The top-ranked wrestling champion’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. As he took the redshirt season to address several areas of improvement, he returned to the mat with renewed focus and prowess. The result? A stellar performance this season, with a score of 19-0, solidified his status as one of the most highly-ranked wrestlers in the country at 149 pounds.
The four-time Idaho state high school champion faced a challenging weight cut due to injury, yet he proved himself to be one of the most resilient wrestlers this season. Despite going through the setback, he thrust into action when Nebraska started at 133 pounds. All this resilience and grit earned him a win over Mchigan’s No. 6 Austin Gomez recently. That gave way to a well-deserved honor.
A fabulous season Nebraska Huskers wrestling standout
With his win over Gomez, Nebraska Huskers wrestler Ridge Lovett claimed his career-first NCAA Wrestler of the Week honor. The news came out on the official Twitter page of Nebraska Wrestling with the caption, “We like it, we Lovett. @RidgeLovett is your @NCAAWrestling Wrestler of the Week.”
We like it, we Lovett.@RidgeLovett is your @NCAAWrestling Wrestler of the Week. pic.twitter.com/fHEqZx6qAZ
— Nebraska Wrestling (@HuskerWrestling) February 13, 2024
With a dominating display of skills and determination, he has secured an 11-4 victory and managed to remain undefeated at 20-0 on the season. His strategic prowess was fully delivered to the fans throughout the match, he tallied seven points in the first period and maintained his control until the end of the game.
Lovett was under the guidance of coach Dlagnev, a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist. He helped him to hone his freestyle skills and expand his offensive repertoire, resulting in a clean defense against his opponent. With his top-notch streak, he has positioned himself as a contender for the NCAA title. With his lineup of accolades, a lofty goal seems to be in sight.
Can Lovett break Nebraska’s 13-year-long drought?
The title of Lovett’s Weekly Honor is the first award for the Huskers since Peyton Robb’s recognition in December 2023. Lovett has been on a fabulous run this season. He has amassed 40 takedowns, conceding just three throughout the season. With his impressive skill, he has earned the bonus point in 13 of his 19 victories. With this Lovett seems to be on the right track to become the first Nebraska wrestling champion since Jordan Burroughs in 2011.
The wrestler has an innovative approach to pining down his opponents, which is to utilize his figure-four leg lock around their heads. Several other wrestlers have honed their craft as students of the game, including Alex Marinelli, Jason Nolf, Ed Ruth, and David Taylor. His upcoming showdown is against No. 1 Penn State, presenting an opportunity to cement his credentials as a wrestling prodigy. Fans are now eagerly waiting to witness him on the mat.
