Story by NU Athletic Communications
PHILADELPHIA - The Nebraska wrestling team ends day one of the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships second in team standings, with 28 points. The Big Red sent five Huskers to the quarterfinals, while all nine qualifiers continue tournament action on Friday, March 21.
In front of over 18,000 fans at both sessions, No. 1 Brock Hardy (141), No. 2 Ridge Lovett (149), No. 3 Antrell Taylor (157), No. 12 Christopher Minto (165) and No. 12 Silas Allred (184), are headed to the NCAA quarterfinals after their 2-0 first day efforts.
The tournament began bouts at the Wells Fargo Center at 125, No. 9 Caleb Smith up first on the mat for the Big Red. The four-time NCAA qualifier faced No. 24 Nick Babin (PITT), and the pair went scoreless through three periods. With :03 left in SV-1, Smith struck with a takedown, starting his 2025 tournament campaign with a win.
At 133, No. 17 Jacob Van Dee met No. 16 Ryan Miller (PENN) in the first round. Van Dee had a 4-1 lead heading into the second period, but Miller rallied and came back for an 8-4 win. No. 1 Hardy’s round one bout took on No. 32 Nash Singleton (ORST), and the 141 lb Husker notched bonus points for NU. Hardy used three takedowns, two escapes and the ridetime point to win with a 12-3 major decision, his eighth of the year.
At 149, No. 2 Lovett and No. 31 Sam Cartella (NW) were both on the board early, as Lovett led 5-4 after the first period. The pair got tied up at 8-8 to start period three, and Lovett secured the 10-8 win with a reversal. No. 3 Taylor faced No. 30 James Conway (MIZZ) at 157 and the Husker was quick to score. Taylor kept striking for 6-1 and 12-3 leads after periods one and two respectively. The sophomore notched a 19-4 (5:55) tech. fall, his seventh of the season, to claim his spot in the round of 16.
In his NCAA Tournament debut, No. 12 Minto met No. 21 Joey Bianchi (UALR) on the mat at 165. The two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week stumped Bianchi, grabbing his fifth major decision in the 13-1 victory. At 174, No. 8 Lenny Pinto took on No. 25 Dalton Harkins (ARMY), and fought to score. Harkins won with a 6-1 decision.
No. 12 Allred (184) got a tough start up against No. 21 Malachi DuVall (GMU), down 10-1. The junior battled back to take the 14-13 lead in the third period, but used a pin in 6:38 to claim the comeback victory. It was the Husker’s fifth pin this year, and third of the post-season. At 197, also making his NCAA Tournament debut, No. 20 Camden McDanel faced No. 13 Trey Munoz (ORST) in the first round. The true freshman kept it close against two-time All American Munoz, but lost in a 4-2 decision to close the first session.
Session two action began with Smith’s round of 16 at 125. The No. 9 Husker met No. 8 Sheldon Seymour (LEH), and had a scoreless first period. Seymour struck in the second, and took a 7-2 lead late into the third period to claim a 7-3 win. At 133, No. 17 Van Dee faced No. 32 Hunter Leake (CBU) in wrestlebacks. The sophomore racked up points quickly, opening the first period with back points. Van Dee finished strong and notched a 13-2 major decision.
Top-seed Hardy (141) took on No. 16 Wyatt Henson (LH) in round two, and made a 19-3 statement to claim his spot in the quarterfinals. Hardy notched his 12th-consecutive win with the tech. fall in 6:17. No. 2 Lovett was on the mat next at 149. The Husker put up a dominant 6:09, which is all he needed for the shutout tech. fall over No. 15 Ty Whalen (PRIN).
At 165, No. 12 Minto faced No. 5 Julian Ramirez (COR). Minto came out firing, and led 7-1 to start the third period. The Husker closed the bout at 11-1 to claim a major decision over top-five Ramirez, and his spot in the quarterfinals. The win was also Minto’s 15th bonus-point victory of the season, and third over a top-10 opponent. In the 174 wrestleback bracket, No. 8 Pinto took on No. 9 Carson Kharchla (OHST). The Buckeye grabbed an early lead, but Pinto fought back to send the bout to SV-1 at 7-7. The junior struck a five-point sequence to claim the top-10 matchup, 11-7.
