State College, Pa. - The Nebraska wrestling team finished third at the 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships with 116.5 points as five Huskers earned runner-up finishes. 

NU had six top-five finishers, highlighted by Brock Hardy (141), Antrell Taylor (157), Christopher Minto (174), Camden McDanel (197) and AJ Ferrari (285), who each secured second-place finishes and were awarded All-Big Ten Second Team. Freshman LJ Araujo added a fourth-place finish at 165.

Nine Huskers represented Nebraska on the podium, clinching nine automatic bids to the NCAA Championships for the third consecutive season. It marks the fourth straight year the Huskers have finished in the top three at the Big Ten Championships. 

All 10 Huskers remained alive in tournament action entering the second day, including five wrestlers competing in the championship finals. 

No. 2 Brock Hardy opened the finals at 141 against top-seeded Jesse Mendez (OSU) in their third meeting of the season. Mendez scored an early takedown while Hardy added two escapes, but the Buckeye held control for a  7-2 decision. Hardy finished the tournament as runner-up and will continue his postseason run at the NCAA Championships.   

At 157, No. 1 Antrell Taylor faced No. 2 PJ Duke (PSU). Duke built an early lead and pulled away for a 12-4 major decision, giving Taylor a runner-up finish and an automatic bid to NCAAs. 

No. 2 Christopher Minto was followed at 174, taking on top-seeded Levi Haines (PSU). After a scoreless first period, Minto opened the scoring with an escape before Haines was awarded a penalty point. Haines added an escape in the third to secure a 2-1 decision. Minto claimed second place and secured his NCAA qualification. 

In the 197-pound final, No. 2 Camden McDanel (NEB) fell to No. 1 Josh Barr (PSU) by a 19-4 tech. fall but finished as a runner-up to earn an NCAA bid. 

The final championship bout featured No. 2 AJ Ferrari (NEB) against No. 1 Taye Ghadiali (MICH) at heavyweight. After a scoreless opening period, Ferrari built riding time before earning an escape to take the lead. Ghadiali responded with a late takedown and added an escape to secure the 5-2 decision. 

In the third-place match at 165, No. 4 LJ Araujo faced No. 2 Joey Blaze (PUR). Blaze scored an early takedown before Araujo recorded an escape in the second period. The bout was later stopped due to injury, with Araujo medically forfeiting to place fourth.  

Both No. 3 Silas Allred and No. 6 Jacob Van Dee forfeited their placement matches Sunday. Allred finished sixth at 184 while Van Dee placed eighth at 133. 

The Big Red opened the second day with three wrestlers competing in Session III for podium positions. 

At 149, No. 6 Chance Lamer began the day in the ninth-place semifinal, defeating No. 10 Drew Roberts (MIN) with an 11-3 major decision after recording two takedowns and a four-point nearfall. Lamer later fell to No. 8 Ryder Block (IOWA) in the ninth-place match, 8-7 in SV, finishing 10th. The senior missed auto qualification by one, but could still make it to Cleveland with an at-large bid. 

At 165, Araujo earned his spot in the third-place match with an 11-0 major decision over No. 7 Andrew Barabosa (RUT), scoring a takedown in each period.  

Kael Lauridsen closed the Huskers’ Session III action in the 7th-place match at 125 against No. 5 Ayden Smith (RUT). Lauridsen trailed early before scoring a late first-period reversal and added an escape and takedown in the second to secure the 6-3 decision and podium finish. 

Up Next
The Huskers will compete at the 2025-26 NCAA Championships at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, March 19-21. 

Final Team Scores 

1. Penn State (184)

2. Ohio State (148.5)

3. Nebraska (116.5)

4. Iowa (87) 

5. Michigan (86.5) 

6. Illinois (78)

7. Minnesota (76.5)

8. Rutgers (63.5)

9. Wisconsin (55)

10. Indiana (40)

11. Maryland (35.5)

12. Purdue (29.5)

13. Northwestern (14.5)

14. Michigan State (10.5)

Big Ten Wrestling Championships
Bryce Jordan Center | State College, Pa.
Sessions I - IV
March 7-8, 2026

