Nebraska-Omaha takes commanding lead at NCAA Division II Championships
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HOUSTON - The University of Nebraska at Omaha advanced six wrestlers into the championship semifinals of the 2009 NCAA Division II National Tournament and held onto first place in the team standings after the first day of competition Friday night.
UNO leads the tournament with 76.5 points, while Newberry (42.5) and Nebraska-Kearney (42.0) are in second and third, respectively.
Todd Meneely will look to win his third national title tomorrow, while Mario Morgan, Aaron Denson, Ross Taplin, Brent Pankoke and Jacob Marrs are each looking for their first individual titles. Meneely won championships at 149 pounds in 2007 and 2008.
After recording a pin in his first round match this morning, Meneely continued his stellar senior season by scoring a 13-5 major decision over Mesa State's Chase Walker in the bout at 157 pounds. The Skutt Catholic product is now 25-0. He will face Fort Hays State's Danny Grater in the semifinals. Meneely scored a 6-5 decision over Grater last month in the MIAA duals.
For the second time today, Taplin recorded a first period pin. The senior needed just 12 seconds to pin Joeseph Shrekhise (Limestone) to improve to 40-7 this season and 140-40 for his career. Taplin, ranked No. 1 at 174 pounds, will look to finish his Maverick career with his first national title. He will face Nebraska-Kearney's Kamarudeen Usman in the semifinals.
Morgan advances to the semifinals with a 6-3 decision against Chadron State's Jimmy Savala at 141 pounds. The Chicago, Ill. native now moves on to face Doug Surra (West Liberty State) who is ranked No. 3 and has an overall record of 30-3.
At 165 pounds, fifth-ranked Denson topped Minnesota State-Moorhead's Tyler Tubbs, 5-2 and moves on to wrestle Nebraska-Kearney's Taylor May tomorrow. Denson is now 30-8 in his sophomore campaign.
Pankoke advanced to the semifinals in his first career nationals appearance, topping Mitch Knapp (West Liberty State) at 184 pounds. The senior from Beaver Crossing, Neb. advances to face Brad Padgett (St. Cloud State). This will be the second meeting between the two 184-pounders. Pankoke defeated Padgett, 7-2, in dual earlier this season at the Sapp Fieldhouse.
UNO's 197-pounder Marrs scored a 4-3 decision over the top-ranked wrestler to advance to the championship semifinals tomorrow. The junior will wrestle Luke McPeek (New Mexico Highlands) who has a record of 27-14.
At heavyweight, Minnesota State Mankato's second-ranked wrestler Brady Wilson, topped the Mavericks' 285-pounder Tony Lewis, 5-4. Lewis answered back and scored a 2-1 decision over Central Missouri's Cody Beck to advance to Saturday. The senior will wrestle Steve Franklin (San Francisco State) tomorrow.
Cody Garcia's bid for a third national title was upended by Kutztown's third-ranked 133-pounder Joe Kemmerer, 4-2. Garcia bounced back and pinned St. Cloud State's Josh Williams in only 45 seconds to advance to wrestle Nebraska-Kearney's Joseph Morrison on Saturday. Garcia pinned Morrison in 1:19 in a dual earlier this season.
After suffering a first round upset loss, 149-pounder Esai Dominguez bounced back with a pair evening victories. The redshirt freshman scored an impressive 12-4 major decision over Kayne Melko of West Liberty State and followed that up with an injury default win against Augustana's Mike Long. The Creighton Prep product advances to wrestle Kearney's Ryan Etherton tomorrow. Dominguez defeated Etherton, 7-2, earlier this year in a dual at the Sapp Fieldhouse.
Matt Rein rebounded from an opening round loss to score a 4-3 decision against Augustana's Alex Meger, but the sophomore's season came to an end when Mercyhurst's 125-pounder Payne Lint pinned Rein in 5:41. Rein finished his sophomore season with a record of 33-20.
