# Nebraska Cornhuskers wrestling

The Nebraska Cornhuskers wrestling team competes as part of NCAA Division I, representing the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Big Ten Conference. Nebraska primarily hosted meets at the NU Coliseum from 1926 until moving to the larger Bob Devaney Sports Center in 2013.
Since its inception in 1911, the program has won seven conference tournament titles and produced eleven individual NCAA champions with 136 All-America selections. Rulon Gardner and Jordan Burroughs became Olympic gold medalists after their collegiate careers; Burroughs is the most decorated American wrestler of all-time and is considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers ever.
The team has been coached by Mark Manning since 2000.

## Conference affiliations

* Independent (1911–1915)
* Western Intercollegiate Gymnastics and Fencing Association (1911 and 1915, postseason invitational only)
* Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association / Big Eight (1916–1996)
* Big 12 (1996–2011)
* Big Ten (2011–present)

## Coaches
### Coaching history

| No. | Coach | Tenure | Overall | Conference |
| 1 | Raymond G. Clapp | 1911–1927 | 17–17–1 (.500) | 8–7 (.533) |
| 2 | John Kellogg | 1928–1931 | 13–15–1 (.466) | 9–10–1 (.475) |
| 3 | R. G. Lehman | 1932 | 2–3 (.400) | 2–3 (.400) |
| 4 | Harold Ecklund C. E. Thomas | 1933 | 0–2 (.000) | 0–2 (.000) |
| 5 | Jerry Adam | 1934–1947 | 16–72–4 (.196) | 5–26–2 (.182) |
| 6 | B. R. Patterson | 1948–1950 | 13–18–1 (.422) | 8–5–1 (.607) |
| 7 | Al Partin | 1951–1954 | 15–24–4 (.395) | 4–12 (.250) |
| 8 | Don Strasheim | 1955–1957 | 3–25–0 (.107) | 0–9 (.000) |
| 9 | Bill Smith | 1958–1960 | 2–31–1 (.074) | 0–11 (.000) |
| 10 | Mickey Sparano | 1960–1961 | 5–3–1 (.611) | 1–2 (.333) |
| 11 | Robert Mancuso | 1961–1964 | 15–23–1 (.397) | 4–8 (.333) |
| 12 | Orval Borgialli | 1964–1978 | 72–106–6 (.408) | 15–43–3 (.270) |
| 13 | Bob Fehrs | 1978–1985 | 95–51–2 (.649) | 6–24 (.200) |
| 14 | Tim Neumann | 1985–2000 | 199–77–6 (.716) | 31–35–3 (.471) |
| 15 | Mark Manning | 2000–present | 294–107–3 (.731) | 93–61 (.604) |

### Coaching staff

| Name | Position | First year | Alma mater |
| Mark Manning | Head coach | 2000 | Omaha |
| Bryan Snyder | Associate head coach | 2011 | Nebraska |
| Tervel Dlagnev | Assistant coach | 2021 | Nebraska at Kearney |
| James Green | Assistant coach | 2023 | Nebraska |

## Venues

The University of Nebraska broke ground on the NU Coliseum in 1924, adjacent to the recently completed Memorial Stadium. Initially intended to be a part of the stadium complex, the Coliseum was funded as a standalone project using gate receipts from 1923 football games. It was designed by architects Ellery L. Davis and Walter Wilson, both university alumni who had worked on several buildings around NU's campus, including Memorial Stadium. Upon its completion in 1926, the Coliseum hosted most of the university's indoor athletic events.
Nebraska's basketball programs moved to the NU Sports Complex (later the Bob Denavey Sports Center) in 1976. Volleyball and wrestling remained at the Coliseum, though the Devaney Center was often used for larger wrestling events. The West Haymarket Arena (known as Pinnacle Bank Arena for sponsorship purposes) was built in 2013 to host basketball, and Nebraska permanently moved its wrestling program a renovated Devaney Center. The Devaney Center's listed capacity is 8,309, though Nebraska has never sold out the venue for a wrestling meet. A program-record crowd of 6,736 watched top-ranked Penn State defeat No. 7 Nebraska on January 17, 2025.
The program practices and trains at the Hendricks Training Complex, a workout facility attached to the Devaney Center.