125: No. 11 Kael Lauridsen | 7th (4-2)
Round 1: No. 6 Jore Volk (MINN) tech. fall No. 11 Kael Lauridsen (NEB) (5:32) 16-0
Cons. Round 1: No. 11 Kael Lauridsen (NEB) dec. No. 14 Abram Cline (MD) 1-0
Cons. Round 2: No. 11 Kael Lauridsen dec. (NEB) No. 12 Nick Corday (MSU) 3-2
Cons. Round 3: No. 8 Dean Peterson (IOWA) dec. No. 11 Kael Lauridsen (NEB) 4-3
7th-Place Match: No. 11 Kael Lauridsen (NEB) dec. No. 5 Ayden Smith (RUT) 6-3

133: No. 6 Jacob Van Dee | 8th (2-3)
Round 1: No. 6 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) dec. No. 11 Caleb Weiand (MSU) 9-3
Quarterfinals: No. 3 Ben Davino (OSU) dec. No. 6 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) 5-1
Cons. Round 2: No. 6 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) tech. fall No.12 Blaine Frazier (IND) (5:22) 19-4
Cons. Round 3: No. 2 Lucas Byrd (ILL) over No. 6 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) (MFFL) 1-0
7th-Place Match: No. 7 Sean Spidle (NU) over No. 6 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) (MFFL)

141: No. 2 Brock Hardy | 2nd (2-1)
Round 1: Bye
Quarterfinals: No. 2 Brock Hardy (NEB) major dec. No. 10 Joey Olivieri (RUT) 8-0
Semifinals: No. 2 Brock Hardy (NEB) dec. No. 3 Vance Vombaur (MIN) 9-2
1st-Place Match: No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OSU) dec. No. 2 Brock Hardy 7-2

149: No. 6 Chance Lamer | 10th (2-3)
Round 1: No. 6 Chance Lamer (NEB) major dec. No. 11 Joey Buttler (IND) 9-1
Quarterfinals: No. 3 Joseph Zargo (WIS) dec. No. 6 Chance Lamer (NEB) 9-6
Cons. Round 2: No. 13 Clayton Jones (MSU) pinned No. 6 Chance Lamer (NEB) 0:35
9th-Place Semi: No. 6 Chance Lamer (NEB) major dec. No. 10 Drew Roberts (MIN) 11-3
9th-Place Match: No. 8 Ryder Block (IOWA) dec. No. 6 Chance Lamer (NEB) SV-1 8-7

157: No. 1 Antrell Taylor | 2nd (2-1)
Round 1: Bye
Quarterfinals: No. 1 Antrell Taylor (NEB) dec. No. 8 Luke Mechler (WIS) 8-1
Semifinals: No. 1 Antrell Taylor (NEB) dec. No. 4 Cameron Catrabone (MICH) 7-1
1st-Place Match: No. 2 PJ Duke (PSU) major dec. No. 1 Antrell Taylor (NEB) 12-4

165: No. 4 LJ Araujo | 4th (4-2)
Round 1: No. 4 LJ Araujo (NEB) pinned No. 13 AJ Rodrigues (MD) 6:18
Quarterfinals: No. 5 Andrew Sparks (MIN) dec. No. 4 LJ Araujo (NEB) 3-1
Cons. Round 2: No. 4 LJ Araujo (NEB) pinned No. 14 Jack Conley (MSU) 2:17
Cons. Round 3: No. 4 LJ Araujo (NEB) dec. No. 8 Paddy Gallagher (OSU) 2-0
Cons. Semi: No. 4 LJ Araujo (NEB) major dec. No. 7 Andrew Barbosa (RUT) 11-0
3rd-Place Match: No. 2 Joey Blaze (PUR) over No. 4 LJ Araujo (NEB) (MFFL)

174: No. 2 Christopher Minto | 2nd (2-1)
Round 1: Bye
Quarterfinals: No. 2 Christopher Minto (NEB) major dec. No. 7 Ethan Riddle (MIN) 11-1
Semifinals: No. 2 Christopher Minto (NEB) dec. No. 3 Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) 5-1
1st-Place Match: No. 1 Levi Haines (PSU) dec. No. 2 Christopher Minto (NEB) 2-1

184: No. 3 Silas Allred | 6th (2-2)
Round 1: No. 3 Silas Allred tech. fall No. 14 Cale Anderson (WIS) (6:44) 20-2
Quarterfinals: No. 3 Silas Allred dec. No. 6 Dylan Fishback (OSU) SV-1 4-1
Semifinals: No. 2 Max McEnelly (MIN) over No. 3 Silas Allred (NEB) (MFFL)
5th-Place Match: No. 7 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RUT) over No. 3 Silas Allred (NEB) (MFFL)

