2008-09 NEBRASKA WRESTLING T aableble ofof C oontentsntents The 2008-09 Nebraska wrestling schedule features 12 home duals and the 2009 Big 12 Championships on March 7 at the NU Coliseum. This Is Nebraska 1-24 2008-09 Huskers 41-58 Husker History 75-96 Beyond Nebraska 2-3 All-American Brandon Browne 42 NCAA Championships History 76 International Huskers 4-5 All-American Craig Brester 43 Conference Championships History 77 NU National Champions 6-7 All-American Jordan Burroughs 44 Husker Honor Roll 78 Wrestling Facilities 8-9 All-American Stephen Dwyer 45 Husker Season Records 79 All-Sports Facilities 10-11 Patrick Aleksanyan 46 Husker Career Records 80 Husker Power 12 Vince Jones 47 Nebraska's 100 Win Club/Team Records 81 Athletic Medicine/Nutrition 13 Robert Sanders 48 All-Time Series Records 82 Academic Success 14-15 Cameron Browne/Alex Howard/Levi Wofford 49 Year-By-Year Records 82 Academic Support 16-17 Andy Johnson/Peter Roto/Curtis Salazar 50 All-Time Results 83-91 The University of Nebraska 18-19 Paul Sanders/Matt Vacanti/Alex Ward 51 All-Time Letterwinners 92-93 The City of Lincoln 20 Chris Hacker/Tucker Lane/Brian Litch 52 Nebraska's National Champions 94 The State of Nebraska 21 Andy Pokorny/Matt Ashton/Austin Barnes 53 Husker All-Americans 95-96 Husker Athletics 22-23 Jon Burns/Hadley Cooksley/Romero Cotton 54 Nebraska Radio and TV Roster 24 Riley Essay/Ross Grande/Josh Ihnen 55 Media Services 97-104 Ridge Kiley/Tyler Koehn/Livingston Lukow 56 Athletic Staff Directory 98 Introduction 25-30 Eric Reinert/Ethan Studebaker/Alex Thomas 57 Compliance Guidelines for Boosters 99 Season Preview/Quick Facts 26-27 Nebraska Wrestling Booster Club 58 Big 12 Conference Information 100-101 Alphabetical and Weight-by-Weight Roster 28 Media Services and Information 102-103 Roster Breakdown 29 2008-09 Opponents 59-64 Rules of Wrestling 104 Schedule/Travel Destinations 30 2007-08 Season Review 65-74 Media & Recruiting Guide Credits Coaches and Staff 31-40 Season Review 66-67 Coach Mark Manning 32-33 Dual-by-Dual Results 68-71 The 2008-09 University of Nebraska Wrestling Media and Assistant Coaches 34 Big 12 Championship Results 72 Re cruit ing Guide was writ ten, de signed and edited by Media Wrestling Support Staff 35 NCAA Championship Results 73 Relations Intern Amil Anderson of the Nebraska Media NU Coaching History 36 Results/Honors/Statistics 74 Relations offi ce. Ed i to ri al as sis tance provided by Director Athletic Director Tom Osborne 37 of Media Relations Operations Jeff Griesch, Media Relations Athletic Administration 38 Director Keith Mann and Media Relations Administrative University Administration 39 Assistant Vicki Cartwright. The cover was designed by Nebraska Board of Regents 40 Athletic Department Design Specialist Annie Wood. The guide was pro duced on Adobe InDesign CS2 and print ed by UNL Print ing Services. Photo credits to Scott Bruhn of the University of Nebraska Media Relations Offi ce, UNL Photo Services and Alan Jack son, Jackson Studios. Ad di tion al photo credits to the Lincoln Con ven tion and Vis i tors Bu reau, UNL Public Re la tions Offi ce, Kevin Smith and Sonya Stanbro of USA Wrestling. The cost of the 2008-09 wres tling media guide is $5, tax included. HUSKERS.COM 1 CORNHU THIS IS NEBRASKA ith nearly 100 years of history, Nebraska wrestling has grown into one of the most respected and successful programs in the Big 12 Conference and around the nation. Coach Mark Manning has continued that tradition in his eight years at the helm for the Huskers. With hard work and a dedication to excellence, Manning has developed a program that Wconsistently competes with the nation’s best in collegiate wrestling. Since 2000, Nebraska has earned more than 115 dual victories, including more than 40 wins over ranked opponents. In that time, the Huskers have also finished in the top eight at the NCAA Championships five times and racked up 27 All-America honors, including two national titles. In the classroom, NU wrestlers have earned 13 NWCA All-Academic Team selections and 31 Academic All-Big 12 nominations en route to three CoSIDA Academic All-America awards. One reason NU has been able to develop such a successful program is its top-notch facilities. From the 5,000-square foot wrestling room at the Bob Devaney Sports Center to the state-of-the-art weight room in the Osborne Athletic Complex, the wrestling program creates the necessary environment for victories at the NU Coliseum, located in the heart of campus. With a wealth of support and a history of success, Nebraska wrestling expects to contend for championships every year. Above: The Nebraska wrestling program has been built on the strong support of coaches and players, including (from left): Coach Mark Manning, who has guided the Huskers to a 109-42-2 record since 2000; Justin Ruiz, a two-time All-American in 2002 and 2003 at 197 pounds; Matt Murray, an All-American in 2004 