NCC Foes UNO and Augustana in Race For Championshi
Omaha, Neb. -- After three full sessions at the 2005 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, host Nebraska-Omaha holds a slim 4.5 point lead over second-place Augustana, 96.5-92.0, entering tonight's championship matches. The Mavericks entered the morning session trailing Augustana by four points. Minnesota State, Mankato is currently in third place with 77.5 points, followed by Pittsburgh Johnstown, 69.5 and Findlay, 59.0.
Four Nebraska-Omaha wrestlers advanced to championship matches including Eli Dominguez (141), Patrick Allibone (157), J.D. Naig (165) and Les Sigman (285).
Augustana will have three wrestlers vying for championships Saturday night, including Aaron Graumann (125), Tom Meester (184), and Tim Boldt (197).
Minnesota State, Mankato, Pittsburg Johnstown, and Findlay each have two wrestlers in tonight's finals.
A Look at the Championship Matches:
At 125, top-ranked Aaron Graumann of Augustana will face seventh-ranked Ryon Mazzacco of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. Graumann pulled out a 5-4 decision over fourth-ranked Bryce Abbey of Nebraska-Kearney. Graumann is a returning All-American after finishing eighth in 2004. Mazzacco decided unranked Rob McCabe of Adams State, 7-6.
At 133, top-ranked Curry Pickard of North Carolina-Pembroke earned a spot in the finals with a technical fall (17-2) over third-ranked Shane Perkey of Indianapolis. Pickard will face second-ranked Andy Uhl of Findlay who scored a major decision with a 12-2 win over Mike Hansen of Central Missouri State. Uhl finished sixth in 2004 at 125 pounds.
At 141, fifth-ranked Thad Benton upset top-ranked Donald Lockett of San Francisco State, 11-4. Benton will face fourth-ranked Eli Dominguez of Nebraska-Omaha, who defeated Augustana's Andre VanderVelde, 13-6. Dominguez is a returning All-American after placing third in 2004.
At 149, third-ranked Jason Rhoten of Minnesota State, Mankato advanced to the championship match with a 4-3 decision over fifth-ranked R.J. Paterniti of Gannon. Rhoten placed fourth in 2004 at 141 pounds. He will meet fourth-ranked Pacifico Garcia of San Francisco State, who upset top-ranked Ryan King of Augustana, 9-4.
At 157, second-ranked Angelo Vettese of Findlay earned a date in the championship match with a 4-2 decision over unranked Math Bitz of Minnesota State, Mankato. Vettesse will meet fourth-ranked Patrick Allibone of Nebraska-Omaha, a 3-1 winner over eighth-ranked Dustin Teeman of Truman State. Allibone placed second last year at 149 pounds.
At 165, top-ranked J.D. Naig scored a 12-1 major decision over third-ranked Zack Schafer of Mercyhurst. Naig earned All-American honors last year with a third-place finish. Naig will meet second-ranked Dwayne Coward of North Carolina-Pembroke, who scored a 15-4 major decision over fourth-ranked Cody Henriksen of Augustana. Coward placed sixth in 2004.
At 174, top-ranked Careef Robertson of Anderson College will meet eighth-ranked Travis Krinke, Minnesota State, Mankato in the championship match. Robertson edged unranked Eli Garshnick of Pittsburgh-Johnstown 6-4. Krinke, who placed eighth in 2004, defeated Tim Johns of Southwest Minnesota State, 9-4.
At 184, top-ranked and defending national champion Tom Meester of Augustana won by technical fall, 16-0 in 5:06, over eighth-ranked Clint Carmony of Ashland. Meester will battle third-ranked Ben McAvinew of Mercyhurst, a 12-6 winner over Mike Corcetti of Pittsburgh Johnstown.
At 197, second-ranked Tim Boldt of Augustana defeated seventh-rated Howard Bell of Pittsburgh Johnstown, 5-2. Boldt will meet eighth-ranked Corey Jacoby of Shippensburg, who scored a 13-2 major decision over John Goral of Wisconsin-Parkside.
For the third-straight year, Nebraska-Omaha heavyweight Les Sigman will be in the national championship match. The two-time defending national champion earned a 13-5 major decision over second-ranked Tervel Dlagnev of Nebraska-Kearney. Sigman will face sixth-ranked Chris Tuchscherer of Minnesota State, Moorhead, who edged Josh Leadingfox, 5-3 to earn his spot in the finals.
