(Courtesy OMavs.com)

KEARNEY, Neb. - Three was the magic number on Saturday night for the top-ranked UNO Maverick wrestling team, as the Mavs claimed their third straight national championship after three individual titles by the Maverick seniors at the NCAA Division II National Championships at the UNK Health & Sports Center.

Mario Morgan, Ryan Pankoke and Aaron Denson all finished off magical senior seasons with their first career national championships. The trio lifted UNO to its seventh national championship in school history, the sixth in the last eight years and third in a row.

UNO had not had three individual champions in the same year since 2006. It’s the fifth time in school history that the Mavs have claimed three titles in the same year.

The Mavs entered the final round with 90.5 points, four points ahead of St. Cloud State, the only team within striking distance. But UNO earned 12 points with its three victories for a total of 102.5. St. Cloud State got one national champion to finish with 90.5 points. Augustana finished third at 81.5.

Read More: OMavs.com

It’s UNO’s fifth title in the last seven years. The win gives UNO NCAA II wrestling titles in 1991, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010. The Mavericks also won the 1970 NAIA tournament championship.

Elijah Madison became UNO’s second freshman to win a national title in school history. The second-ranked Madison battled top-ranked Brady Wilson in the final match of the evening, and it was a good one. Wilson, who had beat Madison twice this season by one point, was also looking to become a first-time national champion. The two heavyweights went scoreless in the first period. The second period proved to be the deciding factor for the redshirt freshman, as he was able to get on top and ride Wilson for most of the second period to build up his riding time advantage to nearly two minutes after two periods of action. The two stayed at the neutral position for most of the third period until Wilson nearly scored a takedown with a minute left in the match, but Madison was able to push him off before he earned his two points. Madison’s riding time gave him the only point scored in the match to earn the 1-0 win and claim UNO’s only individual national title of the tournament. Les Sigman, also a 285-pounder, is the only other UNO freshman to win a national title.

Cody Garcia started the night for UNO, squaring off against top-ranked Shane Valko of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, looking to cap off an undefeated senior season. Garcia scored the first points of the match, scoring a takedown as time expired in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Valko escaped at 1:21 in the second period, followed by a takedown and nearfall to go up 5-2 heading into the third period. Garcia managed an escape in the third, but Valko was able to ride Garcia for most of the third period to compile over a minute of riding time for an extra point to win the match 6-3. Garcia finishes the season with a 48-1 record, which is the second most wins in school history in a single season by a UNO wrestler. The four-time All-American ends his career at UNO with a 147-18 record, good enough for fourth on UNO’s all-time career wins list.

At 141, Mario Morgan was looking for his first individual national crown of his career against Augustana’s Jay Sherer. The two were locked at 1-1 when the clock hit zero in the third period. Both men battled hard in the extra period, but Sherer scored a takedown as time expired to earn the 3-1 win in sudden victory. The loss snapped Morgan’s 29 match wining streak – he hadn’t lost since Dec. 5, 2009. Morgan caps off a great season, finishing with a 40-4 record and his second All-American accolades.

Esai Dominguez battled top-ranked Craig Becker of Wisconsin-Parkside at 149. Becker scored on two takedowns to earn the 4-3 victory. Dominguez has now placed third and runnerup in his two National Tournament appearances, and finished the season with a 31-12 record

Redshirt freshman George Ivanov faced Jonathan Jackson of Anderson University in the 157 pound bout. Jackson collected the 3-1 win by decision. Ivanov finished the season with a 36-11 record while earning All-American status in his first season.

UNO ends the 2010 season winning two straight NCAA Division II and Super Region 2 titles. The Mavs posted a 13-1 dual meet record. Eight Mavericks earned All-Americans honors.

The dual was a rematch of last year’s finals match where UNO edged Newberry, 23-19.