Saturday's competition begins with the semifinals at 10:00 a.m., while the championship matches are slated for a 6:00 p.m. start. The Mavericks are seeking their sixth national title in school history and their first since winning three-straight titles from 2004-2006.
UNO leads the tournament with 76.5 points, while Newberry (42.5) and Nebraska-Kearney (42.0) are in second and third, respectively.
Todd Meneely will look to win his third national title tomorrow, while Mario Morgan, Aaron Denson, Ross Taplin, Brent Pankoke and Jacob Marrs are each looking for their first individual titles. Meneely won championships at 149 pounds in 2007 and 2008.
After recording a pin in his first round match this morning, Meneely continued his stellar senior season by scoring a 13-5 major decision over Mesa State's Chase Walker in the bout at 157 pounds. The Skutt Catholic product is now 25-0. He will face Fort Hays State's Danny Grater in the semifinals. Meneely scored a 6-5 decision over Grater last month in the MIAA duals.
For the second time today, Taplin recorded a first period pin. The senior needed just 12 seconds to pin Joeseph Shrekhise (Limestone) to improve to 40-7 this season and 140-40 for his career. Taplin, ranked No. 1 at 174 pounds, will look to finish his Maverick career with his first national title. He will face Nebraska-Kearney's Kamarudeen Usman in the semifinals.
Morgan advances to the semifinals with a 6-3 decision against Chadron State's Jimmy Savala at 141 pounds. The Chicago, Ill. native now moves on to face Doug Surra (West Liberty State) who is ranked No. 3 and has an overall record of 30-3.
At 165 pounds, fifth-ranked Denson topped Minnesota State-Moorhead's Tyler Tubbs, 5-2 and moves on to wrestle Nebraska-Kearney's Taylor May tomorrow. Denson is now 30-8 in his sophomore campaign.
Pankoke advanced to the semifinals in his first career nationals appearance, topping Mitch Knapp (West Liberty State) at 184 pounds. The senior from Beaver Crossing, Neb. advances to face Brad Padgett (St. Cloud State). This will be the second meeting between the two 184-pounders. Pankoke defeated Padgett, 7-2, in dual earlier this season at the Sapp Fieldhouse.
UNO's 197-pounder Marrs scored a 4-3 decision over the top-ranked wrestler to advance to the championship semifinals tomorrow. The junior will wrestle Luke McPeek (New Mexico Highlands) who has a record of 27-14.
At heavyweight, Minnesota State Mankato's second-ranked wrestler Brady Wilson, topped the Mavericks' 285-pounder Tony Lewis, 5-4. Lewis answered back and scored a 2-1 decision over Central Missouri's Cody Beck to advance to Saturday. The senior will wrestle Steve Franklin (San Francisco State) tomorrow.
Cody Garcia's bid for a third national title was upended by Kutztown's third-ranked 133-pounder Joe Kemmerer, 4-2. Garcia bounced back and pinned St. Cloud State's Josh Williams in only 45 seconds to advance to wrestle Nebraska-Kearney's Joseph Morrison on Saturday. Garcia pinned Morrison in 1:19 in a dual earlier this season.
After suffering a first round upset loss, 149-pounder Esai Dominguez bounced back with a pair evening victories. The redshirt freshman scored an impressive 12-4 major decision over Kayne Melko of West Liberty State and followed that up with an injury default win against Augustana's Mike Long. The Creighton Prep product advances to wrestle Kearney's Ryan Etherton tomorrow. Dominguez defeated Etherton, 7-2, earlier this year in a dual at the Sapp Fieldhouse.
Matt Rein rebounded from an opening round loss to score a 4-3 decision against Augustana's Alex Meger, but the sophomore's season came to an end when Mercyhurst's 125-pounder Payne Lint pinned Rein in 5:41. Rein finished his sophomore season with a record of 33-20.
Saturday's competition begins with the semifinals at 10:00 a.m., while the championship matches are slated for a 6:00 p.m. start. The Mavericks are seeking their sixth national title in school history and their first since winning three-straight titles from 2004-2006.
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