Mavs Back on Mat at Dana Open
The Mavericks end a long layoff this week when they compete in the Dana College Open in Blair, Neb., on Saturday, Jan. 7. The first matches will get underway at 10 a.m. in the meet, which is expected to attract a field of about 200 wrestlers. UNO will send all healthy wrestlers to the tournament.
Records & Rankings
The Mavericks have maintained their No. 1 national ranking through the first four open tournaments.
The Coach
Mike Denney is in his 27th season as the Maverick head coach. The Dakota Wesleyan graduate has a 252-101-5 career mark. He has twice been named the NCAA II National Coach of the Year and led the 1991, 2004 and 2005 Mavericks to NCAA II national championships.
Last Year
The Mavericks captured their second-straight NCAA II wrestling title and their third overall in March in the national meet in Omaha. Three Mavs, Patrick Allibone, J.D. Naig and Les Sigman, all won individual titles, while Steve Conlin finished seventh. All return for 2005-06. UNO also won the NWCA National Dual meet tournament for a second time.
Maverick Notes
Junior Ben Strandberg has transferred from UNO to attend school elsewhere...true freshman Jacob Marrs will fill his spot at 197...freshman Ross Taplin will wrestle at 165 pounds, while two-time All-American J.D. Naid will move from 165 to 174 pounds....injuries will keep freshmen Bryce Boehm (184) and Frank Hebert (heavyweight) on the sidelines for the season.
On Deck
UNO will gets its first taste of dual meet competition Jan. 14-15 in the NWCA National Dual Meet tournament at Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Mavericks are the defending NCAA II champions in the meet, which matches the top 16 teams from last year's national tournament.
Records & Rankings
The Mavericks have maintained their No. 1 national ranking through the first four open tournaments.
The Coach
Mike Denney is in his 27th season as the Maverick head coach. The Dakota Wesleyan graduate has a 252-101-5 career mark. He has twice been named the NCAA II National Coach of the Year and led the 1991, 2004 and 2005 Mavericks to NCAA II national championships.
Last Year
The Mavericks captured their second-straight NCAA II wrestling title and their third overall in March in the national meet in Omaha. Three Mavs, Patrick Allibone, J.D. Naig and Les Sigman, all won individual titles, while Steve Conlin finished seventh. All return for 2005-06. UNO also won the NWCA National Dual meet tournament for a second time.
Maverick Notes
Junior Ben Strandberg has transferred from UNO to attend school elsewhere...true freshman Jacob Marrs will fill his spot at 197...freshman Ross Taplin will wrestle at 165 pounds, while two-time All-American J.D. Naid will move from 165 to 174 pounds....injuries will keep freshmen Bryce Boehm (184) and Frank Hebert (heavyweight) on the sidelines for the season.
On Deck
UNO will gets its first taste of dual meet competition Jan. 14-15 in the NWCA National Dual Meet tournament at Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Mavericks are the defending NCAA II champions in the meet, which matches the top 16 teams from last year's national tournament.
