Mavs Claim National Title With Sigman Win!
MANKATO, Minn.- They called themselves a "Band of Brothers" this year. Now they can call themselves a "Band of Champions." The University of Nebraska-Omaha wrestling team overcame a 3.5 point deficit in the final match of the tournament to defeat heavily favored North Dakota State and claim the 2004 NCAA II national championship.
Sophomore heavyweight Les Sigman defeated his opponent by medical default to overtake NDSU and give UNO the title. Coach Mike Denney and his Mavericks won 97.5-95 and will have a chance to defend their title when they host the event next year at Sapp Fieldhouse.
After UNO's first two finalists fell all NDSU had to do was win one of its matches. The Mavs got some help from rivals Nebraska-Kearney and Augustana. AC's Tom Meester topped Bison Matt Herman at 184 lbs. and Jeff Sylvester of UNK came back to defeat Brian Kraemer at 197.
All top-ranked and defending national champ Sigman had to do now was win the last match of the event.
With a 2-0 lead in the first period, Sigman's opponent, Andrew Ubben, ran out of injury time to give Sigman the default win, his 31st straight, and UNO the title by 2.5 points. Sigman became the first Mav to repeat since Brauman Creighton did in 1999.
The Mavericks won their third team title and first since 1991.
No. 6 Dustin Tovar earned his first All-American honor with a second-place finish after falling to top-ranked Jared Haberman in the 125 lb. finals.
No. 7 Patrick Allibone, at 149, also finished second after No. 4 Adrian Jiron defeated him in the finals.
J.D. Naig and Eli Dominguez finished third and Mitch Waite finished seventh to give UNO six All-American honors.
Maverick All-Americans
125- Dustin Tovar, 2nd Place
133- Mitch Waite, 7th Place
141- Eli Dominguez, 3rd Place
149- Patrick Allibone, 2nd Place
165- J.D. Naig, 3rd Place
285- Les Sigman, 1st Place
Final Team Standings
1- Nebraska-Omaha 97.5
2- North Dakota State 95
3- Central Oklahoma 88.5
4- Western State 76
5- Pitt-Johnstown 69
2004 National Champions
125- Jared Haberman, Western State
133- Cole Province, Central Oklahoma
141- Merrick Meyer, Truman State
149- Adrian Jiron, Western State
157- Travis Koppenhafer, Adams State
165- Waylon Lowe, Findlay
174- Jason Tapia, Central Oklahoma
184- Tom Meester, Augustana
197- Jeff Sylvester, Nebraska-Kearney
285- Les Sigman, UNO
Sophomore heavyweight Les Sigman defeated his opponent by medical default to overtake NDSU and give UNO the title. Coach Mike Denney and his Mavericks won 97.5-95 and will have a chance to defend their title when they host the event next year at Sapp Fieldhouse.
After UNO's first two finalists fell all NDSU had to do was win one of its matches. The Mavs got some help from rivals Nebraska-Kearney and Augustana. AC's Tom Meester topped Bison Matt Herman at 184 lbs. and Jeff Sylvester of UNK came back to defeat Brian Kraemer at 197.
All top-ranked and defending national champ Sigman had to do now was win the last match of the event.
With a 2-0 lead in the first period, Sigman's opponent, Andrew Ubben, ran out of injury time to give Sigman the default win, his 31st straight, and UNO the title by 2.5 points. Sigman became the first Mav to repeat since Brauman Creighton did in 1999.
The Mavericks won their third team title and first since 1991.
No. 6 Dustin Tovar earned his first All-American honor with a second-place finish after falling to top-ranked Jared Haberman in the 125 lb. finals.
No. 7 Patrick Allibone, at 149, also finished second after No. 4 Adrian Jiron defeated him in the finals.
J.D. Naig and Eli Dominguez finished third and Mitch Waite finished seventh to give UNO six All-American honors.
Maverick All-Americans
125- Dustin Tovar, 2nd Place
133- Mitch Waite, 7th Place
141- Eli Dominguez, 3rd Place
149- Patrick Allibone, 2nd Place
165- J.D. Naig, 3rd Place
285- Les Sigman, 1st Place
Final Team Standings
1- Nebraska-Omaha 97.5
2- North Dakota State 95
3- Central Oklahoma 88.5
4- Western State 76
5- Pitt-Johnstown 69
2004 National Champions
125- Jared Haberman, Western State
133- Cole Province, Central Oklahoma
141- Merrick Meyer, Truman State
149- Adrian Jiron, Western State
157- Travis Koppenhafer, Adams State
165- Waylon Lowe, Findlay
174- Jason Tapia, Central Oklahoma
184- Tom Meester, Augustana
197- Jeff Sylvester, Nebraska-Kearney
285- Les Sigman, UNO
