Home / College Wrestling News / Key Matchup: Burroughs tops Howe to win Midlands title

Key Matchup: Burroughs tops Howe to win Midlands title

By
Updated: December 31, 2010

Senior Jordan Burroughs captured the 165-pound title at the 48th Annual Midlands Championship in Evanston, Ill., after upsetting the No. 1 wrestler in the country Andrew Howe (Wis.) by decision,10-7, on Thursday. Also wrestling in the finals was No. 10 Josh Ihnen (184), but the sophomore couldn’t pull off the upset falling to No. 6 Travis Rutt (Wis.), 4-3, to capture a second place finish.

Burroughs, who entered the tournament as the 2nd-rated wrestler at 165-pounds, was named the Dan Gable Most Outstanding Wrestler for the tournament and improved his record to a perfect 18-0 on the season. Burroughs’ victory snapped Howe’s 51-match winning streak entering the finals. The senior advanced to the finals after defeating Chris Spangler (Iowa St.) in the semifinals.

Burroughs gained an edge early in the match after recording two takedowns in the first period to go up 4-1. After an early escape by Burroughs to take a 5-1 lead in the second period, Howe responded with his own takedown to close the score to 5-3, but Burroughs closed the period out with a reversal to stretch his lead to 7-3 heading into the third period. After choosing down to open the third period, Howe was able to escape and gain a takedown to make the score 7-6. Burroughs was able to escape to extend his lead to two points, and finished off the match by gaining a penalty point and the riding time to make the final score, 10-7. Howe was awarded a stalling point in the third period for his seventh point.

In the 184-pound semifinal match, No. 10 Ihnen upset No. 4 Grant Gambrall (Iowa) in the sudden-victory period to take the match, 4-2. Ihnen’s tournament run came to an end in the finals against Rutt, who was able to hold off Ihnen for the 4-3 victory. Ihnen improved his season record to 16-4.

Ridge Kiley (133) and James Nakashima (184) were both able to capture eighth place finishes for the Huskers.

Nebraska returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 15, when they travel to Grand Prairie, Texas, to take part in the Lone Star Duals. The Huskers will dual Stanford, Brown and Utah Valley in triple-header action. Full results from the Midlands Championships are listed below.