By Mike Finn, W.I.N. Editor 

Before Nebraska defeated Minnesota in the semifinals of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals — making the Huskers the first unseeded team to compete in the finals since 2003 — the men in red had to dig themselves out of a Gopher hole.

            With Minnesota winning four of the first five bouts — including at 125 and 133 where Gophers Jayson Ness and Mack Reiter, respectively, rallied to defeat Nebraska’s Paul Donahoe and Kenny Jordan — the Cornhuskers were trailing, 13-5, entering the 165-pound match.

            And even with Steve Dwyer and Brandon Browne winning bouts, the Huskers were still in jeopardy at seeing their dream end when 184-pound Vince Jones was trailing Minnesota’s Roger Kish, 3-2, in the final 30 seconds of their match. A Kish win would have given the Gophers an 18-11 lead with two matches left.

            Instead Jones was able to penetrate Kish’s defense and eventually put the Gopher on his back before pinning him with four seconds left.

            “We were in an awkward position,” said Nebraska coach Mark Manning. “They got into a scramble and Vince kind of forced the action. He had to because he was getting beat with about 15-20 seconds left. We’re just happy that he did.”

            Jones’ victory — and two more wins by Huskers Craig Brester (197) and Jon May (HWT) gave Nebraska a 24-13 victory, Jan. 13, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Not even a championship loss later that day to Iowa could take away the excitement the Huskers felt for most of the National Duals, when they also defeated Northwestern and Penn State to reach the semis.

            That happiest of the Huskers had to be Jones.

            “I didn’t feel like I had to get a fall,” Jones said about his decisive move against Kish. “We just had to respond to what happened.”

            Falling into a hole is nothing new for the Nebraska team the last couple years, especially last season when Browne and Jones were ruled ineligible for the second semester. With their return, the Huskers are currently ranked No. 2 in W.I.N.’s poll.

            “Last year was probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do in my life, but as I said it’s all about responding,” said Jones, making a comparison to his personal challenges and those faced by the Husker wrestling team. “You can’t live in the past.”

            That was the message preached by Manning even before their meeting with Minnesota.

            “We told them that each guy has to take care of their own business,” Manning said. “They can’t worry about anyone else; just what’s happening in their match.”

            Manning was also proud of Browne, Jones and his entire team for not quitting after last season.

            “We knew their abilities and work ethics and what they meant to our team,” Manning said. “When they had the academic situation happen, it could have really tore us up. You have to respond and be a man about it.

            “We regrouped and ended up wrestling four freshmen. Some benefits are coming our way and the end of last year Steve Dwyer, Jordan Burroughs and Craig Brester (qualified for the NCAAs). We had a lot of good things happen and it’s paying off for us now.

            The Huskers also picked up some needed depth the day before when 141-pound Mike Rowe defeated Penn State’s No. 6-ranked Jake Strayer, in the quarterfinal dual. This came after Manning inserted Rob Sanders into the line-up in the opening-round match with Northwestern.

            “We weren’t sure what was going to happen so I came in and prepared,” said Rowe. “I got my chance and had to make the most of it.”

            That appears to be the story for many of the Huskers, who felt disrespected about not being seeded for this tournament.

            “We tell guys you have to deserve it,” Manning said. “It’s all about going out and proving it. That’s what this weekend was all about.”