The championship matches will begin tonight at 7 p.m. in Nebraska-Omaha's Sapp Fieldhouse. The championship matches will also be webcast live.
Four Nebraska-Omaha wrestlers advanced to championship matches including Eli Dominguez (141), Patrick Allibone (157), J.D. Naig (165) and Les Sigman (285).
Augustana will have three wrestlers vying for championships Saturday night, including Aaron Graumann (125), Tom Meester (184), and Tim Boldt (197).
Minnesota State, Mankato, Pittsburg Johnstown, and Findlay each have two wrestlers in tonight's finals.
A Look at the Championship Matches:
At 125, top-ranked Aaron Graumann of Augustana will face seventh-ranked Ryon Mazzacco of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. Graumann pulled out a 5-4 decision over fourth-ranked Bryce Abbey of Nebraska-Kearney. Graumann is a returning All-American after finishing eighth in 2004. Mazzacco decided unranked Rob McCabe of Adams State, 7-6.
At 133, top-ranked Curry Pickard of North Carolina-Pembroke earned a spot in the finals with a technical fall (17-2) over third-ranked Shane Perkey of Indianapolis. Pickard will face second-ranked Andy Uhl of Findlay who scored a major decision with a 12-2 win over Mike Hansen of Central Missouri State. Uhl finished sixth in 2004 at 125 pounds.
At 141, fifth-ranked Thad Benton upset top-ranked Donald Lockett of San Francisco State, 11-4. Benton will face fourth-ranked Eli Dominguez of Nebraska-Omaha, who defeated Augustana's Andre VanderVelde, 13-6. Dominguez is a returning All-American after placing third in 2004.
At 149, third-ranked Jason Rhoten of Minnesota State, Mankato advanced to the championship match with a 4-3 decision over fifth-ranked R.J. Paterniti of Gannon. Rhoten placed fourth in 2004 at 141 pounds. He will meet fourth-ranked Pacifico Garcia of San Francisco State, who upset top-ranked Ryan King of Augustana, 9-4.
At 157, second-ranked Angelo Vettese of Findlay earned a date in the championship match with a 4-2 decision over unranked Math Bitz of Minnesota State, Mankato. Vettesse will meet fourth-ranked Patrick Allibone of Nebraska-Omaha, a 3-1 winner over eighth-ranked Dustin Teeman of Truman State. Allibone placed second last year at 149 pounds.
At 165, top-ranked J.D. Naig scored a 12-1 major decision over third-ranked Zack Schafer of Mercyhurst. Naig earned All-American honors last year with a third-place finish. Naig will meet second-ranked Dwayne Coward of North Carolina-Pembroke, who scored a 15-4 major decision over fourth-ranked Cody Henriksen of Augustana. Coward placed sixth in 2004.
At 174, top-ranked Careef Robertson of Anderson College will meet eighth-ranked Travis Krinke, Minnesota State, Mankato in the championship match. Robertson edged unranked Eli Garshnick of Pittsburgh-Johnstown 6-4. Krinke, who placed eighth in 2004, defeated Tim Johns of Southwest Minnesota State, 9-4.
At 184, top-ranked and defending national champion Tom Meester of Augustana won by technical fall, 16-0 in 5:06, over eighth-ranked Clint Carmony of Ashland. Meester will battle third-ranked Ben McAvinew of Mercyhurst, a 12-6 winner over Mike Corcetti of Pittsburgh Johnstown.
At 197, second-ranked Tim Boldt of Augustana defeated seventh-rated Howard Bell of Pittsburgh Johnstown, 5-2. Boldt will meet eighth-ranked Corey Jacoby of Shippensburg, who scored a 13-2 major decision over John Goral of Wisconsin-Parkside.
For the third-straight year, Nebraska-Omaha heavyweight Les Sigman will be in the national championship match. The two-time defending national champion earned a 13-5 major decision over second-ranked Tervel Dlagnev of Nebraska-Kearney. Sigman will face sixth-ranked Chris Tuchscherer of Minnesota State, Moorhead, who edged Josh Leadingfox, 5-3 to earn his spot in the finals.
The championship matches will begin tonight at 7 p.m. in Nebraska-Omaha's Sapp Fieldhouse. The championship matches will also be webcast live.
