No. 11 Nebraska is looking to regain the form it showed during its fast start

March 14, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg lamented a handful of “mindless turnovers.” He pointed to deficits in points off turnovers and second-chance points. He wondered aloud about his team's focus.

The Cornhuskers are searching for the level they showed during their perfect start, and they are running out of time.

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“We’ve got to find a way to put two halves together if we want any chance of advancing here starting next week,” Hoiberg said.

No. 11 Nebraska dropped to 6-6 in its last 12 games after falling 74-58 to No. 18 Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament on Friday. The Cornhuskers trailed by as many as 20 in their second loss of the season against the Boilermakers.

Hoiberg's team is in line for a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament, but it could be a short stay if it can't solve some of its recent issues.

“We’ve got to go back and learn from this film and figure out what went wrong exactly,” Nebraska forward Pryce Sandford said. “We’ll do that for sure, and we’ll go from there.”

The Cornhuskers (26-6) opened the season with 20 straight wins, including victories at Illinois and home against Michigan State. They moved to No. 5 in the AP poll for the program's highest ranking in school history.

The perfect start was halted by a 75-72 loss at Michigan on Jan. 27. Then they dropped their next game against the Illini. They also lost to Purdue and Iowa before posting consecutive wins against Penn State, Maryland and Southern California.

Following an ugly 72-52 loss at UCLA, the Cornhuskers beat the Hawkeyes 84-75 in overtime in their regular-season finale on Sunday.

“We found a way to regroup after the disappointing game at UCLA,” Hoiberg said. “I thought we played great, especially in that second half at USC. Did not play as well against a hot UCLA team, and then found a way to regroup and focus for Senior Night against Iowa at home. Now we’ve got to get that same focus back.”

Nebraska was outscored 17-5 by Purdue in points off turnovers. It also was outrebounded 23-14 in the second half, leading to a 13-3 advantage for the Boilermakers in second-chance points over the final 20 minutes.

“It came down to points off turnovers and second-chance points. That’s the game,” Hoiberg said. “And just watching after the game in the coaches' room, it just had some mindless turnovers in that first half.”

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7 Shore Conference boys wrestlers advance to state finals

March 14, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

ATLANTIC CITY - Bubba Gavrish has sure been to the school of hard knocks both this season and throughout his career.

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The St. John Vianney High School junior 165-pounder has dealt with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow three times in his career, including this season.

"It's just made me a tougher person,'' Gavrish said.

Gavrish toughness shone through Friday in both his quarterfinal and semifinal bouts in the NJSIAA Boys Individual Championships at Boardwalk Hall.

He first defeated Point Pleasant Borough's No. 3 seed Jake Clayton 4-1 in sudden victory in the quarterfinal and then No. 2 seed Reid Clausi of West Essex 1-0 in the semifinal.

"I stayed confident,'' Gavrish, who sustained his latest UCL injury in the Beast of the East in late December and missed over a month of the season, said. "I knew that I trusted my physical threapist. I have dedication I would wrestle with one limb if I had to.''

On top of the UCL injuries, Gavrish said he is currently dealing with a sprained ankle that he said hurts a lot more right now than the UCL. He was involved in an automobile accident when he said a couch fell out of a truck in front of him.

"I've had to deal with some things, but it's just made me a tougher person,'' Gavrish said.

Gavrish, who will wrestle Delbarton's returning state champion and Penn State recruit Jayden James in the final, is one of seven Shore Conference boys wrestlers who will wrestle for state titles Saturday. The finals will get underway around 3:30 p.m. The boys finals will be preceded by the girls finals, which will take place at 1 p.m.

The Shore Conference's other state finalists are returning state champion Paul Kenny (126) of CBA, Bobby Duffy (144) of CBA; Rumson-Fair Haven's 2024 state 144 pound champion Sonny Amato (150), Lacey's Killian Coluccio (113), Howell's Tanner Hodgins (215) and Middletown North's Thomas Blewett (106).

Kenny, who defeated Pope John's Dalton Weber by technical fall in the semifinal, will wrestle Delbarton's Tommy Marchetti. Kenny is trying to become CBA's first two-time state champion.

Amato, who defeated Camden Catholic's Michael Kraft 6-0 in the semifinal, will wrestle Delbarton's Nicholas Schwartz. Amato is trying become Rumson-Fair Haven's first two-time state champion.

Coluccio, who majored Toms River East's Julius Feliciano 10-1 in the semifinal, will wrestle St. Joseph (Montvale's) Charlie Esposito. Coluccio is trying to become Lacey's first state champion Russ Witt in 1997 and just its second ever.

Hodgins, who defeated CBA's Tyler Palumbo 19-5 in the semifinal, will wrestle Mount Olive's Nicolas Gonzalez.

