Weekly Notes
The second-ranked UNO Maverick wrestling team will be looking for their fourth national title in the last five seasons when they travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to compete in the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championships on Friday-Saturday, Mar. 14-15 at the U.S. Cellular Center. The tournament will be hosted by the University of Upper Iowa.
Live Web Cast
The Maverick matches at the NCAA II National Championships will be available as a free live web cast at
http://gomavs.unomaha.edu/wrestling/live_webcast.php
Credentials
Working credentials may be provided to approved working personnel, including media representatives. Participation credentials will be provided to student-athletes, coaches and managers involved in the championships. Other members of the participating institution’s official party (as defined by the NCAA) will also be provided credentials.
Results
Team standings and brackets with up-to-date results will be available on the Upper Iowa website located at
www.upperiowaathletics.com.
Tickets
Tournament Passes
(Pre-sale only) All Session Reserved $45
(Pre-sale only) All Session General Admission $40
Session Ticket (Session 1-3)
Single Session Adult General Admission $12
Single Session Student General Admission $10
Single Session Senior Citizen General Admission $10
Session Ticket (Championship - Session 4)
Championship Session Adult General Admission $15
Championship Adult General Admission $13
Championship Adult General Admission $13
The Qualifiers
Cody Garcia (125) - North Regional champion - Overall record - 21-4
Mario Morgan (133) - 4th place North Regional - Overall record - 26-16
Sim Bribieseca (141) - 3rd place North Regional - Overall record - 26-11
Todd Meneely (149) - North Regional champion - Overall record - 19-2
Henry Wahle (157) - 4th place North Regional - Overall record - 17-13
Aaron Denson (165) - 2nd place North Regional - Overall record - 30-6
Ross Taplin (174) - North Regional champion - Overall record - 28-5
Jacob Marrs (197) - 4th place North Regional - Overall record - 27-4
Tony Lewis (285) - 4th place North Regional - Overall record - 19-10
Records & Rankings
Nebraska-Omaha finished the regular season with an 8-3 overall record and a 3-0 mark in the North Central Conference. UNO is currently ranked No. 2 in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association poll released on Mar. 4. The Mavericks have five ranked individuals led by national champions Todd Meneely, who is ranked No. 1 at 149 pounds, and Cody Garcia, No. 1 at 125. Aaron Denson is fourth at 165, Ross Taplin is second at 174, and Tony Lewis is ranked eighth at 285.
The Coach
Mike Denney is in his 29th season as the Maverick head coach. The Dakota Wesleyan graduate has a 276-109-5 career mark. He has twice been named the NCAA II National Coach of the Year and led the 1991, 2004, 2005, and 2006 Mavericks to NCAA II national championships.
NCAA II North Central Regional Recap
Cody Garcia was named the outstanding wrestler of the NCAA Division II North Regional Wrestling Tournament at Minnesota State University, advancing along with eight other Maverick wrestlers to the NCAA II National Championshs.
As a team, UNO finished second in the meet with 92.5 points, finishing behind only host MSU with 104.5 points.
Garcia, the top seed at 125 pounds, was one of three Maverick wrestlers to win his weight class. In the finals he pinned the No. 2 seed, Tyler Mumbolo of Upper Iowa, in just 1:38. Garcia will be looking for his second national championship, having won it two years ago.
Todd Meneely, the defending national champion and top seed at 149 pounds, dominated his final match, scoring a 20-5 technical fall over second-seeded Tommy Abbott of MSU.
Ross Taplin won the 174-pound division, battling to a 3-1 decision over Tyler Tubbs of Minnesota State-Moorhead, earning his third-straight trip to the national tournament.
Aaron Denson was the runner-up at 165 pounds, losing a narrow 11-9 decision to MSU’s Andy Pickar in overtime. Denson held a 9-8 lead at the end of regulation, but Pickar earned a point for riding time to force the extra period, then scoring a takedown 37 seconds in.
Fifth-year senior Henry Wahle earned his first trip to nationals, taking fourth place at 165 pounds.
Redshirt freshman Mario Morgan will also make his first trip after taking fourth at 133 pounds.
Sophomore Sim Bribieseca will be making his second appearance at nationals after placing third at 141 pounds with a 3-2 win over Jay Sherer of Augustana.
At 197 pounds, top-seeded Jacob Marrs got pinned in his first match, but battled all the way back through the consolation bracket to get into the fourth-place match. There he earned a 15-0 technical fall to advance to his second national meet.
Tony Lewis will also make his second appearance after taking fourth place in the 285-pound division.
The only Maverick not to advance was Brett Pankoke, the top seed at 184 pounds. Pankoke suffered an ankle injury in an early-round match, but battled through the pain to reach the fourth-place match, only to suffer a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat.
