HUSKER WRESTLING: Huskers Set Attendance Record, Hardy Grabs 100th Dual Win
Jan 24, 2026
Courtesy of AlphaMedia, USA-Lincoln. LINCOLN–(NU Athletics Jan. 23)–The No. 6 Nebraska wrestling team drew a record crowd of 7,891 to the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Friday night but fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes, 22-14. Brock Hardy grabbed his 100th dual win and became the 33rd wrestler in program
history to accomplish the feat.
Alan Koehler kicked off the dual at 125 against Iowa’s Joey Cruz. Koehler logged an escape, but Cruz led 3-1 at the end of the first period after a takedown. Koehler opened the second period with an escape to make the score 3-2 but Cruz claimed a 4-2 win for the Hawkeyes.
No. 8 Jacob Van Dee wrestled at 133 against Iowa’s No. 10 Drake Ayala. Van Dee used an early takedown to take a 3-1 lead after the first period. Ayala tied the score at 4-4 with a takedown in the second. Van Dee grabbed the advantage at 5-4 with an escape but Ayala notched a takedown to grab a 7-5 edge. Ayala extended the lead to 12-6 and took the bout to give the Hawkeyes a 6-0 lead.
No. 3 Brock Hardy grabbed the Huskers’ first victory of the night with a 1-0 decision over No. 10 Nasir Bailey at 141. Hardy posted an escape in the first period to grab his lead and never looked back. With the win, Hardy became the 33rd wrestler in Nebraska history to reach 100 dual wins.
At 149, NU’s No. 14 Chance Lamer faced No. 17 Ryder Block. Block led 3-1 after the first period. Lamer logged an escape and takedown back-to-back to grab a 5-3 advantage in the second period. Block pinned Lamer in the third period to extend Iowa’s team lead to 12-3.
No. 5 Antrell Taylor took on No. 12 Jordan Williams at 157. The two were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation. Williams took a stalling call and Taylor grabbed the victory for the Big Red to bring the team score to 12-6.
Following the intermission, No. 7 LJ Araujo competed against Iowa’s No. 3 Michael Caliendo at 165. Caliendo led 8-2 after two periods and dominated to win 14-4. The major decision extended the Hawkeyes’ lead to 16-6.
At 174, No. 6 Christopher Minto represented NU against No. 2 Patrick Kennedy. Minto grabbed a 1-0 edge with an escape in the second period. Kennedy tied it and the two went into sudden victory with a point apiece. Kennedy took a 2-1 lead in the fifth period with an escape and claimed the decision for Iowa.
No. 7 Silas Allred competed against Gabe Arnold at 184. Arnold grabbed a 4-1 win with an early takedown. Iowa led 22-6 going into the final two bouts.
At 197, NU’s No. 7 Camden McDanel faced Brody Sampson. McDanel notched a takedown in the first period and an escape in the second and extended his lead to 7-0 with another takedown. McDanel led 7-1 going into the last period and continued to build, grabbing the 20-5 tech fall victory for the Big Red.
No. 4 AJ Ferrari grabbed a decision for Nebraska to close out the night. He logged a takedown and escape to claim a 4-1 victory over Iowa’s No. 8 Ben Kueter.
Up Next
The Huskers will remain home to face No. 2 Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 25 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The dual is set to start at 1 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on B1G+.
No. 4 Iowa 22, No. 6 Nebraska 14
125: Joey Cruz dec. Alan Koehler, 4-2 (IOWA 3, NEB 0)
133: #10 Drake Ayala dec. #8 Jacob Van Dee, 12-6 (IOWA 6, NEB 0)
141: #3 Brock Hardy dec. #10 Nasir Bailey, 1-0 (IOWA 6, NEB 3)
149: #17 Ryder Block pinned #14 Chance Lamer (IOWA 12, NEB 3)
157: #5 Antrell Taylor dec. Jordan Williams, 2-1 (IOWA 12, NEB 6)
165: #3 Michael Caliendo maj. dec. #7 LJ Araujo, 14-4 (IOWA 16, NEB 6)
174: #3 Patrick Kennedy dec. #6 Christopher Minto, 2-1 (IOWA 19, NEB 6)
184: Gabe Arnold dec. #7 Silas Allred, 4-1 (IOWA 22, NEB 6)
197: #9 Camden McDanel tech fall Brody Sampson, 20-5 (IOWA 22, NEB 11)
HWT: #4 AJ Ferrari dec. #8 Ben Kueter, 4-1 (IOWA 22, NEB 14)
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