For Nebraska coach Mark Manning, the difference between ninth at the NCAA Championships and second is one crucial decision.

“In my mind, I think we were the same team last year as we were this year," Manning said. “It’s just that Ridge Lovett didn’t win in the semis last year. If Ridge Lovett wins in the semis last year, when I didn’t make a good decision, we would finish second in the nation. 

“We had the second most All-Americans last year (five) but people didn’t look at us like we were sweet. Ridge wanted to take top and he did take top.”

Manning is referencing Lovett’s loss to Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson. Neither scored through the first five minutes when Henson chose neutral in the second. Lovett picked top — his best position — in the third but the Hokie star escaped in less than a minute, earning a 1-0 win. 

Lovett lost his next two matches, finishing sixth. Henson won a 15-7 finals shootout over Michigan’s Austin Gomez for his first NCAA title. 

Watch highlights of what transpired in the 2024 NCAA semis below.

The 2025 NCAA Championships were a carbon copy of the previous year’s semifinals with one exception: Lovett chose bottom in the third and Henson immediately released the Husker star. Despite several deep shots by Henson, Lovett held on for a 1-0 win and the 149-pound national title. 

Watch highlights of what transpired in the 2025 NCAA finals below. 

Lovett scored 22.5 team points in 2025 compared to 12 in 2024 — a difference of 10.5. Cornell (2nd) outscored Nebraska (9th) by 12.5 in 2024 (72.5 to 60.5). 

Nebraska nearly doubled its 2024 total with a program-record 117 points and eight All-Americans in 2025. The Huskers’ second-place finish is their highest ever. 

Lovett’s title was the first since Jordan Burroughs’ in 2011.

Nebraska had multiple champions for the first time since 1984 when Antrell Taylor notched his 157-pound title. Thanks to Brock Hardy’s second-place finish at 141, the team had three national finalists for the second time. 

Jacob Van Dee (133) and Camden McDanel (197) lost in the first round but bounced back to finish seventh and eighth, respectively. Caleb Smith (125) and Silas Allred (184) finished seventh. Christopher Minto (165) finished fourth after an eighth-place finish at Big Tens. 

Lenny Pinto was the only Husker national qualifier who didn’t place — and he was a win away from the podium. 

There’s no debate: this was the best NCAA Championship performance in Husker history. 

Huskers' Historic Run

“Our guys competed well," Manning said. “Up and down the line-up they showed resolve all over the place. The unity of this group is special. They wrestle for each other. They’re tight. They do stuff off the mat together. A lot of them live together or close to each other. They hang out. They’re buddies for life. This isn’t just a five-year commitment. These guys will have lifetime relationships. 

“We’re trying to add a couple of pieces to the puzzle but we’ll keep developing the guys we have and keep them growing and believing in themselves. They’re not content. Jacob Van Dee is not content. Brock Hardy is not content. 

“You have to put the work in during the off-season to get better and we have guys willing to do that.”

Next year should be filled with promise. Manning returns 87 points but has holes to fill at 125, 149, and 285. 

“It’s a tough sport and we have tough individuals,” Manning said. “Our guys were out to prove themselves."

Nebraska coach Mark Manning was riding high at the 2025 NCAA Championships