Mavericks Set to Compete at Fort Hays Open on Satu
Dec 3, 2010 | General
Weekly Release
OMAHA, Neb. - The University of Nebraska at Omaha wrestling team will travel to Hays, Kan., to compete in the Fort Hays Open on Saturday, Dec. 4 beginning at 9 a.m.
Last season, eight Mavericks placed in the 353-man wrestling tournament, which was held at
Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Then-redshirt freshman Mitch Brown placed second and Aaron Denson took third at 184 pounds.
Brown went 4-1 and Denson finished with a 5-1 mark at the open tournament. Terrell McKinney
(125 pounds), George Ivanov (157 pounds), Ryan Pankoke (165 pounds) and Taylor Escamilla (heavy
weight) all collected fourth-place finishes.
What Happened Last Time Out
Two weeks ago, a total of six UNO wrestlers placed at the Kaufman-Brand Open at Sapp
Fieldhouse. More than 700 wrestlers representing 35 teams came from 12 different states to compete.
The all-day tournament lasted for more than 13 hours.
Senior leader Ryan Pankoke led all Mavs with a third-place finish in the 174-pound Elite bracket.
The Beaver Crossing, Neb., native won his first three matches before falling in the semifinals. He
rebounded with two more wins, including a 7-4 decision in his third-place match against Clayton
Gable of Air Force.
Mark Fiala, a redshirt freshman from Seward, Neb., also finished in third place with a 9-4 decision
over Patrick Spano of Kansas City in the 174-pound Amateur bracket. Fiala made it through the
championship bracket unscathed until the semifinals, where he dropped his only match of the day to
eventual champion Mike Evans of Iowa, 9-1.
Senior Mario Morgan placed fifth in the 141-pound Elite bracket after posting a 4-2 record,
while redshirt freshman Trent Cox placed sixth with a 4-2 record in the 133-pound Amateur bracket.
Sophomore George Ivanov, in the 157-pound Elite bracket, won his first two matches but was
unable to continue once he reached the semifinals. The Council Bluffs, Iowa native still managed a
sixth-place finish.
Redshirt freshman Cody Tyler won six matches in the125-pound Amateur bracket and freshman
Josh Keszler won five at the 133-pound Amateur bracket before both were eliminated in the consolation
rounds.
Web Cast
The Maverick matches will be available via a free live web cast at mms://live.upstreamnetworks. com/16345-70149
The Coach
Mike Denney is in his 32nd season as the Mavericks head coach. The Dakota Wesleyan graduate
has a 289-109-5 (.723) career mark. He has been named the NCAA II National Coach of the Year three
times and led the 1991, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010 Mavericks to a NCAA Division II national
championship.
Next Up for the Mavericks
Next weekend, UNO will hit the mats for the final time in 2010, as the team travels next to
Kearney, Neb., to compete in the Loper Open on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 9 a.m.
Last season at the Loper Open, Ryan Pankoke led the Mavericks against the competition, earning
a title at 165 pounds. He went 4-0 on the day and turned in his best finish of the season.
OMAHA, Neb. - The University of Nebraska at Omaha wrestling team will travel to Hays, Kan., to compete in the Fort Hays Open on Saturday, Dec. 4 beginning at 9 a.m.
Last season, eight Mavericks placed in the 353-man wrestling tournament, which was held at
Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Then-redshirt freshman Mitch Brown placed second and Aaron Denson took third at 184 pounds.
Brown went 4-1 and Denson finished with a 5-1 mark at the open tournament. Terrell McKinney
(125 pounds), George Ivanov (157 pounds), Ryan Pankoke (165 pounds) and Taylor Escamilla (heavy
weight) all collected fourth-place finishes.
What Happened Last Time Out
Two weeks ago, a total of six UNO wrestlers placed at the Kaufman-Brand Open at Sapp
Fieldhouse. More than 700 wrestlers representing 35 teams came from 12 different states to compete.
The all-day tournament lasted for more than 13 hours.
Senior leader Ryan Pankoke led all Mavs with a third-place finish in the 174-pound Elite bracket.
The Beaver Crossing, Neb., native won his first three matches before falling in the semifinals. He
rebounded with two more wins, including a 7-4 decision in his third-place match against Clayton
Gable of Air Force.
Mark Fiala, a redshirt freshman from Seward, Neb., also finished in third place with a 9-4 decision
over Patrick Spano of Kansas City in the 174-pound Amateur bracket. Fiala made it through the
championship bracket unscathed until the semifinals, where he dropped his only match of the day to
eventual champion Mike Evans of Iowa, 9-1.
Senior Mario Morgan placed fifth in the 141-pound Elite bracket after posting a 4-2 record,
while redshirt freshman Trent Cox placed sixth with a 4-2 record in the 133-pound Amateur bracket.
Sophomore George Ivanov, in the 157-pound Elite bracket, won his first two matches but was
unable to continue once he reached the semifinals. The Council Bluffs, Iowa native still managed a
sixth-place finish.
Redshirt freshman Cody Tyler won six matches in the125-pound Amateur bracket and freshman
Josh Keszler won five at the 133-pound Amateur bracket before both were eliminated in the consolation
rounds.
Web Cast
The Maverick matches will be available via a free live web cast at mms://live.upstreamnetworks. com/16345-70149
The Coach
Mike Denney is in his 32nd season as the Mavericks head coach. The Dakota Wesleyan graduate
has a 289-109-5 (.723) career mark. He has been named the NCAA II National Coach of the Year three
times and led the 1991, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010 Mavericks to a NCAA Division II national
championship.
Next Up for the Mavericks
Next weekend, UNO will hit the mats for the final time in 2010, as the team travels next to
Kearney, Neb., to compete in the Loper Open on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 9 a.m.
Last season at the Loper Open, Ryan Pankoke led the Mavericks against the competition, earning
a title at 165 pounds. He went 4-0 on the day and turned in his best finish of the season.
Wednesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