Another No. 12 and No. 5 round two feature, Allred met Bennett Berge (SDSU) at 184. The Husker had a 4-1 lead into the third period, but shot and scored for his second pin of the day. The fall was Allred’s second of the day, fourth of the post-season, and he secured his quarterfinal spot with the upset victory. No. 20 McDanel (197) closed out the session again for NU, facing No. 29 Tucker Hogan (LH). The freshman closed out his first NCAA tournament day with a 13-2 major decision, his 18th bonus-point win.
The Big Red notched two upset victories on day one, and 11 bonus-point wins. All nine Huskers return to tournament action, while five head to the quarterfinals.
Quarterfinal Matchups
141: No. 1 Brock Hardy vs No. 9 Jacob Frost (ISU)
149: No. 2 Ridge Lovett vs No. 7 Kannon Webster (ILL)
157: No. 3 Antrell Taylor vs No. 11 Matty Bianchi (UALR)
165: No. 12 Christopher Minto vs No. 4 Terrell Barraclough (UVU)
184: No. 12 Silas Allred vs No. 4 Dustin Plott (OKST)
Up Next
The 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships continue Friday, March 21, with Session III to start at 11 a.m. (CT). The quarterfinals and consolations round will be broadcast on ESPNU. Action resumes at 7 p.m. (CT) on ESPN2 for Session IV, semifinals and consolation bouts.
Team Standings (Through Day One)
1. Penn State (39.5)
2. Nebraska (28.0)
3. Oklahoma St. (27.0)
4. Iowa (18.0)
4. Minnesota (18.0)
4. Ohio St. (18.0)
7. Northern Iowa (17.5)
8. Cornell (17)
9. Illinois (16.5)
9. Michigan (16.5)
125: No. 9 Caleb Smith (1-1)
Champ. Round 1 - Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 20-6 won in sudden victory - 1 over Nick Babin (Pittsburgh) 13-11 (SV-1 3-0)
Champ. Round 2 - Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh) 21-3 won by decision over Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 20-6 (Dec 7-3)
133: No. 17 Jacob Van Dee (1-1)
Champ. Round 1 - Ryan Miller (Pennsylvania) 23-7 won by decision over Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 15-10 (Dec 8-4)
Cons. Round 1 - Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 15-10 won by major decision over Hunter Leake (California Baptist) 7-10 (MD 13-2)
141: No. 1 Brock Hardy (2-0)
Champ. Round 1 - Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 25-3 won by major decision over Nash Singleton (Oregon State) 13-10 (MD 12-3)
Champ. Round 2 - Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 25-3 won by tech fall over Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven) 27-5 (TF-1.5 6:17 (19-3))
149: No. 2 Ridge Lovett (2-0)
Champ. Round 1 - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 22-2 won by decision over Sam Cartella (Northwestern) 16-12 (Dec 10-8)
Champ. Round 2 - Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 22-2 won by tech fall over Ty Whalen (Princeton) 21-4 (TF-1.5 6:09 (15-0))
157: No. 3 Antrell Taylor (2-0)
Champ. Round 1 - Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 24-4 won by tech fall over James Conway (Missouri) 18-17 (TF-1.5 5:55 (19-4))
Champ. Round 2 - Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 24-4 won by fall over Jude Swisher (Pennsylvania) 24-8 (Fall 2:16)
165: No. 12 Christopher Minto (2-0)
Champ. Round 1 - Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 21-5 won by major decision over Joseph Bianchi (Little Rock) 13-6 (MD 13-1)
Champ. Round 2 - Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 21-5 won by major decision over Julian Ramirez (Cornell) 21-2 (MD 11-1)
174: No. 8 Lenny Pinto (1-1)
Champ. Round 1 - Dalton Harkins (Army West Point) 20-10 won by decision over Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 23-6 (Dec 6-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 23-6 won in sudden victory - 1 over Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) 14-5 (SV-1 12-7)
184: No. 12 Silas Allred (2-0)
Champ. Round 1 - Silas Allred (Nebraska) 21-6 won by fall over Malachi DuVall (George Mason) 19-6 (Fall 6:38)
Champ. Round 2 - Silas Allred (Nebraska) 21-6 won by fall over Bennett Berge (South Dakota State) 27-6 (Fall 6:42)
197: No. 20 Camden McDanel (1-1)
Champ. Round 1 - Trey Munoz (Oregon State) 10-4 won by decision over Camden McDanel (Nebraska) 21-12 (Dec 4-2)