## Championships and awards
### Team conference championships

* WIGFA: 1911, 1915
* MVIAA / Big Eight: 1924, 1949, 1993, 1995
* Big 12: 2009

### Individual awards

* Dan Hodge Trophy: Jordan Burroughs (2011)
* Gorriaran Award: Gary Albright (1982, 1986), Jason Kelber (1989), Tolly Thompson (1997), Jason Powell (2003)

### NCAA champions

| Year | Wrestler | Weight |
| 1963 | Mike Nissen | 123 lbs |
| 1984 | Jim Scherr | 177 lbs |
| 1984 | Bill Scherr | 190 lbs |
| 1991 | Jason Kelber | 126 lbs |
| 1993 | Tony Purler | 126 lbs |
| 1995 | Tolly Thompson | HWT |
| 2000 | Brad Vering | 197 lbs |
| 2004 | Jason Powell | 125 lbs |
| 2007 | Paul Donahoe | 125 lbs |
| 2009 | Jordan Burroughs | 157 lbs |
| 2011 | Jordan Burroughs | 165 lbs |

### Conference champions

* John Kellogg – 1924 (125 lb)
* Adolph Simac – 1929 (155 lb)
* Mike DiBiase – 1947 (HWT), 1948 (HWT), 1949 (HWT)
* Bob Yambor – 1948 (121 lb), 1949 (121 lb)
* Michael Sparano – 1949 (136 lb)
* Herb Reese – 1949 (175 lb), 1950 (175 lb), 1951 (HWT)
* Harold Gilliland – 1950 (126 lb)
* Ed Husman – 1953 (HWT)
* Max Kitzelman – 1954 (HWT)
* Charles Bryant – 1955 (167 lb)
* Harold Thompson – 1962 (147 lb)
* James Raschke – 1962 (HWT)
* Johnnie Selmon – 1981 (134 lb), 1982 (142 lb)
* Bill Scherr – 1982 (190 lb), 1984 (190 lb)
* Jim Scherr – 1984 (177 lb)
* Gary Albright – 1984 (HWT)
* Cody Olson – 1987 (177 lb)
* Sonny Manley – 1989 (HWT)
* John Buxton – 1990 (118 lb)
* Joe Malecek – 1990 (HWT)
* Jason Kelber – 1991 (126 lb)
* Chris Nelson – 1992 (190 lb)
* Tony Purler – 1993 (126 lb)
* Frank Velazquez – 1993 (134 lb), 1994 (134 lb)
* Matt Lindland – 1993 (158 lb)
* Steve Baer – 1995 (126 lb)
* Temoer Terry – 1995 (150 lb)
* Jason Kraft – 1995 (158 lb), 1996 (158 lb)
* Tolly Thompson – 1995 (HWT), 1996 (HWT), 1997 (HWT)
* Brad Vering – 1998 (177 lb)
* Ryan Tobin – 1998 (190 lb)
* Bryan Snyder – 1999 (157 lb), 2000 (157 lb), 2001 (157 lb), 2002 (157 lb)
* Jason Powell – 2001 (125 lb)
* B. J. Padden – 2005 (197 lb), 2006 (197 lb)
* Brandon Browne – 2008 (174 lb), 2009 (174 lb)
* Jordan Burroughs – 2008 (149 lb), 2009 (157 lb), 2011 (165 lb)
* Paul Donahoe – 2008 (125 lb)
* Vince Jones – 2009 (184 lb)
* Craig Brester – 2009 (197 lb)
* Stephen Dwyer – 2010 (174 lb)
* David Klingsheim – 2011 (125 lb)
* James Green – 2014 (157 lb)
* Robert Kokesh – 2014 (174 lb)
* Silas Allred – 2023 (197 lb)
* Ridge Lovett – 2024 (149 lb), 2025 (149 lb)
* Brock Hardy – 2025 (141 lb)

