Nebraska senior Robert Kokesh ready to make run at NCAA title

Two-time All-American Robert Kokesh of Nebraska has finished third and fourth at the NCAA Championships. University of Nebraska photo.


LARAMIE, Wyo. – It was a set of unfortunate circumstances that could have finished most wrestlers.


But most wrestlers don’t possess the fight, resolve and determination of Nebraska’s Robert Kokesh.


One bout after suffering a crushing last-second loss in the 2014 NCAA quarterfinals, Kokesh felt something pop in his leg.


He had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the wrestlebacks.


Even with limited mobility and dealing with excruciating pain, Kokesh prevailed in the match he was injured in. He then somehow managed to win the next two bouts before eventually finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships.


“Robert probably shouldn’t haven’t have even wrestled after he tore his ACL, but he’s a warrior and he wanted to wrestle,” Nebraska coach Mark Manning said. “He showed tremendous heart and showed what kind of kid he is. There aren’t many guys out there like Robert Kokesh – he’s a special kid. “


Kokesh is back now and ranked No. 2 nationally to start his senior season with the Huskers. He earned a win in last Friday night’s season-opening dual at Wyoming before rolling to the 174-pound crown the next day at the Cowboy Open.


Kokesh underwent knee surgery right after this past March’s NCAA tournament. He was off the mat for nearly five months.


“I feel really good,” Kokesh said. “I’m just coming back from my injury now. I am still trying to improve in certain areas, like wrestling on my feet.”


Kokesh surrendered the first takedown in his first match back, but he quickly regrouped.


Kokesh knows plenty about battling back from adversity.


The No. 3 seed at the 2014 NCAAs in Oklahoma City, Kokesh rolled to a pair of major decision wins before landing a spot in the quarterfinals against No. 6 seed and rival Logan Storley of Minnesota.


Kokesh and Storley both grew up in South Dakota and are long-time friends.


Kokesh had defeated Storley in the third-place match at the 2013 NCAAs. Kokesh followed with a win over Storley in the 2014 Big Ten semifinals en route to winning the league title.


Their quarterfinal match at the 2014 NCAAs went into a second cycle of overtime periods. The match was deadlocked 4-4 in the final seconds of the bout, but Kokesh had clinched the riding-time advantage and was on the verge of winning.


Needing to score, Storley fired in on a desperation leg attack near the edge of the mat. Storley finished for the improbable winning takedown just before time expired.


“It was a tough, bitter loss,” Kokesh said. “That’s the toughest loss I’ve ever had to deal with in my entire wrestling career. I got taken down with one second left. It was very, very devastating for me.


“I didn’t let it affect how I wrestled the rest of the tournament and it’s not going to affect me going into this year. I need to stay confident and believe in my coaches, and most importantly believe in myself.”


Kokesh came right back to earn an 8-2 win over Tony Dallago of Illinois in his next bout to clinch All-American honors. But in that bout he tore his ACL. He followed by gutting out an overtime win over Pitt’s Tyler Wilps to clinch a top-six finish.


The next day, Kokesh downed Iowa’s Mike Evans 10-4 before falling to Storley 3-1 in overtime in the third-place match.


The Big Ten features the nation’s top four ranked wrestlers at 174 this season with Storley No. 1, Kokesh No. 2, Penn State’s Matt Brown No. 3 and Evans No. 4.


“I love the competition,” Kokesh said. “Having that competition in that weight class is what’s going to make that title that much more sweet. I have been competing with those guys for three years. It’s an honor to compete against them and it’s definitely made me a better wrestler.”


Training daily with Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion Jordan Burroughs in the Husker wrestling room has also enhanced Kokesh’s development.


Burroughs is now in his first season as a Husker assistant coach as he continues to compete internationally.


“Jordan is one of the greatest training partners anyone could ever ask for,” Kokesh said. “Just his feel for wrestling is amazing. The speed he has and his mental attitude toward the sport is above and beyond anyone I’ve ever met. He keeps me very focused on what I need to do. Wrestling him makes me a lot faster with my wrestling. He’s had some ups and downs with injuries like I have, and he’s just stayed positive. That’s what I need to do going into this season.”


Manning said Kokesh sets the standard for his program at Nebraska with his strong work ethic, the belief he has in his coaches and with the way he conducts himself.


Kokesh, from Wagner, S.D., is majoring in agricultural economics. He earned spots on the NWCA All-Academic Team, Academic All-Big Ten Team and Tom Osborne Citizenship Team in 2014.


“Robert’s a great leader,” Manning said. “He does things on and off the mat in a first-class manner. He embodies all the values and principles you want from an athlete.”


Kokesh and Husker senior James Green, a three-time All-American who is ranked No. 2 nationally at 157, provide a lethal 1-2 punch in the NU lineup.


“It’s awesome having a teammate like James,” Kokesh said. “It’s almost like a competition with us. I see him doing so well and that makes me want to do well. James is a great competitor and a great teammate.”


The Huskers are ranked seventh and are off to a strong start this season.


“I think we are going to improve quickly,” Kokesh said. “We have a lot of new guys in our lineup. It’s going to be really exciting to see how they progress. I feel like we can have a great season as a team.”