV-1 12-7)
Cons. Round 2 - Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 25-7 won by tech fall over MJ Gaitan (Iowa State) 17-11 (TF-1.5 1:53 (18-1))
Cons. Round 3 - Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 25-7 won by major decision over Sergio Desiante (Chattanooga) 23-4 (MD 15-7)
Cons. Round 4 - Simon Ruiz (Cornell) 25-6 won by decision over Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 25-7 (Dec 2-1)

184: No. 12 Silas Allred 7th (3-2) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Silas Allred (Nebraska) 22-8 won by fall over Malachi DuVall (George Mason) 20-7 (Fall 6:38)
Champ. Round 2 - Silas Allred (Nebraska) 22-8 won by fall over Bennett Berge (South Dakota State) 27-7 (Fall 6:42)
Quarterfinal - Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State) 21-5 won by decision over Silas Allred (Nebraska) 22-8 (Dec 12-5)
Cons. Round 4 - Silas Allred (Nebraska) 22-8 won by decision over Dylan Fishback (NC State) 16-8 (Dec 4-0)
Cons. Round 5 - Jaxon Smith (Maryland) 24-8 won by decision over Silas Allred (Nebraska) 22-8 (Dec 8-1)
7th Place Match - Silas Allred (Nebraska) 23-8 won by decision over Donnell Washington (Indiana) 18-11 (Dec 4-2)

197: No. 20 Camden McDanel 8th (4-2) All-American
Champ. Round 1 - Trey Munoz (Oregon State) 11-5 won by decision over Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 24-13 (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round 1 - Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 24-13 won by major decision over Tucker Hogan (Lock Haven) 22-8 (MD 13-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 24-13 won by decision over Andy Smith (Virginia Tech) 14-9 (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 3 - Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 24-13 won by decision over Luke Stout (Princeton) 16-4 (Dec 9-3)
Cons. Round 4 - Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 24-13 won by decision over Gabe Sollars (Indiana) 19-13 (Dec 7-3)
Cons. Round 5 - Joseph Novak (Wyoming) 28-6 won by decision over Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 24-13 (Dec 4-2)
7th Place Match - Mac Stout (Pittsburgh) 27-4 won by major decision over Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 24-14 (MD 12-3)