### All-Americans

* Newt Copple – 1942 (145 lb)
* Herb Reese – 1949 (175 lb)
* Max Kitzelman – 1954 (HWT)
* Dan Brand – 1958 (HWT)
* Harold Thompson – 1962 (147 lb)
* Mike Nissen – 1962 (123 lb), 1963 (123 lb)
* Joe George – 1971 (167 lb)
* Al Freeman – 1981 (142 lb), 1983 (142 lb)
* Johnnie Selmon – 1982 (142 lb)
* Jim Scherr – 1982 (177 lb), 1984 (177 lb)
* Bill Scherr – 1982 (190 lb), 1983 (190 lb), 1984 (190 lb)
* Gary Albright – 1982 (HWT), 1984 (HWT), 1986 (HWT)
* Ray Oliver – 1983 (167 lb)
* Gil Sanchez – 1987 (134 lb)
* Jason Kelber – 1989 (126 lb), 1990 (126 lb), 1991 (126 lb)
* Scott Chenoweth – 1989 (167 lb), 1990 (167 lb), 1991 (177 lb)
* Paul Herrera – 1990 (142 lb)
* Corey Olson – 1990 (177 lb), 1992 (177 lb), 1993 (177 lb)
* Chris Nelson – 1990 (190 lb), 1992 (190 lb)
* Joe Malecek – 1990 (HWT)
* John Buxton – 1993 (118 lb)
* Tony Purler – 1993 (126 lb)
* Frank Velazquez – 1993 (134 lb)
* Mike Eierman – 1993 (142 lb)
* Rulon Gardner – 1993 (HWT)
* Scott Gonyo – 1994 (118 lb)
* Brad Canoyer – 1995 (118 lb)
* Steve Baer – 1995 (126 lb)
* Temoer Terry – 1995 (150 lb), 1996 (158 lb), 1998 (158 lb)
* Ryan Tobin – 1995 (190 lb), 1996 (190 lb), 1998 (190 lb)
* Tolly Thompson – 1995 (HWT), 1996 (HWT), 1997 (HWT)
* Chad Nelson – 1996 (167 lb)
* Jose DeAnda – 1999 (141 lb)
* Bryan Snyder – 1999 (157 lb), 2000 (157 lb), 2001 (157 lb), 2002 (157 lb)
* Brad Vering – 1999 (184 lb), 2000 (197 lb), 2001 (197 lb)
* Paul Gomez – 2000 (125 lb)
* Todd Beckerman – 2000 (133 lb), 2001 (133 lb)
* Ati Conner – 2001 (174 lb)
* Jason Powell – 2002 (118 lb), 2003 (125 lb), 2004 (125 lb)
* Justin Ruiz – 2002 (197 lb), 2003 (197 lb)
* Matt Murray – 2004 (141 lb)
* Travis Shufelt – 2004 (149 lb)
* Jacob Klein – 2004 (165 lb), 2006 (174 lb)
* Travis Pascoe – 2005 (184 lb)
* B. J. Padden – 2005 (197 lb), 2006 (197 lb)
* Paul Donahoe – 2007 (125 lb), 2008 (125 lb)
* Jordan Burroughs – 2008 (149 lb), 2009 (157 lb), 2011 (165 lb)
* Stephen Dwyer – 2008 (165 lb), 2010 (174 lb)
* Brandon Browne – 2008 (174 lb), 2009 (174 lb)
* Craig Brester – 2008 (197 lb), 2009 (197 lb), 2010 (197 lb)
* Vince Jones – 2009 (184 lb)
* James Green – 2012 (157 lb), 2013 (157 lb), 2014 (157 lb), 2015 (157 lb)
* Josh Ihnen – 2012 (184 lb)
* Robert Kokesh – 2013 (174 lb), 2014 (174 lb), 2015 (174 lb)
* T. J. Dudley – 2015 (184 lb), 2016 (184 lb), 2017 (184 lb)
* Eric Montoya – 2016 (133 lb), 2017 (133 lb)
* Austin Wilson – 2016 (165 lb)
* Tyler Berger – 2017 (157 lb), 2018 (157 lb), 2019 (157 lb)
* Aaron Studebaker – 2017 (197 lb)
* Chad Red Jr. – 2018 (141 lb), 2019 (141 lb), 2020 (141 lb), 2021 (141 lb)
* Taylor Venz – 2018 (184 lb), 2020 (184 lb)
* Isaiah White – 2019 (165 lb), 2020 (165 lb)
* Mikey Labriola – 2019 (174 lb), 2020 (174 lb), 2021 (174 lb), 2022 (174 lb), 2023 (174 lb)
* Ridge Lovett – 2020 (133 lb), 2022 (149 lb), 2024 (149 lb)
* Collin Purinton – 2020 (149)
* Peyton Robb – 2020 (157 lb), 2022 (157 lb), 2023 (157 lb), 2024 (157 lb)
* Eric Schultz – 2020 (197 lb), 2022 (197 lb)
* Christian Lance – 2022 (HWT)
* Liam Cronin – 2023 (125 lb)
* Brock Hardy – 2023 (141 lb), 2024 (141 lb)
* Caleb Smith – 2024 (125 lb)
* Antrell Taylor – 2024 (165 lb)