The dual started with redshirt freshman Terrell McKinney upsetting third-ranked Matt Oliver in the 125-pound match. McKinney scored a take down with seven seconds left in the match to earn the 8-6 win. The Omaha native finished the weekend with a 4-0 record in his first National Duals.

Senior Cody Garcia defeated Sheridan Moran 7-2 at 133. The second-ranked Garcia finished the weekend 4-0 and improved to 28-0 on the year overall.

Junior and sixth-ranked Mario Morgan collected a 6-2 win over Deral Brown in the 141-pound match. The Chicago native went 4-0 on the weekend.

In the 149-pound match Tait Weatherbee met Dale DeBacco. Weatherbee scored a take down and near fall late in the third period and held on for the 5-4 win to put the Mavs up 12-0 in the dual. Weatherbee finished the weekend with a 2-2 record.

Redshirt freshman George Ivanov finished his impressive weekend with a 4-1 win over Latra Collick in the 157-pound match. Ivanov finished the weekend 4-0 in his first National Duals.

Fifth-ranked Ryan Pankoke collected a 12-2 major decision over Sean Byrnes at 165 to put UNO up 19-0 in the dual. Pankoke finished the weekend 3-1.

Curtis Chenoweth earned Newberry its first points of the dual with a 8-4 win over sophomore Brett Rosedale in the 174-pound match and put the score at 19-3 in favor of the Mavs. Rosedale finished the weekend 2-1.

Newberry’s top-ranked Bryant Blanton defeated redshirt freshman Mitch Brown 3-1 in the 184-pound match and gave Newberry three more points.

The 197-pound showdown saw fourth-ranked senior Jacob Marrs battle Newberry’s top-ranked Keeno Griffin. Marrs came away with a late take down to give seal an 8-6 win over Griffin. The two All-Americans squared off at last year’s National Tournament in the finals with Griffin winning that match. Marrs went 4-0 on the weekend.

Third-ranked 285-pounder Elijah Madison defeated Jake Elkins, 8-4. Madison finished the weekend with a 3-1 record.

The Mavericks will host two events next week. On Jan. 15, Lindenwood (4-1) visits for UNO’s first home dual of the 2009-10 season. The dual match is slated for a 7 p.m. start in Sapp Fieldhouse. The 2010 Brand Open will follow on Jan. 16. Wrestling will get underway at 9 a.m.

Newberry (NEW) 6 vs. Nebraska-Omaha (UNO) 25
125 – Terrell McKinney (UNO) WBD Matt Oliver (NEW) D 8-6
133 – Cody Garcia (UNO) WBD Sheridan Moran (NEW) D 8-2
141 – Mario Morgan (UNO) WBD Deral Brown (NEW) D 6-2
149 – Taiten Weatherbee (UNO) WBD Dale DeBacco (NEW) D 5-4
157 – George Ivanov (UNO) WBD Latra Collick (NEW) D 4-1
165 – Ryan Pankoke (UNO) WBD Sean Byrnes (NEW) M 12-2
174 – Curtis Chenoweth (NEW) WBD Brett Rosedale (UNO) D 8-4
184 – Byrant Blanton (NEW) WBD Mitch Brown (UNO) D 3-1
197 – Jacob Marrs (UNO) WBD Keeno Griffin (NEW) D 8-6
285 – Elijah Madison (UNO) WBD Jake Elkin (NEW) D 8-4

Maverick Wrestling Notes:
* The Mavericks have now won titles at the National duals five times (2010, 2009, 2007, 2006 and 1997).
* UNO is 2-0 against nationally ranked teams on this season (Defeated No. 9 St. Cloud State and No. 2 Newberry).
* Mavericks wrestlers competed in 40 matches at the 2010 National Duals, winning 32 of them.
* The Mavericks have won 17 dual contests in a row
* Head coach Mike Denny’s dual record at UNO improved to 293-109-5.
* Redshirt freshmen Terrell McKinney and George Ivanov both went 4-0 competing in their first NWCA National Duals. McKinney defeated Matt Oliver of Newberry (ranked third at 125) and Andy Forstner (ranked fourth at 125) of Minnesota State. Ivanov defeated Andy Lamancusa (ranked first at 157) of Mercyhurst and John Sundgren (ranked fifth at 157) of St. Cloud State.

