Mavericks Seek Third Straight National Title
Mar 9, 2011 | General
National Championships Preview
Live Results
Tournament Brackets
NCAA Live Webcast
2011 NCAA National Championships
Fri., March 11-Sat., March 12
Kearney, Neb.
UNK Health & Sports Center
Live Stats: Omavs.com
Live Video: Omavs.com
Schedule of Events
Friday's Schedule
11 a.m. - Session 1 (1st Rd.)
6 p.m. - Session 2 (2nd Rd.; 1st and 2nd Rd. Consolation)
Saturday's Schedule
10 a.m. - Session 3 (Championship Semifinals; Consolation 3rd Rd., Semis, Finals)
7 p.m. - Session 4 (Championship Finals)
Preview
The No. 1 UNO wrestling team will head to Kearney, Neb., this weekend as the favorite to win its third straight NCAA DII National Championship and seventh all-time. The Mavericks are the only team to have all 10 wrestlers qualified for the national tournament.
The first session begins on Friday at 11 a.m., at the UNK Health and Sports Center. Live stats will be available through Omavs.com, as well as an NCAA free live streaming webcast. (The NCAA, through Turner Broadcasting, owns all rights to the broadcasting of NCAA Championship events, so Nebraska-Omaha is not permitted to run its own webcast as it has done all year.)
The second round and the consolation first and second rounds begin Friday at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the championship bracket semifinals and the consolation rounds continue at 10 a.m. The championship finals are set to begin at 7 p.m., on Saturday.
UNO brings four top-ranked wrestlers into the field. No. 1 Mario Morgan leads off “Murderer's Row” at 141 pounds, with No. 1 Esai Dominguez (149) and No. 1 George Ivanov (157) all looking to win titles after finishing second at last year's national tournament. The three are a combined 23-2 this year against other wrestlers in their respective national tournament brackets.
Ryan Pankoke is the brand new No. 1 wrestler at 174 pounds. Pankoke has won 30 matches in a row and finished third at last year's national tournament. No. 3 Aaron Denson (184) and No. 4 Matt Baker (197) are the Mavs' other ranked wrestlers in the competition. The young guns, freshman Josh Keszler (125) and redshirt freshman Trent Cox (133), will make their first appearance at nationals, as will junior Nathan Sigman (165) and junior Taylor Escamilla (285).
UNO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS QUALIFIERS
125 - Josh Keszler (26-10)
• Came out of redshirt season at MIAA Duals on Feb. 13
• Wrestled at 133 pounds for most of the season until the MIAA Duals
• Finished second at three opens this year at 133 pounds
• 7-1 record at 125 pounds
133 - Trent Cox (22-11)
• 11-4 record when a match ends in a decision this year
• Ranks seventh on the team with six falls
• Went 18-14 wrestling unattached in 2009-10
• Three-time Kansas 6A state champion
141 - #1 Mario Morgan (26-4)
• 2010 national tournament runner-up, lost to Augustana's Jay Sherer
• Went 2-0 against Sherer this year to earn No. 1 ranking, also won two opens
• 126 career wins is most among current Mavs and is 12th all-time in school history
• Won 34 straight dual matches for the Mavs dating back to 2008-09
149 - #1 Esai Dominguez (36-3)
• 2010 national tournament runner-up...third place at 2009 national tournament
• Avenged only loss to a Division II opponent this year when he beat Augustana's Nate Herda 3-2 on Feb. 16
• Ranks second on the team with 11 falls and first with seven technical falls
• Recorded 100th career win on Feb. 16, 2011 at Augustana...won five opens this year
157 - #1 George Ivanov (30-3)
• 2010 national tournament runner-up as a freshman
• Went 13-0 in duals for UNO this season
• Avenged only loss to a Division II opponent this year when he beat Augustana's Marcus Edgington 4-3 on Feb. 16...won two opens this year
165 - Nathan Sigman (23-23)
• Won three of last four dual matches entering Midwest Regional Championships
• Placed fourth at regionals to earn first career national tournament berth
• Placed second at Midland Open...46 matches competed in are tied for most on team
• 2010 NCAA DII Academic All-American
174 - #1 Ryan Pankoke (37-2)
• Third place at 2010 national tournament
• Team-high 37 wins...has won 30 matches in a row entering national tournament
• Only losses this season came against Iowa State and Oklahoma State wrestlers
• Won three opens this year...112 career wins is third-most on team
184 - #3 Aaron Denson (30-6)
• 2010 national tournament qualifier...runner-up at 2009 national tournament
• Team-high 12 falls this season
• 119 career wins is second-most on team
• Won two opens this year
197 - #4 Matt Baker (27-9)
• Won seven of his last eight dual matches to close the season
• Placed second at regionals to qualify for first national tournament
• Went 24-15 as a freshman in 2010...was named an Academic All-American
• Won Loper Open this year
285 - Taylor Escamilla (33-13)
• 23-6 record in last 29 matches
• Has recorded nine falls and four major decisions this year
• Was rated up until the Feb. 16 rankings
• Won two opens this year...competed in 46 matches, tied for the team lead
Live Results
Tournament Brackets
NCAA Live Webcast
2011 NCAA National Championships
Fri., March 11-Sat., March 12
Kearney, Neb.