## Seasons

* Conference tournament champion
| Year | Coach | Record | Conference | Conference championship | Postseason | Final rank |
| Independent (1910–1915) |||||||||
| 1911 | Raymond G. Clapp | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1st | | |
| 1912 | Did not compete |
| 1913 | Did not compete |
| 1914 | Did not compete |
| 1915 | Raymond G. Clapp | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1st | | |
| MVIAA / Big Eight Conference (1916–1996) |||||||||
| 1916 | Raymond G. Clapp | 0–1–1 | 0–1–1 | Not available | | |
| 1917 | Did not compete |
| 1918 | Did not compete |
| 1919 | Raymond G. Clapp | 0–1 | 0–1 | Not available | | |
| 1920 | Did not compete |
| 1921 | Did not compete |
| 1922 | Raymond G. Clapp | 2–1 | 0–0 | Not available | | |
| 1923 | Raymond G. Clapp | 4–1 | 1–1 | Not available | | |
| 1924 | Raymond G. Clapp | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1st | | |
| 1925 | Raymond G. Clapp | 1–4 | 0–2 | 5th | | |
| 1926 | Raymond G. Clapp | 4–2 | 3–1 | 3rd | | |
| 1927 | Raymond G. Clapp | 3–4 | 3–2 | 4th | | |
| 1928 | John Kellogg | 3–4 | 2–3 | 5th | NCAA 5th | |
| 1929 | John Kellogg | 3–3–1 | 2–2–1 | 3rd | | |
| 1930 | John Kellogg | 5–3 | 3–2 | 3rd | | |
| 1931 | John Kellogg | 2–5 | 2–3 | 4th | | |
| 1932 | R. G. Lehman | 2–3 | 2–3 | 4th | | |
| 1933 | Harold Ecklund C. E. Thomas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 5th | | |
| 1934 | Jerry Adam | 1–4–1 | 1–3–1 | T–5th | | |
| 1935 | Jerry Adam | 1–7 | 0–5 | 5th | | |
| 1936 | Jerry Adam | 2–6 | 2–2 | 6th | | |
| 1937 | Jerry Adam | 4–4–1 | 1–1–1 | 5th | | |
| 1938 | Jerry Adam | 1–7–1 | 0–3 | 4th | | |
| 1939 | Jerry Adam | 3–6–1 | 1–1 | 4th | | |
| 1940 | Jerry Adam | 1–7 | 0–2 | 4th | | |
| 1941 | Jerry Adam | 0–9 | 0–2 | 4th | | |
| 1942 | Jerry Adam | 0–8 | 0–2 | Canceled | NCAA T–12th | |
| 1943 | Did not compete |
| 1944 | Did not compete |
| 1945 | Did not compete |
| 1946 | Jerry Adam | 0–8 | 0–2 | Canceled | NCAA T–9th | |
| 1947 | Jerry Adam | 3–7 | 0–3 | 3rd | | |
| 1948 | B. R. Patterson | 2–8 | 2–3 | 2nd | | |
| 1949 | B. R. Patterson | 6–4–1 | 3–0–1 | 1st | NCAA T–7th | |
| 1950 | B. R. Patterson | 5–6 | 3–2 | 2nd | | |
| 1951 | Al Partin | 4–6–1 | 2–3 | T–4th | | |
| 1952 | Al Partin | 0–9–1 | 0–5 | 4th | | |
| 1953 | Al Partin | 9–1 | 2–1 | T–4th | | |
| 1953–54 | Al Partin | 2–8 | 0–3 | 5th | NCAA T–14th | |
| 1955 | Don Strasheim | 0–12 | 0–3 | 5th | | |
| 1956 | Don Strasheim | 2–6 | 0–3 | 5th | | |
| 1957 | Don Strasheim | 1–7 | 0–3 | 5th | | |
| 1958 | Bill Smith | 1–9 | 0–3 | 6th | NCAA T–17th | |
| 1958–59 | Bill Smith | 1–9–1 | 0–5 | 6th | NCAA T–39th | |
| 1959–60 | Bill Smith | 0–13 | 0–3 | 6th | | |
| 1960–61 | Mickey Sparano | 5–3–1 | 1–2 | 6th | NCAA T–21st | |
| 1961–62 | Robert Mancuso | 9–2–1 | 4–1 | 4th | NCAA 9th | |
| 1962–63 | Robert Mancuso | 2–14 | 0–4 | 6th | NCAA University Division 13th | |
| 1963–64 | Robert Mancuso | 4–7 | 0–3 | 7th | | |
| 1964–65 | Orval Borgialli | 5–11–1 | 3–4–1 | 6th | | |
| 1965–66 | Orval Borgialli | 2–13 | 1–5 | 5th | | |
| 1966–67 | Orval Borgialli | 3–10 | 0–5 | 6th | | |
| 1967–68 | Orval Borgialli | 4–12–1 | 1–4 | 7th | | |
| 1968–69 | Orval Borgialli | 4–9 | 0–3 | 7th | | |
| 1970 | Orval Borgialli | 6–5–2 | 1–1–2 | 5th | | |
| 1970–71 | Orval Borgialli | 8–5 | 2–2 | 4th | | |
| 1971–72 | Orval Borgialli | 9–5–1 | 2–2 | 4th | | |
| 1972–73 | Orval Borgialli | 4–10 | 0–4 | 4th | NCAA University Division 21st | |
| 1973–74 | Orval Borgialli | 7–6 | 1–4 | 6th | | |
| 1974–75 | Orval Borgialli | 8–3 | 3–2 | 4th | NCAA Division I T–45th | |
