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Matmen face formidable foe in ISU's Taylor
by Kim Ball
Defending NCAA wrestling champion Iowa State,
led by massive Chris Taylor, will wrestle Nebraska in
a dual match, tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Coliseum.
Iowa State, which has won three of the last four
NCAA tournaments, returns four NCAA
medal-winners including Taylor, the heavyweight
champion. Keith Abens, second at 167 lbs.; Rich
Binek, third at 177 lbs.; and Bill Fjetland, fifth at 126
lbs. are the other grapplers who placed last March in
the NCAA championships in College Park, Md.
The 410-pound Taylor was a member of the
United States Olympic Team. He won the bronze
medal in free-style wrestling; his only loss was to a
Russian in a controversial 3-2 decision..
Taylor said he felt a letdown after coming back
from the Olympics. But now he says he feels he's
finally getting back into things.
"It'll be a challenge to win it (NCAA
championship) again," Taylor said. "It's getting
tougher each time."
So far this season Taylor has just about been
unbeatable. Of the 11 opponents he has faced this
season, 10 have failed to last past two minutes. He
has three tournament victories under his belt already
this season: The Bison Open, the Southern Open and
the Iowa State Open.
Jeff Class, Nebraska's heavyweight, was one of
Taylor's victims in the finals of the Iowa State
Open. Taylor had kind words for Class.
"He's a good boy," Taylor said. "He really showed
a lot of talent. If he got up for it (his match with
Taylor), he could possibly beat me. I don't think he
knows it, which makes it better for me."
Harold Nichols, the Iowa State wrestling coach,
was instrumental in developing Taylor into the
world-class wrestler that he is today Nichols said. He
believes size and strength are not the only things
which make Taylor a great wresthr.
"He's a real wrestler in addition to being big,"
Nichols said. "He knows wrestling technique. Too
often heavyweights don't know technique. They're
just big and strong and that's it. They don't know
how to wrestle."
Nichols, who has coached individuals such as
Olympic gold-medal winner Dan Gable, said Taylor is
"very easy to coach.
"He has a willingness to learn. It's a little
disappointing that we can't get anybody out there in
a practice that is capable of giving him a good
workout."
A person of Taylor's size presents special
problems, such as finding a wrestling uniform big
enough Fortunately, Nichols owns a company which
makes wrestling equipment. "We just cut his uniform
extra-extra-extra-large."
Taylor wanted to go out for football this fall. In
fact, he was out for two weeks, but they couldn't
find a helmet to fit his size nine head so he was
forced to quit.
Wrestling fans will not be able to see a wrestling
team of the same caliber as the Iowa State team for
sometime. Last year the Cyclones thumped Nebraska,
43-0.
When asked about Nebraska's chances against Iowa
State, Husker wrestling coach Orval Borgialli replied,
"We'll show up." Then in a more serious tone, he said
that freshman Cliff Myles and senior Tom Lotko had
good chances of winning.
"We just hope we make a good showing, so that
the people will come back."
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UNL
- i f
student
named
best lifter
Bob Phillips, wearing a cast
on his broken wrist, finished
third in the 16512-pound
division of the intramural
power lifting championships at
the Coliseum Wednesday night.
Steve Christiansen, who won
the 198-pound division, was
named the best lifter as he
lifted 305 pounds in bench
presses, 350 in squad and 445
in deadlift for a total of 1,100
pounds.
Cipriano:
Huskers
have even
chances
Nebraska travels to Morgantown, W. Va tonight to
compete in the Mountaineer Basketball Classic. The
Cornhuskers' chances of winning the four-team tournament,
according to head coach Joe Cipriano, are about as good as
losing both games.
"It's a tournament where it's difficult to establish a
favorite," Cipriano said. "We could win the whole thing just as
easily as we could lose both games."
The Huskers, 1-1 on the season, meet California in the
tourney opener tonight at 6 p.m. Radio coverage of Nebraska's
game can be heard over KLIN (1400) in Lincoln with Don Gill
doing the play by play.
Host West Virginia (1-1) meets Air Force (0-1) in the second
game tonight. Tonight's losers play at 6 p.m. Saturday with
the championship game scheduled for 8 p.m. Lincoln time.
California, which finished fifth in the Pacific Eight last year,
is missing the backbone of last year's squad which had a 13-16
record.
But new head coach Dick Edwards inherited one player of
proven talent in All-Pacific Eight forward John Coughran.
Coughran, who stands 6-7 and weighs 230 pounds, averaged
18.6 points a game last year.
Cipriano will depend upon Nebraska sophomore Don
Jackson's defensive abilities against Coughran.
"Jackson took on the all-American high school player
against North Texas State and did a good job," Cipriano said
in referring to North Texas State's Bobby Iverson. "Then he
took on the all-American junior college player at
Wyoming-Ken Morgan Clark."
daily nebraskan
Although Jackson has fouled out of both games, he has
limited those two opponents to an average of only five points.
The Huskers again will have a height disadvantage if they
meet West Virginia. The Huskers have been out-rebounded
75-58 in their first two games.
"West Virginia can go 6-9 ,6-8 and 6-7," Cipriano said," and
then they can throw in a couple of guards at 6-3."
West Virginia coach Sonny Morgan has just four letterman
on this year's squad. Junior forward Mark Catlett (6-4) played
in 20 games last year and started the last 16. Other returnees
are forward Mike Carson (6-8), center Gary Reichenbocher
(6-8) and guard Chris Sprenger (6-1).
The Mountaineers are counting heavily upon 6-d junior
forward Bob Hornstein and 6-6 sophomore Scott MacDonald.
Air Force also is counting on underclassmen to carry the
load this season. Hank Egan, starting his second season as
Falcon head coach, has nine returning lettermen, losing only
three, But all three started on the front line.
Returning starters include Tom Blase (6-1) and Mark
Engelbretson (6-2) at guard. The Falcons also lack in
rebounding with 6-6 freshman Greg Schneider, the tallest
starter.
Cipriano has planned no changes in the starting lineup for
the tournament. Seniors Tom Gregory and Tony Riehl will
start at guards, Jackson and junior Lee Harris at forwards and
6-8 junior Brendy Lee at renter.
The Huskers next home game is Monday night against Texas
Christian University ...a. a .thfl.... Coliseum.
page 16
friday, december 8, 1972
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