UNK Health & Sports Center
Live Stats: Omavs.com
Live Video: Omavs.com
Schedule of Events
Friday's Schedule
11 a.m. - Session 1 (1st Rd.)
6 p.m. - Session 2 (2nd Rd.; 1st and 2nd Rd. Consolation)
Saturday's Schedule
10 a.m. - Session 3 (Championship Semifinals; Consolation 3rd Rd., Semis, Finals)
7 p.m. - Session 4 (Championship Finals)
Preview
The No. 1 UNO wrestling team will head to Kearney, Neb., this weekend as the favorite to win its third straight NCAA DII National Championship and seventh all-time. The Mavericks are the only team to have all 10 wrestlers qualified for the national tournament.
The first session begins on Friday at 11 a.m., at the UNK Health and Sports Center. Live stats will be available through Omavs.com, as well as an NCAA free live streaming webcast. (The NCAA, through Turner Broadcasting, owns all rights to the broadcasting of NCAA Championship events, so Nebraska-Omaha is not permitted to run its own webcast as it has done all year.)
The second round and the consolation first and second rounds begin Friday at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the championship bracket semifinals and the consolation rounds continue at 10 a.m. The championship finals are set to begin at 7 p.m., on Saturday.
UNO brings four top-ranked wrestlers into the field. No. 1 Mario Morgan leads off “Murderer's Row” at 141 pounds, with No. 1 Esai Dominguez (149) and No. 1 George Ivanov (157) all looking to win titles after finishing second at last year's national tournament. The three are a combined 23-2 this year against other wrestlers in their respective national tournament brackets.
Ryan Pankoke is the brand new No. 1 wrestler at 174 pounds. Pankoke has won 30 matches in a row and finished third at last year's national tournament. No. 3 Aaron Denson (184) and No. 4 Matt Baker (197) are the Mavs' other ranked wrestlers in the competition. The young guns, freshman Josh Keszler (125) and redshirt freshman Trent Cox (133), will make their first appearance at nationals, as will junior Nathan Sigman (165) and junior Taylor Escamilla (285).
UNO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS QUALIFIERS
125 - Josh Keszler (26-10)
• Came out of redshirt season at MIAA Duals on Feb. 13
• Wrestled at 133 pounds for most of the season until the MIAA Duals
• Finished second at three opens this year at 133 pounds
• 7-1 record at 125 pounds
133 - Trent Cox (22-11)
• 11-4 record when a match ends in a decision this year
• Ranks seventh on the team with six falls
• Went 18-14 wrestling unattached in 2009-10
• Three-time Kansas 6A state champion
141 - #1 Mario Morgan (26-4)
• 2010 national tournament runner-up, lost to Augustana's Jay Sherer
• Went 2-0 against Sherer this year to earn No. 1 ranking, also won two opens
• 126 career wins is most among current Mavs and is 12th all-time in school history
• Won 34 straight dual matches for the Mavs dating back to 2008-09
149 - #1 Esai Dominguez (36-3)
• 2010 national tournament runner-up...third place at 2009 national tournament
• Avenged only loss to a Division II opponent this year when he beat Augustana's Nate Herda 3-2 on Feb. 16
• Ranks second on the team with 11 falls and first with seven technical falls
• Recorded 100th career win on Feb. 16, 2011 at Augustana...won five opens this year
157 - #1 George Ivanov (30-3)
• 2010 national tournament runner-up as a freshman
• Went 13-0 in duals for UNO this season
• Avenged only loss to a Division II opponent this year when he beat Augustana's Marcus Edgington 4-3 on Feb. 16...won two opens this year
165 - Nathan Sigman (23-23)
• Won three of last four dual matches entering Midwest Regional Championships
• Placed fourth at regionals to earn first career national tournament berth
• Placed second at Midland Open...46 matches competed in are tied for most on team
• 2010 NCAA DII Academic All-American
174 - #1 Ryan Pankoke (37-2)
• Third place at 2010 national tournament
• Team-high 37 wins...has won 30 matches in a row entering national tournament
• Only losses this season came against Iowa State and Oklahoma State wrestlers
• Won three opens this year...112 career wins is third-most on team
184 - #3 Aaron Denson (30-6)
• 2010 national tournament qualifier...runner-up at 2009 national tournament
• Team-high 12 falls this season
• 119 career wins is second-most on team
• Won two opens this year
197 - #4 Matt Baker (27-9)
• Won seven of his last eight dual matches to close the season
• Placed second at regionals to qualify for first national tournament
• Went 24-15 as a freshman in 2010...was named an Academic All-American
• Won Loper Open this year
285 - Taylor Escamilla (33-13)
• 23-6 record in last 29 matches
• Has recorded nine falls and four major decisions this year
• Was rated up until the Feb. 16 rankings
• Won two opens this year...competed in 46 matches, tied for the team lead
Wednesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