The win gives UNO NCAA II wrestling titles in 1991, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2009. The Mavericks also won the 1970 NAIA tournament championship.

The Mavericks finished with a total of 146.5 points, shattering their previous high of 117 points set in 2006. UNO nearly doubled second place Newberry who finished with 80.5 points.

Head coach Mike Denney was named the Coach of the Year, while Cody Garcia picked up the award for Most Falls in the Least Amount of Time. Garcia finished with four pins in 11:16. His fastest pin was in 45 seconds.

The Mavericks set a school record with nine wrestlers earning All-Americans honors, breaking the previous mark of eight set in the 2000 season.

Final Team Scores
1. Nebraska-Omaha – 146.5
2. Newberry – 80.5
3. Minnesota State, Mankato – 71.5
4. Nebraska-Kearney – 65.0
5. Adams State – 62.0

FULL STORY

–Courtesy UNO Athletics

In Swimming and Diving, defending men’s champion Drury joins 21 other teams to compete for this year’s title as the defending women’s champ, Truman State, has to battle it out with 23 other teams to repeat.

Defending track champions, St. Augustine’s (men) & Adams State (women), will join a field of to vie to the national title, while defending wrestling champion, Nebraska-Kearney will seek to repeat as champion.

NCAA FESTIVAL BLOG

The top four finishers in each weight class qualified for the 2009 NCAA-II Championships, March 13-14 in Houston, Texas.

Grant Baker (133) was the top Mules finisher, taking second. Cory Bloodgood (141), William Forrest (149), and Travis Barbarick (184) each finished third. Denis Ryzhov (157) and Cody Beck (285) finished fourth.

Top-ranked Nebraska-Omaha took the region title with 162.5 points, while UCM tied with No. 7 Central Oklahoma for second, finishing ahead of No. 8 Wisconsin-Parkside in fourth with 86.5 points.

For his efforts, Mules head coach Robin Ersland was named Co-Region 2 Coach of the Year, along with UNO head coach Mike Denny.

ALL QUALIFIERS

–Courtesy UCM Athletics

Dlagnev becomes the inaugural winner of the award, sponsored by the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches’ Association and voted on by eight regional representatives from around the country. Each of the four regions nominated a candidate, with West Region nominee Dlagnev receiving seven first-place votes and finishing with 31 points to beat runner-up Kyle Evans of Central Oklahoma and the Midwest Region. Minnesota State-Mankato’s Jason Rhoten was the North Region representative and Dan Scanlan of Limestone the East nominee.

Dlagnev, a native of Arlington, Texas, went a perfect 38-0 this season with 16 falls, six major decisions and five technical falls. He captured his second straight national championship with a 4-1 finals win over Central Oklahoma’s Dustin Finn that enabled UNK to edge MSU-Mankato by a mere half-point for the team crown.

A four-time West Region champion, Dlagnev finished with a school-record 167 wins. He put together a phenomenal 167-19 career record that included 55 falls, 38 major decisions and 10 technical falls and he was 87-1 his last two years. Dlagnev became just the fourth four-time All-American in UNK history with national tournament finishes of sixth-second-first-first. Also a four-time Wrestling Coaches All-Academic pick, Dlagnev was selected for the 2008 NWCA All-Star Classic and will continue his wrestling career on the international level.

He was a fourth-place finisher in the Senior Men’s Freestyle Division at the U.S. National Championships in 2007 and won the prestigious Sunkist Kids International Open last fall. Dlagnev will be heading to Las Vegas on April 23-26 ( ASICS U.S. National Champions) and then again on June 12-15 (Olympic Team Trials).