Duffy, who defeated Paramus Catholic's Seach Hibler 6-1 in the semifinal, will wrestle Delbarton's Ryan DeGeorge

Blewett, who became Middletown North's first state finalist since Tyler Klinsky won the 113-pound title in 2020, will wrestle Paulsboro's No. 1 seed Will Cruz. Blewett defeated Camden Catholic's Stephen Bagocius 9-3 in the semifinal. He is trying to become Middletown North's third state champion.

Gavrish is hard to score on

Clayton was in on two shots over the first two periods of the quarterfinal and Gavrish would not let him finish.

Clausi was in deep on a shot in the third period and Gavrish would not let him finish.

"Even if you get him to a hip, he has very strong legs where he can elevate a kid's weight right off him,'' St. John Vianney head coach Chris Notte said. "He never counts himself out. He wrestles from everywhere.''

"In practice, everybody calls me weird,'' Gavrish said. "I feel comfortable in those positions. I don't give up. It's not in my blood. You're going to get 110 percent from me every single time I step on the mat.''

Gavrish's riding prowess was a major factor Friday.

Against Clayton, Gavrish almost rode him out in the third period before Clayton escaped with three seconds remaining in the third period. Gavrish then won on a takedown 30 seconds into the sudden victory period.

In the semifinal, Gavrish escaped with 51 seconds left in the second period. Clausi then chose neutral in the third period, rather then give Gavrish the chance to ride him out.

"My top game has been on whole another level,'' Gavrish, who indicated he was not surprised Clausi chose neutral. "Committing to rides has been a huge jump in my game.''

Gavrish has nothing to lose in the final.

James who rolled to the 150-pound championship last season and has three technical falls and a pin in his four bouts in this tournament, is ranked the No. 2 overall wrestler in the country by FloWrestling.

"There's nothing to lose. I just want to go out there and have fun,'' Gavrish said. "I'm blessed to be in this position I'm in right now.''

Is this Coluccio's time?

Colucci is in a final for the second straight season and is now a three-time state top three finisher.

He was third at 106 in 2024, when he was a freshman at Christian Brothers Academy. He was the runner-up at 106 last season.

"This is my time. This has been my goal for years,'' Coluccio said. "I've been dreaming about this since I was a little kid. ''

Coluccio's only defeats in the state tournament in his career have been to state champions. He was defeated by Delbarton's Cameron Sontz in the 2024 semifinal. Sontz will wrestle for his third state championship Saturday against St. Joseph (Montvale's JoJo Burke. Burke defeated Coluccio 4-3 in last year's state final.

"The whole wrestling season I think about (winning a state championship),'' Coluccio said. "Even the offseason, when I go to tournaments like Fargo, Super 32, all these big tournaments, all I think about is going to Boardwalk Hall and winning a state title in front of all these people. There's nothing better than that (winning a state title).''

Coluccio has not met Esposito - a Rutgers University recruit - since the 2024 state tournament when he defeated him 1-0 in a pre-quarterfinal-round bout and then 6-1 in the wrestleback semifinal.

Amato determined not to have last year repeat itself.

State semifinal night in 2025 was painful for Amato. He was upended by eventual state champion Blaise Mele of Princeton 3-2 in the semifinal. He then wrestled back for third.

"I told myself before I got here, I wouldn't let it happen again,'' Amato, who used his prowess on the mat both against Craft and in the 2-0 win in the quarterfinal over Phillipsburg' Owen Garriques. "(Saturday), I'm coming to get what's mine back.''

Amato, an Iowa recruit, rode Garriques out in the second period and then reversed him early in the third period in the quarterfinal. He rode Craft out in the second, reversed him early in the third and then put him to his back for four back points.

He will need to be at the top of his game against Schwartz, who has two pins and two major decisions in the tournament.

"I came out my freshman year and my attitude was just go out there and have fun,'' Amato said. "I came in my sophomore year with a big head. I'm back doing what I do so well - having fun on the mat. I'm going to do that (Saturday), too.''

Duffy now believes he can win

Duffy, who was fifth in the state tournament last season at 132, said there is a difference between hoping you can win and believing you can win.

He has wrestled this season like one who believes a state title is in his future.

"I had a lot of nerves here the last few years,'' Duffy said. "Now, I'm not nervous. I expect to win. I didn't come here to win the semi's. I came here to win (Saturday).''

Believing you can win involves wrestling aggressively and not wrestling not to lose.

"You have try to win every position,'' Duffy said.

Duffy, an Iowa recruit, knows DeGeorge, a Rutgers recruit, well. He has defeated DeGeorge each of the last two seasons, including 6-2 on Feb. 22.

"He's been a friend of mine for years. We train together a lot,'' Duffy said. "I love training with him. He pushes me to get better and I push him. I'm sure it's going to be a good scrap (Saturday).''

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ Wrestling: 7 Shore Conference wrestlers advance to state finals

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Warwick Davis is pictured with his mystery girlfriend 'Sponge' as it's revealed they have been dating for a year after the tragic death of his wife

March 14, 2026 · Daily Mail

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