197: No. 2 Camden McDanel | 2nd (2-1)
Round 1: Bye
Quarterfinals: No. 2 Camden McDanel (NEB) tech. fall No. 7 Kael Wisler (MSU) (6:22) 18-2
Semifinals: No. 2 Camden McDanel (NEB) dec. No. 6 Wyatt Ingham (WIS) 10-3
1st-Place Match: No. 1 Josh Barr (PSU) tech. fall No. 2 Camden McDanel (NEB) (6:46) 19-4 

285: No. 2 AJ Ferrari | 2nd (2-1)
Round 1: Bye
Quarterfinals: No. 2 AJ Ferrari (NEB) dec. No. 10 Ben Kueter (IOWA) 5-2
Semifinals: No. 2 AJ Ferrari (NEB) dec. No. 3 Nick Feldman (OSU) 2-1
1st-Place Match: No. 1 Taye Ghadiali (MICH) dec. No. 2 AJ Ferrari (NEB) 5-2

Carey, Blachowicz Lead Huskers to 12-2 Rout

Dylan Carey homered twice and Gavin Blachowicz struck out a career-high 11 batters to lead Nebraska to a 12-2 run-rule win in seven innings against Michigan State in front of 5,762 fans on Sunday afternoon at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.

Nebraska (10-5, 3-0 Big Ten) scored 12 runs on 11 hits, while Michigan State (3-11, 0-3) totaled two runs, three hits and five errors.

Carey finished 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI to pace the Big Red offense. Case Sanderson went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI, and Preston Freeman homered and drove in two runs. Drew Grego was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Mac Moyer doubled and drove in a run.

Blachowicz improved to 2-1 on the season, striking out a career-high 11 batters across seven innings while allowing two runs on three hits to earn the complete-game victory.

Nebraska wasted no time taking control, plating five runs in the bottom of the first after a solo homer from the Spartans in the top of the first inning. Moyer walked and Overbeek singled through the left side before Carey dropped down a bunt single to load the bases with no outs.

Sanderson cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to center field, giving the Huskers a 3-1 advantage. Freeman followed with a two-run homer down the left-field line to make it 5-1 through the first inning.

The Huskers added two more in the second when Carey homered down the left-field line with Overbeek aboard to push the lead to 7-1, while Moyer’s RBI double in the third made it an 8-1 game after three innings.

Grego’s RBI single in the fourth scored Sanderson to extend the lead to 9-1, and Carey put an exclamation point on the afternoon with a two-run homer to left-center field in the bottom of the fifth to grow the lead to 11-1.

Michigan State took advantage of a leadoff double to begin the sixth inning, as an RBI groundout back to the pitcher plated the Spartans’ second run of the afternoon.

Nebraska responded immediately with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth to build the lead back to 10. Jett Buck reached on an error and came around to score on MSU’s second error of the inning to give the Huskers a 12-2 lead going into the seventh inning.

Blachowicz worked around a one-out single in the top of the seventh to keep the Spartans off the board and give the Huskers a 12-2 victory in seven innings on Sunday afternoon.

Nebraska returns to play this week, as the Huskers welcome North Dakota State for a midweek matchup on Wednesday, March 11 at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.

Husker Bats Knock Three Homers in Run Rule Over Omaha

The No. 10 Nebraska softball team saw home runs from Jordy Frahm, Hannah Camenzind and Samantha Bland and downed the Omaha Mavericks, 10-2, in six innings on Sunday afternoon at Bowlin Stadium.

With the win, the Huskers moved to 18-5 on the season and enjoyed an undefeated home-opening weekend.

Frahm, H. Camenzind, Ava Kuszak and Lauren Camenzind all contributed two RBI and H. Camenzind and Bland each had three hits. H. Camenzind went a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and her home run. 

Alexis Jensen (8-2) grabbed the win in the circle after tossing 4.1 innings with two runs and three hits, along with four strikeouts. H. Camenzind threw the first 1.2 scoreless innings for the Big Red. 

Nebraska logged a five-run bottom of the second, led by home runs from Frahm and H. Camenzind. Hannah Coor reached on an error and scored on a Jensen double. Jensen went to third on a Lauren Camenzind groundout and scored on Frahm’s homer. Bland doubled and H. Camenzind knocked a two-run shot to send herself and Bland across the plate.

