The Nebraska wrestling team earned its best finish in program history in March with a second place trophy in the NCAA Tournament behind perennial powerhouse Penn State.
The very team that head coach Mark Manning aims to close the gap on.
“We’re chasing down Penn State,” Manning told Hail Varsity. “That’s a tough task. They’re in a dynasty like the Patriots, or double the Patriots, or the Chiefs or whatever you want to say… It’s a crazy dynasty they’ve got going on. Someone’s going to beat them.”
The Nittany Lions have won 12 of the last 15 NCAA Tournaments.
Along with earning their best finish, the Huskers also produced two national champions in Ridge Lovett and Antrell Taylor.
Manning said that the team’s grit and determination helped the Huskers succeed this past season.
“It starts with our team,” Manning said. “Their commitment from really last spring, summer. We had regular 25 to 30 guys around training all the time the whole summer. I knew the commitment was high. With commitment comes belief, and belief is the magic in getting these guys to perform the way they did. We had a really good season, but I think we always preach being your best the five days in March, two days at Big Tens and three days in the NCAA Tournament. So I think that really came to fruition.”
Establishing a strong culture and foundation is an important aspect when building a strong team. Learning valuable lessons both inside and outside of wrestling is something he strongly believes in.
“It’s all about these young men that believe in our team,” Manning said. “They believe in the principles and the values we teach. That’s what gets left out of sports, is the values and principles these guys learn to go on. We’re preparing them for life. They’re going to be amazing husbands, fathers, presidents of industries. Who knows what they’re going to be doing, but we have a variety of different majors that guys are going to go into. But really the sky is the limit, and that’s kind of what we preach in wrestling. It’s going to carry over to their lives, so I’m really proud of them.”
Manning carries a lot of different philosophies with him, the biggest one being the saying, “You don’t buy them, you build them.”
“Buying them and building them, I’ve been saying that because of the day we live in right now,” Manning said. “It’s more about earning something, and in life, you’ve got to earn. If you want to be worth 50 million bucks, you want to run a big corporation, you’ve got to pay the price. You’ve got to earn that. No one’s going to hand that to you.”
Along with being the head coach for 25 years comes a lot of fulfilling experiences, one being the ability to see all the success that former wrestlers have had after leaving the program.
“Guys like Craig Brewster and Jason Powell, who were 15 years ago, that are doing great, great husbands, great fathers, and they’re in great professions,” Manning said. “They’re leaders in their professions. Just guys like Brandon Brown, all these guys that are killing it out there in life, and Jacob Klein; I can go on and on. I’m just so proud of them. Even Paul Donahoe. They’re producing other great people and great sons and daughters. I’m thankful for them joining our program and they’re just an inspiration to me.”
As for Manning’s career, the longtime coach joked that he’d coach another 25 years at Nebraska.
“My hair is not that gray yet,” Manning said. “I love what I do. I’m ready to keep going as a Husker.”
With six All-Americans returning next season, he said that he hopes this team will help expand the sport’s popularity across the state.
“We can be that next sport to pack the Bob Devaney and really put people on their feet,” Manning said. “We’re starting a student section next year, so really challenging our students out there. It’s a great sport. Not only that, it’s great young men that we have on our team, high character. Wearing the N and wearing the scripted Nebraska means something to them. That’s what they’re really proud of, and they represent Nebraska to the fullest.”
The team has high expectations and goals for next season. Winning the NCAA Tournament is something that’s always on the Huskers mind.
“I say to our guys, ‘Why not us?’”