at 141 pounds; Jacob Klein, a two-time All- American in 2004 and 2006 at 165 and 174 pounds. Right: The 2007-08 Nebraska wrestling squad added to the Huskers’ achievements with a fourth-place fi nish at the NCAA Championships, as fi ve NU wrestlers earned All-America honors. Nebraska Wrestling by the Numbers 4 5 6 9 14 17 32 44 82 CoSIDA Olympic Huskers who Individual Medals won by Top 10 NCAA Members of Academic All-America Academic medals earned have wrestled in National NU wrestlers at Team Finishes the NWCA All- All-Big 12 Honors All-Americans by Nebraska the Olympics Champions the FILA World Academic Team selections wrestlers Championships 2 | NEBRASKA WRESTLING USKERS SUCCESS BEYOND WRESTLING Nebraska coaches have always guided young men toward success on the mat while also teaching them to find success in life, and Mark Manning continues that with his coaching philosophies. Manning has helped young men grow into upstanding adults by teaching athletes that the values they learn on the mat can be transferred into their personal life. Bryan Snyder (right), is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in sociology after becoming NU’s only four-time All-American. “Wrestling presents a lot of challenges, but also the ability to work through those challenges. Wrestling builds good character and good work ethic and I definitely built that at Nebraska.” - Bryan Snyder A three-time All-American at Nebraska in the early 1990’s, Scott Chenoweth (below) has coached his high school team to multiple state titles. “I learned the only thing holding me back was me. If I wanted a degree, there was no reason I couldn’t get that degree.” The Scherr brothers were both national champions at Nebraska in 1984, before continuing their prosperity on the mat into their personal life. Bill (above left) earned the collegiate title at 190 pounds and went on to win fi ve medals in the Olympics and FILA World Championships before turning his attention to a professional career. He now serves as the vice president of a global investment banking and securities fi rm. “Wrestling teaches you valuable life lessons like self-discipline and perseverance. It gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment. All of those translate into any sort of career you would want to pursue.” - Bill Scherr Two-time letterwinner John Myers (below) wrestled for NU in the late 1980’s, before Jim (above right) won the national title at 177 pounds with a victory over Iowa’s Duane Goldman and also continued his wrestling career onto becoming executive producer of his own the international stage. Jim claimed three medals between the Olympics and FILA World Championships and is still involved with the Olympics, digital design and effects studio. “All of as he currently serves as the chief executive offi cer of the U.S. Olympic Committee. the greatest things in my life past and “[Nebraska] has a good core of dedicated faculty with great academic support in place. The sports department has tremendous personnel and present, big and small, can be attributed resources. Nebraska was a great experience from both ends of the spectrum, athletically and academically.” - Jim Scherr to wrestling and everything that came with wrestling at Nebraska.” A sample of Husker wrestler accomplishments after graduation: Name Years Lettered Major Currently Brad Canoyer 1995-98 Ag Economics Assists with family-owned garden centers Scott Chenoweth 1988-91 Speech Communications Asstistant principal and coach in Perry, Okla. John Myers 1986, 87 Journalism Founder of digital design and effects studio Judd Norman 1979, 80, 82 Agriculture Owns investment firm in Lincoln Jim Owens 1955, 56 Electrical Engineering Owner of keyed interlock business Bill Scherr 1981-84 Education Vice president of global investment firm Jim Scherr 1981-84 Business CEO of U.S. Olympic Committee Billie Selmon 1980, 82 Early Childhood Education Runs more than 20 childcare businesses Johnnie Selmon 1981, 82 Education Dean of student affairs at Lake Michigan College Bryan Snyder 1999-2002 Sociology/Communication Studies Ph.D. student at Colorado in sociology Robert Thorpe 1961 Business/Economics President of his own architecture firm NEBRASKA WRESTLING | 3 OLYMPIC GLORY Nebraska wrestling has climbed its way into the Olympic spotlight during the past several Olympics. Former Huskers who have continued their careers on the international stage include two-time Olympic medal- winner Rulon Gardner, who won a gold medal in 2000 and a bronze in 2004 in Greco- Roman. Overall, six Nebraska wrestlers have participated on six U.S. Olympic teams and claimed fi ve medals. A 1993 All-American at heavyweight for Nebraska, Rulon Gardner (top) pulled off one of the most remarkable upsets in sports history with his victory over previously undefeated Alexander Karelin of Russia in the gold medal match in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.