| 1975–76 | Orval Borgialli | 6–6 | 2–2 | 5th | | |
| 1976–77 | Orval Borgialli | 2–6 | 0–2 | 6th | | |
| 1977–78 | Orval Borgialli | 4–6–1 | 0–3 | 6th | NCAA Division I T–55th | |
| 1978–79 | Bob Fehrs | 9–10 | 1–4 | 6th | | |
| 1979–80 | Bob Fehrs | 16–9–2 | 1–4 | 6th | NCAA Division I 39th | |
| 1980–81 | Bob Fehrs | 16–4 | 0–4 | 4th | NCAA Division I 32nd | |
| 1981–82 | Bob Fehrs | 14–5 | 1–3 | 4th | NCAA Division I 6th | 16 |
| 1982–83 | Bob Fehrs | 17–4 | 1–3 | 3rd | NCAA Division I 6th | 6 |
| 1983–84 | Bob Fehrs | 15–5 | 1–3 | 4th | NCAA Division I 4th | 14 |
| 1984–85 | Bob Fehrs | 8–14 | 1–3 | 4th | NCAA Division I 41st | |
| 1985–86 | Tim Neumann | 16–5 | 1–3 | 4th | NCAA Division I 12th | 13 |
| 1986–87 | Tim Neumann | 12–6 | 2–2 | 4th | NCAA Division I 14th | |
| 1987–88 | Tim Neumann | 8–9–1 | 0–3–1 | 4th | NCAA Division I 39th | |
| 1988–89 | Tim Neumann | 12–6–2 | 1–3–1 | 4th | NCAA Division I 17th | 9 |
| 1989–90 | Tim Neumann | 21–2–1 | 4–1 | 2nd | NCAA Division I 5th | 4 |
| 1990–91 | Tim Neumann | 11–6 | 2–3 | 3rd | NCAA Division I 10th | 9 |
| 1991–92 | Tim Neumann | 13–4 | 1–3 | 3rd | NCAA Division I 11th | 8 |
| 1992–93 | Tim Neumann | 10–2 | 3–1 | 1st | NCAA Division I 3rd | 2 |
| 1993–94 | Tim Neumann | 12–6 | 3–3 | 3rd | NCAA Division I 29th | 7 |
| 1994–95 | Tim Neumann | 17–3 | 3–3 | 1st | NCAA Division I 6th | 3 |
| 1995–96 | Tim Neumann | 15–3–1 | 2–2–1 | 2nd | NCAA Division I 5th | 3 |
| Big 12 Conference (1996–2011) |||||||||
| 1996–97 | Tim Neumann | 15–6 | 3–2 | 4th | NCAA Division I 12th | 10 |
| 1997–98 | Tim Neumann | 10–6 | 2–3 | 3rd | NCAA Division I 21st | 10 |
| 1998–99 | Tim Neumann | 17–6 | 3–1 | 4th | NCAA Division I 15th | 4 |
| 1999–00 | Tim Neumann | 10–7–1 | 1–3 | 4th | NCAA Division I 8th | 11 |
| 2000–01 | Mark Manning | 11–6 | 1–3 | 4th | NCAA Division I 8th | 9 |
| 2001–02 | Mark Manning | 8–9 | 0–4 | 4th | NCAA Division I 8th | 9 |
| 2002–03 | Mark Manning | 16–7 | 1–3 | 4th | NCAA Division I 13th | 17 |
| 2003–04 | Mark Manning | 19–3 | 2–2 | 2nd | NCAA Division I 5th | 2 |
| 2004–05 | Mark Manning | 19–2–1 | 3–1 | 3rd | NCAA Division I 19th | 3 |
| 2005–06 | Mark Manning | 12–5 | 2–2 | 3rd | NCAA Division I 16th | 5 |
| 2006–07 | Mark Manning | 10–7–1 | 1–3 | 4th | NCAA Division I 16th | 18 |
| 2007–08 | Mark Manning | 14–3 | 3–1 | 2nd | NCAA Division I 4th | 4 |
| 2008–09 | Mark Manning | 17–3–1 | 3–1 | 1st | NCAA Division I 4th | 4 |
| 2009–10 | Mark Manning | 9–11 | 0–4 | 5th | NCAA Division I T–12th | |
| 2010–11 | Mark Manning | 14–5 | 2–2 | 4th | NCAA Division I 12th | 13 |
| Big Ten Conference (2011–present) |||||||||
| 2011–12 | Mark Manning | 15–4 | 5–3 | 8th | NCAA Division I T–21st | 8 |
| 2012–13 | Mark Manning | 11–6 | 4–4 | 7th | NCAA Division I 13th | 12 |
| 2013–14 | Mark Manning | 12–2 | 6–2 | 5th | NCAA Division I 11th | 8 |
| 2014–15 | Mark Manning | 14–1 | 8–1 | 7th | NCAA Division I 9th | 11 |
| 2015–16 | Mark Manning | 11–6 | 5–4 | 4th | NCAA Division I 8th | 12 |
| 2016–17 | Mark Manning | 12–4 | 6–3 | 4th | NCAA Division I 9th | 5 |
| 2017–18 | Mark Manning | 10–4 | 7–2 | 5th | NCAA Division I 9th | 13 |
| 2018–19 | Mark Manning | 12–5 | 5–4 | 5th | NCAA Division I 10th | 8 |
| 2019–20 | Mark Manning | 11–3 | 6–3 | 2nd | Canceled | 4 |
| 2021 | Mark Manning | 7–1 | 7–1 | 3rd | NCAA Division I 12th | 3 |
| 2021–22 | Mark Manning | 6–5 | 3–5 | 7th | NCAA Division I 5th | 11 |
| 2022–23 | Mark Manning | 12–3 | 7–1 | 3rd | NCAA Division I 8th | 4 |
| 2023–24 | Mark Manning | 12–2 | 6–2 | 3rd | NCAA Division I 9th | 3 |

