Final Results
Final Team Standings
FINDLAY, Ohio - The No. 1 UNO wrestling team earned its third straight NCAA Super Region 2 title on Saturday at the Koehler Fitness and Rec Center on the campus of Findlay University, as all 10 Maverick wrestlers finished in the top four of their respective weight classes to advance to the NCAA National Championships, set for March 11-12 in Kearney, Neb.
UNO finished with 156.5 team points to beat out Ashland (126.0) and Central Oklahoma (106.0). Five UNO wrestlers earned regional titles, as the two-time defending national champions will send all 10 of their wrestlers to nationals for the second straight year.
Senior Mario Morgan qualified for his fourth career NCAA Championships with a dominating first-place performance at 141 pounds. It marked the third regional title for the top-ranked Morgan, who defeated Ashland's Kyle Kanaga 9-5 in the final.
Junior Esai Dominguez then left no doubt as to who the best wrestler in the 149-pound bracket was with three straight dominating wins to capture his first career regional title. The top-ranked Dominguez earned a 24-8 technical fall win in the final over Ashland's Daniel Genetin. Dominguez was named the Super Region 2 Wrestler of the Year for his performance.
Sophomore George Ivanov will make his second straight trip to nationals after winning his first career regional. The No. 1 Ivanov defeated Central Oklahoma's Cory Dauphin 3-2 to cap a 4-0 weekend.
At 174 pounds, third-ranked senior Ryan Pankoke earned his second straight trip to the national tournament with a 2-0 decision over Bryce Sopko of Limestone in the final. Pankoke will take a 30-match win streak into the NCAA Championships.
Senior Aaron Denson will make his fourth trip to nationals after a 4-0 first-place weekend. The No. 3 Denson beat Tanner Keck (Central Oklahoma) 2-1 in the finals.
Morgan, Dominguez and Ivanov all finished second at the 2010 NCAA Championships. Pankoke finished third and Denson did not place, but the Millard South alum finished second in 2009.
Fourth-ranked Matt Baker wrapped up his first career national tournament appearance with a second-place finish at 197 pounds. Baker went 2-1 on the weekend and lost to Charles Morgan of King College 3-2 after giving up a late takedown.
The Mavs' four unranked wrestlers all turned in stellar performances to shore up their first career spots in the national tournament field in two weeks. Josh Keszler went 4-1 and finished third at 125 pounds; Trent Cox also went 4-1 to finish third at 133 pounds; Nathan Sigman went 2-2 to place fourth at 165 pounds and Taylor Escamilla finished third at 285 pounds with a 4-1 record.
Super Region 2 Wrestler of the Year: Esai Dominguez
Final Team Standings
1. Nebraska-Omaha - 156.5
2. Ashland - 126.0
3. Central Oklahoma - 106.0
4. Findlay - 87.5
5. Central Missouri - 74.0
6. Limestone - 68.0
7. King College - 46.5
8. Belmont Abbey - 38.5
9. Truman - 37.5
10. Tiffin - 23.5
11. St. Andrews Presbyterian - 13.0
12. Lake Erie College - 8.0
13. Ouachita Baptist - 7.0
125 - Josh Keszler (4-1, 3rd)
W, Dec. 4-3, Seth Hutchinson, Ouachita Baptist
W, Dec. 6-4, Shane Summerlin, Belmont Abbey
L, Dec. 6-3, Ben Sergent, Findlay
W, Dec. 8-7, Ryan Banning, Truman
W, Dec. 10-6, Shane Summerlin, Belmont Abbey
133 - Trent Cox (4-1, 3rd)
W, Major Dec. 15-1, Nicholas Shea, Truman
W, Dec. 6-5, Cody Gillenwater, Central Missouri
L, Dec. 6-1, Michael Magaha, Limestone
W, Dec. 6-2, Jordan Duckett, Tiffin
W, Major Dec. 13-5, Cody Gillenwater, Central Missouri
141 - Mario Morgan (4-0, 1st)
W, Fall; 2:05, Francisco Bisono, King College
W, Fall; 1:28, Benjamin Cline, Ouachita Baptist
W, Dec. 13-10, Ky Corley, Central Oklahoma
W, Dec. 9-5, Kyle Kanaga, Ashland
149 - Esai Dominguez (3-0, 1st)
Bye
W, Major Dec. 23-9, Gregg Todd, St. Andrews Presbyterian
W, Fall; 2:57, Austin Standage, Central Oklahoma
W, Tech. Fall, 24-8 (5:30), Daniel Genetin, Ashland
157 - George Ivanov (4-0, 1st)
W, Tech. Fall, 22-6 (5:52), John Brasher, King College
W, Dec. 9-3, Kyle Freiberg, Limestone
W, Dec. 7-0, Adam Walters, Findlay
W, Dec. 3-2, Cory Dauphin, Central Oklahoma
165 - Nathan Sigman (2-2, 4th)
Bye
W, Dec. 10-3, Michael DiPierro, Limestone
L, Dec. 5-1, Michael Lybarger, Findlay
W, Dec. 5-3, Richard Manwarren, St. Andrews Presbyterian
L, Dec. 3-1, Jake Varilek, Belmont Abbey
174 - Ryan Pankoke (4-0, 1st)
W, Fall; 3:15, William Ressel, Central Missouri
W, Fall; 2:44, Walid Boggio, Tiffin
W, Dec. 2-1, Ryan Thatcher, Ashland
W, Dec. 2-0, Bryce Sopko, Limestone
184 - Aaron Denson (4-0, 1st)
W, Tech. Fall, 19-3 (6:24), Jared Merritt, Lake Erie College
W, Fall; 2:27, Cooper Hays, Ouachita Baptist
W, Dec. 9-3, Brandon Tressler, King College
W, Dec. 2-1, Tanner Keck, Central Oklahoma
197 - Matt Baker (2-1, 2nd)
Bye
W, Major Dec. 10-2, Josh Sprewell, Limestone
W, Dec. 2-0, Alek Hughes, Tiffin
L, Dec. 3-1, Charles Morgan, King College
285 - Taylor Escamilla (4-1, 3rd)
W, Fall; 2:43, Taylor Poe, Ouachita Baptist
W, Inj. Def., Justin Hoover, St. Andrews Presbyterian
L, Dec. 2-1, Brandon Hayes, Central Missouri
W, Dec. 4-2, Andrew Tumlin, Findlay
W, Dec. 3-1, Cody Dauphin, Central Oklahoma
