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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 1988)
Scherr twins enjoying tantamount careers By [Nick Hodge Staff Reporter Identical twins Jim and Bill Scherr have taken almost identical steps in their wrestling careers. Bill Scherr was a three-time NCAA All-America selection and a two-time Big Eight champion as a Nebraska wrestler. His career record as a Comhusker was 133-18. He de feated a top Soviet wrestler to capture the 1985 world championship. He also won the U.S. Open title in 1986 and 1987, as well as capturing the Pan-American Games title in 1987. Jim Scherr was a two-time All America choice and a Big Eight champion as a Huskcr wrestler. He won the U.S. Open in 1986 and 1987, captured the 1986 World Cup cham pionship by defeating a Soviet wres tler and won the silver medal in the 1987 World Championships before defaulting in the finals due to a knee injury. On June 18, the Scherrs took an other identical step — both earned spots on the 10-mcmbcr 1988 U.S. uiympic rrccstyic w resiling icam. They will become only the second and third former Nebraska wrestlers to represent the United Slates in the Olympics. Dan Brand was the first Nebraska Olympic wrestler. He finished fifth as a light heavyweight in I960 and earned a bronze medal as a middle weight in 1964. Bill, an assistant wrestling coach at the University of Indiana in Bloom ington, where he is completing his graduate degree in business, said it r■1 ■■■■' ■■ 11—— was more fulfilling that both he and his brother qualified for the Olym pics. “We both worked together, trained together and set our goals together,’’ he said. “So, it made it more fulfilling that we both qualified. It was a goal that we both make the team, not just one or the other. I could not have reached my goal of qualifying for the Olympics without Jim making it." Jim, who is working on his gradu ate degree in business at the North western University Kellogg Graduate School in Evanston, III., could not be ■ V I4v I IVu IWI VV/IIIIIIVIII. The 26-ycar-old twins from Mo idge, S.D., each won their respective weight classes at the Olympic wres tling trials in Pensacola, Fla., to gain the opportunity to compete in the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea in September. Bill Schcrr defeated Kirk Trost of Ann Arbor, Mich., 3-0 and 16-1 in two straight matches, on his way to win ning his championship scries at the 220-pound weight class. Jim split the first two matches—2 0 and 3-4 — with Mclvyn Douglas of Minneapolis, Minn., in the ^cham pionship round before winning the third and decisive match 2-1. --— NU hires assistant swimming coach ncnrasKa women s swimming coach Ray Huppert has hired for mer Arizona All America selec tion Kelly Nordell as the Com huskers new assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Nordell replaces Mike Mc Manus, who resigned at the con clusion of last season. A three-year letterwinner from 1983-85, Nordell was a middle distance freestyle competitor for the Wildcats. She qualified for three NCAA Championship meets and the 1984 Olympic Trials. She aiso served as team captain lor one year. “Wc are excited to have her in our program,” Huppcrt said. “She has a Tot of expertise and the knowledge of what it takes to be a top competitor today. She is going to be a great help to us in our recruiting with her contacts in the western part of the country. “We haven’t been as strong out there as we would like to be, and the addition of Kelly to our staff is a real step forward for us," Huppcrt said. The200Year Old Secret If you knew what they felt like, you'd be wearing them now. ■ * © Footloose & Fancy Nebraska’s Largest Full Service Birkenstock Store. Serving The Midwest For Over 13 Years. 1219 4P*. . 476-6119 . Bill said he and his brother should be well prepared for the Olympics because of their extensive interna tional experience. “The transition from college to international is more technical than anything because the wrestlers are so much more experienced,” he said. “It’s another step up. To be successful you have to be able to adapt. “We’ve had a lot of international experience,” Bill added. “It’s the same routine in the physical sense, but totally different mentally. You have to know what to do mentally, so | you’ve got to block everything else i out.” Bill said he’s always been able to I handle the menial strain because he is | a “one dimensional person.” “I only concentrate on one thing at a time whqlher that be school, my job I or wrestling,” he said. “But, when I | wrestle, my mind’s on only myoppo- | nent or competitor, whoever that might be at the time.” Bill is married and has a two-year old daughter, Sasha. He said he has been fortunate that the people around him arc helpful enough to let him train and compete whenever he needs the time. “I’m fortunate to have a boss that gives me time off when I need it,” he said. “The people at grad school let me take a semester off, skip classes, whatever to allow me to prepare. Everyone’s been real cooperative. “My wife (Teresa) is very under standing. She makes a lot of sacrifices and really picks up the slack at home.” Bill said his and his brother’s chances of bringing home a medal from Seoul arc good because of their experience. “Some of the very same wrestlers that we have competed with at the world championships will be there, so the competition should be very con sistent with what we’ve had in the r- — — — — — — — — — — — ■ past,” he said. The Scherr twins should benefit from their successful experience while they wrestled at Nebraska, Bill said. “It was important that we wrestled at a Division I school like Nebraska,” he said. “The Big Eight is a tough wrestling conference, which helped us prepare for this kind of competi tion. (Former) Coach Bob Fchrs did an excellent job working with us and getting us to wrestle at our potential.” □ REUNION : 16th & W Streets/On City Campus | FREE MEDIUM | SOFT DRINK , WITH THE PURCHASE OF ANY DINNER. I | twin bftAOQA 2 I I NEW 4^- 31 , LOCATION P>ST ^ WITH THIS COUPON. OFFER EXPIRES 8-31-88. 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