NATIONAL DUALS, DAY 2 NOTES: Minnesota State-Mankato tops Nebraska-Omaha in Division II finals
Share:
by Craig Sesker
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Most of the drama in the final round of the 2008 National Duals belonged to the NCAA Division II level.
The D-II finals once again came down to the final bout and once again produced an exciting finish.
Minnesota State-Mankato's Brady Wilson delivered a win at heavyweight to lift his fourth-ranked team to a 19-17 victory over No. 2 Nebraska-Omaha.
It was the first National Duals title for Mankato, which lost to Nebraska-Omaha in the 2006 finals of this event.
"This is a huge win for us," Mankato coach Jim Makovsky said. "To win a national championship like this is great for our program. We've been working for this and we're excited to be able to do it."
The second-ranked Wilson scored a takedown in overtime to beat No. 7 Tony Lewis of UNO 3-1 in the final match. Nebraska-Omaha had taken a 17-16 lead when Jacob Marrs won by major decision at 197.
"We're a team that's been knocking on the door, and to come through and win this is just awesome," Wilson said. "We've come a long way and our work ethic has really improved."
Mankato's seventh-ranked Travis Elg turned in another big win when he pinned fifth-ranked Yasiim Bribieseca at 141.
"Elg really came through," Makovsky said. "He had an injury to his collarbone and we weren't sure he was going to wrestle. Elg's a pinner and he went after it and came through."
Nebraska-Omaha wrestled without 2006 NCAA champion Cody Garcia (125), who is out with a knee injury.
Mankato also beat top-ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday, scoring a 25-16 win in the semifinals.
Wartburg wins fourth Division III title
The No. 1 Wartburg College Knights won their fourth National Duals title in Division III as they downed No. 3 Wisconsin-La Crosse 25-8 in the finals Sunday afternoon.
It marked the first time in the seven years of the National Duals for Division III that Wartburg and Augsburg didn't meet in the finals.
No. 2 Augsburg fell to No. 3 Wisconsin-La Crosse 22-12 in the semifinals on Sunday afternoon. Augsburg, which has won this event three times including 2007, came back to finish third Sunday.
National Duals return to UNI-Dome in 2009
The National Duals are scheduled to return to the UNI-Dome for the fourth straight year in 2009.
The event is set for Jan. 10-11, 2009 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The D-II finals once again came down to the final bout and once again produced an exciting finish.
Minnesota State-Mankato's Brady Wilson delivered a win at heavyweight to lift his fourth-ranked team to a 19-17 victory over No. 2 Nebraska-Omaha.
It was the first National Duals title for Mankato, which lost to Nebraska-Omaha in the 2006 finals of this event.
"This is a huge win for us," Mankato coach Jim Makovsky said. "To win a national championship like this is great for our program. We've been working for this and we're excited to be able to do it."
The second-ranked Wilson scored a takedown in overtime to beat No. 7 Tony Lewis of UNO 3-1 in the final match. Nebraska-Omaha had taken a 17-16 lead when Jacob Marrs won by major decision at 197.
"We're a team that's been knocking on the door, and to come through and win this is just awesome," Wilson said. "We've come a long way and our work ethic has really improved."
Mankato's seventh-ranked Travis Elg turned in another big win when he pinned fifth-ranked Yasiim Bribieseca at 141.
"Elg really came through," Makovsky said. "He had an injury to his collarbone and we weren't sure he was going to wrestle. Elg's a pinner and he went after it and came through."
Nebraska-Omaha wrestled without 2006 NCAA champion Cody Garcia (125), who is out with a knee injury.
Mankato also beat top-ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday, scoring a 25-16 win in the semifinals.
Wartburg wins fourth Division III title
The No. 1 Wartburg College Knights won their fourth National Duals title in Division III as they downed No. 3 Wisconsin-La Crosse 25-8 in the finals Sunday afternoon.
It marked the first time in the seven years of the National Duals for Division III that Wartburg and Augsburg didn't meet in the finals.
No. 2 Augsburg fell to No. 3 Wisconsin-La Crosse 22-12 in the semifinals on Sunday afternoon. Augsburg, which has won this event three times including 2007, came back to finish third Sunday.
National Duals return to UNI-Dome in 2009
The National Duals are scheduled to return to the UNI-Dome for the fourth straight year in 2009.
The event is set for Jan. 10-11, 2009 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Read More#
2025 Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament qualifier list updated after U.S. Open
Mills downs top seed Munaretto, six returning champs advance to U20 freestyle quarters in Las Vegas
Brandon Slay moves on from leading Pennsylvania RTC; Will direct SportsLife Wrestling and launch G1 Training Center in Arkansas
U.S. Beach Nationals return to Carolina Beach, N.C., May 10 with berths on U.S. World Teams up for grabs