Omaha cut the lead to 5-2 on a two-run homer in the top of the third.

In the bottom of the fifth, Bland singled and H. Camenzind doubled and both scored on a Kuszak double. Carlie Muhlbach reached on a fielder’s choice and Coor singled before Jensen walked to load the bases. Muhlbach and Coor scored on a L. Camenzind single to make the score 9-2.

Bland walked off the run-rule with a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the sixth. 

The Huskers will host Michigan for their first Big Ten series of the season next weekend, March 13-15. Friday’s game is set to start at 5:30 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on B1G+ and can be heard across the Huskers Radio Network. 

Notes

• Jordy Frahm is now tied for 10th in school history with 31 career home runs. 

• The Huskers have now scored 4+ runs in 20 innings this year.

• The crowd of 2,652 is the fourth-largest showing in school history. 

• Hannah Camenzind tied her career high with three hits. 

• Nebraska’s 18-5 record is its best start through 22 games since it was also 18-5 in 2013. 

• Nebraska has run-ruled six opponents this season.

Huskers Finish Arizona Trip With Two Wins Over Park

The Nebraska beach volleyball team finished its Arizona trip with a pair of sweeps over Park (AZ) on Sunday in Mesa. The Huskers improved to 11-2 on the season after dropping just one set all day.

In the first match, Olivia Mauch and Manaia Ogbechie got things started at No. 4, overwhelming Kyla Knight and Hayven Lick 21-8, 21-3. Harper Murray and Andi Jackson followed at No. 2, handling Elise Langley and Lizzy Moyer 21-19, 21-14.

Keri Leimbach and Jayden Robinson cruised at No. 5, dismissing Athena Hice and Marissa Moorehouse 21-8, 21-6. Skyler Pierce and Laney Choboy rolled past Aliya Unseth and Keep Williams at No. 3, 21-12, 21-7, before Bergen Reilly and Teraya Sigler closed out the sweep at No. 1, dispatching Porsche Bauer and Adriana DeMario 21-6, 21-13.

In the second match of the doubleheader, Murray and Jackson began the sweep at No. 2, beating Aliya Unseth and Keep Williams 21-15, 21-12. Mauch and Ogbechie were victorious at No. 4, defeating Kyla Knight and Hayven Lick 21-10, 21-12.

Reilly and Sigler overpowered Porsche Bauer and Adriana DeMario at No. 1, 21-11, 21-7. Pierce and Choboy cruised past Elise Langley and Lizzy Moyer at No. 3, 21-12, 21-13. Leimbach and Robinson sealed the sweep at No. 5, earning a three-set victory over Athena Hice and Marissa Moorehouse, 21-15, 21-21, 15-9.

The Huskers head to Florida next week for 12 matches from March 14-21. 

Nebraska 5, Park 0

1. Bergen Reilly/Teraya Sigler (NEB) def. Porsche Bauer/Adriana DeMario (PARK) 21-6, 21-13

2. Harper Murray/Andi Jackson (NEB) def. Elise Langley/Lizzy Moyer (PARK) 21-19, 21-14

3. Skyler Pierce/Laney Choboy (NEB) def. Aliya Unseth/Keep Williams (PARK) 21-12, 21-7

4. Olivia Mauch/Manaia Ogbechie (NEB) def. Kyla Knight/Hayven Lick (PARK) 21-8, 21-3

5. Keri Leimbach/Jayden Robinson (NEB) def. Athena Hice/Marissa Moorehouse (PARK) 21-8, 21-6

Nebraska 5, Park 0

1. Bergen Reilly/Teraya Sigler (NEB) def. Porsche Bauer/Adriana DeMario (PARK) 21-11, 21-7

2. Harper Murray/Andi Jackson (NEB) def. Aliya Unseth/Keep Williams (PARK) 21-15, 21-12

3. Skyler Pierce/Laney Choboy (NEB) def. Elise Langley/Lizzy Moyer (PARK) 21-12, 21-13

4. Olivia Mauch/Manaia Ogbechie (NEB) def. Kyla Knight/Hayven Lick (PARK) 21-10, 21-12

5. Keri Leimbach/Jayden Robinson (NEB) def. Athena Hice/Marissa Moorehouse (PARK) 21-15, 21-21, 15-9