## International competition
### Olympics

Nine Nebraska wrestlers have combined to compete in thirteen Summer Olympiads, each representing the United States. The earliest of these was Adrian Brian, a featherweight freestyle wrestler who competed in the Greco-Roman division in Antwerp in 1920. Nebraska does not include Brian in its published records, but an Omaha World-Herald report prior to the 2016 Summer Olympics concluded Brian competed in at least one match in Antwerp.
Twin brothers Bill and Jim Scherr, both former NCAA champions, competed in the freestyle division in Seoul in 1988. Rulon Gardner won NU's first Olympic wrestling gold medal in Sydney in 2000, upsetting three-time defending gold medalist Aleksandr Karelin. It was one of just two losses Karelin suffered in his 889-match senior career, and is considered one of the biggest upsets in sports history. Jordan Burroughs won gold in London in 2012 but was upset while attempting to repeat as champion in Rio de Janeiro four years later and failed to medal.
| Olympiad | City | Wrestler | Country | Event | Place |
| 1920 (VII) | Antwerp | Adrian Brian | United States | Greco-Roman FWT | Did not place |
| 1960 (XVII) | Rome | Daniel Brand | United States | Freestyle LHWT | 5th |
| 1964 (XVIII) | Tokyo | Daniel Brand | United States | Freestyle MWT | Bronze |
| 1964 (XVIII) | Tokyo | Bob Pickens | United States | Greco-Roman HWT | 6th |
| 1988 (XXIV) | Seoul | Bill Scherr | United States | Freestyle 100 kg | Bronze |
| 1988 (XXIV) | Seoul | Jim Scherr | United States | Freestyle 90 kg | 5th |
| 2000 (XXVII) | Sydney | Rulon Gardner | United States | Greco-Roman 130 kg | Gold |
| 2000 (XXVII) | Sydney | Matt Lindland | United States | Greco-Roman 76 kg | Silver |
| 2004 (XXVIII) | Athens | Rulon Gardner | United States | Greco-Roman 120 kg | Bronze |
| 2004 (XXVIII) | Athens | Brad Vering | United States | Greco-Roman 84 kg | 11th |
| 2008 (XXIX) | Beijing | Brad Vering | United States | Greco-Roman 84 kg | 12th |
| 2012 (XXX) | London | Jordan Burroughs | United States | Freestyle 74 kg | Gold |
| 2016 (XXXI) | Rio de Janeiro | Jordan Burroughs | United States | Freestyle 74 kg | 9th |

