PHILADELPHIA – Ridge Lovett (149) and Antrell Taylor (157) won NCAA titles on Sunday night, helping Nebraska wrestling to its best performance and finish ever at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships. The Huskers finished as NCAA team runner-up, with 117.0 points.
NU garnered eight All-America honorees at the tournament, with three semifinalists and two champions. Nebraska’s title winners bring home the first individual championship since 2011 (Jordan Borroughs) and the first two in a year since 1984 (Jim Scherr and Bill Scherr).
The Big Red wrestlers put together 17 bonus-point wins for the fifth-highest point total by a runner-up in NCAA history. Prior to this season, the team’s best finish in standings and points was in 1993, finishing third with 79.5 points. The tournament run earned Head Coach Mark Manning the 2025 NCAA Tournament Coach of the Year award.
In the 149 championship match, No. 2 Lovett took on familiar foe and top-seed Caleb Henson (VT). The pair went scoreless through periods one and two, despite a last-second takedown ruling for Henson, which was reversed after further review. Lovett got on the board with an escape in the third period, which he protected for the final stretch to secure the NCAA title. The Husker became the first national champion since Burroughs in 2011 for NU, in what was his final collegiate bout and 101st victory. Lovett avenged his 1-2 record against Henson, and will bring the 149 title back to Lincoln as a four-time All-American.
At 157, No. 3 Taylor faced No. 8 Joey Blaze (PUR) for the fourth time in the past month, this one for the NCAA championship. Taylor took a late first period lead with a takedown and an escape in the second to head to the final two minutes up 4-0. Blaze got on the board with an escape and a penalty point. The Boilermaker could not get a takedown, and Taylor closed the seven minute stretch with a 4-2 victory. The sophomore’s title win marked the first time since 1984 (Jim Scherr and Bill Scherr) that the Huskers had two NCAA champions. Taylor claimed his second All-American honor, and his 50th career win in Philadelphia, and finished his sophomore season 27-4.
The first Husker on the finals mat, No. 1 Brock Hardy (141) met No. 3 Jesse Mendez (OHST) for the championship bout. Hardy got an early 5-0 lead with a takedown and two nearfall points, but the Buckeye battled back, going on a 10-1 run. The returning NCAA Champion finished the deal, defeating the Husker 12-9. Hardy concludes his 14-bout win streak and electric postseason as an NCAA finalist. The Husker went 27-4 with 20 bonus point wins, and earned All-America status for the third year straight.
Saturday morning started with consolation semifinals, as No. 12 Christopher Minto (165) faced No. 7 Hunter Garvin (STAN). The Husker trailed for most of the bout, but came from behind in the third period for his third top-10 upset, defeating Garvin 8-4 for his spot in the third-place match. Minto battled No. 2 Peyton Hall (WVU) in his last bout of the tournament, but fell in a 13-5 major decision. The No. 12 seed had a huge NCAA campaign, with last-second comebacks and upsets, and secured All-America status and a fourth place finish in his first NCAA run.
In his seventh-place bout, No. 9 Caleb Smith (125) put up 18 points for an 18-5 major decision over No. 10 Stevo Poulin (UNCO). The Husker claimed his finish in seventh, concluding his collegiate career in Philadelphia with his second All-American honor in hand. At 133, No. 17 Jacob Van Dee pulled out a 7-2 upset against No. 13 Tyler Knox (STAN) to lock in his seventh-place podium finish. The sophomore out-performed his seed to receive his status as a first-time All American.
No. 12 Silas Allred (184) went for seventh next, claiming the win with a 4-2 decision over No. 22 Donnell Washington (IND). The junior closed the season 23-8, and claimed an All-American honor with his seventh-place finish. At 197, No. 20 Camden McDanel was the last Husker in the seventh place bout. The freshman All-American finished in eighth, falling in his final bout to No. 6 Mac Stout (PITT) in a 12-3 major decision.
The final podiums featured two Husker champions, one runner-up, three finishing in seventh and one in eighth. The top-eight performances from eight Huskers set the program record for All-Americans garnered at an NCAA Tournament.
Team Standings
- Penn State (177.0)
- Nebraska (117.0)
- Oklahoma State (102.5)
- Iowa (81.0)
- Minnesota (51.5)
- Ohio State (51.5)
- Cornell (50.0)
- NC State (46.5)
- Northern Iowa (45.5)
- Illinois (44.5)
