Jason Bryant’s College Wrestling Wrap Sheet is a look at five topics from the world of college wrestling with highlights, things you know and things you don’t. Here’s the five for November 17, 2021.
Huskers prevail, Robb wins big
A rare Wednesday evening dual on Big Ten Network saw Shane Sparks and Jim Gibbons go ahead and look sharp at the Devanney Center in Lincoln. The 10th-ranked Cornhuskers also looked sharp, winning eight out of 10 bouts en route to a 27-6 win over the 13th-ranked Tar Heels. The big match of the night came at 157 pounds where Peyton Robb upended North Carolina’s returning national champion Austin O’Connor at 157 pounds. Robb wrestled up at 165 pounds last year, while O’Connor won the NCAA title at 149 pounds. North Carolina led 6-3 after three bouts after Kizhan Clarke upset four-time All-American Chad Red 3-1 in sudden victory. The Huskers took control of the momentum after Ridge Lovett edged All-American Zach Sherman at 149 pounds. Robb’s win followed before Bubba Wilson and All-American Mikey Labriola won back-to-back 3-2 matches. The Huskers improved to 3-0 on the season.
Return of the Product, the good
The title is actually a reference to hip-hop writer, producer and rapper MC Serch, who released an album titled “Return of the Product” in 1992. Serch was one of the members of 3rd Bass, which released “Pop Goes the Weasel,” which ripped on Vanilla Ice and got a lot of play on YO! MTV Raps back in the day. I told you all of that to tell you that Aurora’s wrestling program was victorious in its return to wrestling after nearly 40 years. The Spartans picked up falls from 125-pounder Skyler Pike and 174-pounder Luke Silva to defeat Carthage 31-16. I spared you the Aurora, Illinois Wayne’s World references, but that’s where Aurora is. They’re coached by Justin Pearch, an Oregon native who spent time at the University of Oregon and the Army’s World Class Athlete Program in men’s freestyle.
Return of the Product, the not so good
Aurora wasn’t the only school wrestling at home in its return to college wrestling. Andy Vogel’s Hiram Terriers opened up its new era of wrestling with a 38-6 home loss to Thiel on Wednesday. Hiram announced its launch two seasons ago, but did not compete at all last year due to COVID-19 concerns by the school. Thiel, pronounced like the color teal, benefitted from three forfeits. Vogel has been a longtime advocate of Division III wrestling as an athlete, coach and media content provider with D3wrestle.com. Hiram’s women’s team doesn’t compete in dual action until December 2 against Lourdes.
Iowa Conference Blanks
Actually, it’s called the American Rivers Conference now, but Loras and Wartburg, the conference frontrunners, both picked up shutout victories on Wednesday. Wartburg trounced visiting Nebraska Wesleyan 52-0 to give coach Eric Keller his 200th career victory as a head coach. In a departure from what’s preferred buy the wrestling gods (little g), Wartburg 133-pounder Joe Pins earned a tech fall. The rest of the Knights picked up the slack, earning six pins in the dual. Loras blanked host Buena Vista by the same 52-0 score. The Duhawks also registered six falls, including one by top-ranked Shane Liegel at 184 pounds.
Mixing it up
There were a handful of inter-divisional matchups on Wednesday. Bloomsburg hosted Division II Shippensburg and Division III King’s College (the one in Pennsylvania) and earned a pair of shutouts. The Huskies topped Ship 57-0 and King’s 56-0. Shippensburg edged King’s 26-24. Division III Concordia-Moorhead (which is in Minnesota) beat cross-town rival MSU-Moorhead 31-6. As decreed by myself years ago, losers have to buy the winners either dinner at a local Fargo-Moorhead establishment or, as the craft beer industry has grown, a growler fill at Junkyard Brewing, which is outstanding. Division III Simpson (the one in Iowa) edged newly-minted NAIA school Iowa Wesleyan 24-19. Iowa Wesleyan recently reclassified from Division III to the NAIA.
Bonus Points: NAIA Action
Missouri Valley topped William Penn in Heart of American Conference action with a 24-22 dual victory on Wednesday. Heavyweight All-American Josh Isaac picked up a 13-6 win to finish off the dual. Northwestern College, the one in Iowa, beat Dakota Wesleyan 28-18.