### World Championships

Twelve Nebraska wrestlers have combined to compete in forty-seven events at the World Wrestling Championships, winning twenty-five medals. Burroughs's six gold medals are more than any other American in the competition's history.
Nebraska's World Wrestling Championship medalists :
| Wrestler | Championship | Event | Medal |
| Daniel Brand | 1962 Toledo | Freestyle LHWT | Bronze |
| James Raschke | 1963 Sofia | Greco-Roman HWT | Bronze |
| Bill Scherr | 1985 Budapest | Freestyle 90 kg | Gold |
| Bill Scherr | 1986 Budapest | Freestyle 100 kg | Silver |
| Bill Scherr | 1987 Clermont-Ferrand | Freestyle 100 kg | Bronze |
| Bill Scherr | 1989 Martigny | Freestyle 100 kg | Silver |
| Jim Scherr | 1986 Budapest | Freestyle 90 kg | Bronze |
| Jim Scherr | 1987 Clermont-Ferrand | Freestyle 90 kg | Silver |
| Jim Scherr | 1989 Martigny | Freestyle 90 kg | Silver |
| Rulon Gardner | 2001 Sofia | Greco-Roman 130 kg | Gold |
| Matt Lindland | 2001 Sofia | Greco-Roman 85 kg | Silver |
| Justin Ruiz | 2005 Budapest | Greco-Roman 96 kg | Bronze |
| Tolly Thompson | 2005 Budapest | Freestyle 120 kg | Bronze |
| Brad Vering | 2007 Baku | Greco-Roman 84 kg | Silver |
| Jordan Burroughs | 2011 Istanbul | Freestyle 74 kg | Gold |
| Jordan Burroughs | 2013 Budapest | Freestyle 74 kg | Gold |
| Jordan Burroughs | 2014 Tashkent | Freestyle 74 kg | Bronze |
| Jordan Burroughs | 2015 Las Vegas | Freestyle 74 kg | Gold |
| Jordan Burroughs | 2017 Paris | Freestyle 74 kg | Gold |
| Jordan Burroughs | 2018 Budapest | Freestyle 74 kg | Bronze |
| Jordan Burroughs | 2019 Astana | Freestyle 74 kg | Bronze |
| Jordan Burroughs | 2021 Oslo | Freestyle 79 kg | Gold |
| Jordan Burroughs | 2022 Belgrade | Freestyle 79 kg | Gold |
| James Green | 2015 Las Vegas | Freestyle 70 kg | Bronze |
| James Green | 2017 Paris | Freestyle 70 kg | Silver |

## Professional wrestling

Mike DiBiase won three heavyweight conference championships during his collegiate career. Following a brief amateur boxing career, "Iron Mike" entered professional wrestling. He participated in the American Wrestling Association until his death in 1969. He was the adoptive father of famed WWE performer Ted DiBiase, known as "the Million Dollar Man."
James Raschke wrestled and played left tackle during his time at Nebraska. He gave himself the title "Baron" upon entering professional wrestling and became famous for his violent takedown nicknamed "the claw."
Gary Albright medaled in the Big Eight Championship in 1984 and 1986, and began his professional wrestling career with Stampede Wrestling in 1988 using the stage name "Vokhan Singh." He became popular after signing with All Japan Pro Wrestling, winning two AJPW World Tag Team Championships. He returned to the United States in 1996, dying of a heart attack during a performance in 2000 at age thirty-six.