UNO Stuns Top-Ranked Bronchos, Advances to Finals
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The fourth-ranked University of Nebraska at Omaha wrestling team won four of the final five matches to pull off a 20-16 upset over No. 1-ranked Central Oklahoma in the semifinals of the NWCA National Duals Sunday morning. The Mavericks will face second-ranked Nebraska-Kearney at 3 p.m. in the championship match as UNO aims to win their third-straight National Duals title.
The Mavericks started slowly, losing their first three matches of the dual to trail, 9-0.
Sophomore Todd Meneely (149) scored a major decision with a 14-4 upset over second ranked Shea Timothy to pull UNO within 9-4. The Bronchos then rebounded with a major decision of their own, as fifth-ranked Jason Leavitt notched a 12-4 win over Derek Keasling at 157 pounds.
Trailing 13-4 after five matches, the Mavericks turned things around with four straight victories, capped by 184-pounder Nate Oviatt's pin over seventh-ranked Jared Hess in 6:18 and Jacob Marrs' major decision over eight-ranked Heath Jolley at 197. Those two wins sealed the deal for UNO and were preceded by Ross Taplin's (165) 8-2 decision over seventh-ranked Justin Wood and 174-pounder JD Naig's 11-4 victory over Daniel Morrison.
Semifinals
UNO 20, Central Oklahoma 16
125 Shane Caruthers (Cent OK) WBD Jimmy Ball (Neb-Om) D 6-4
133 Jared Henning (Cent OK) WBD Jeff Rau (Neb-Om) D 5-4
141 Kyle Evans (Cent OK) WBD Yasiim Bribieseca (Neb-Om) D 5-2
149 Todd Meneely (Neb-Om) WBD Shea Timothy (Cent OK) M 14-4
157 Jason Leavitt (Cent OK) WBD Derek Keasling (Neb-Om) M 12-4
165 Ross Taplin (Neb-Om) WBD Justin Wood (Cent OK) D 8-2
174 JD Naig (Neb-Om) WBD Daniel Morrison (Cent OK) D 11-4
184 Nate Oviatt (Neb-Om) WBF Jared Hess (Cent OK) F 6:18
197 Jacob Marrs (Neb-Om) WBD Heath Jolley (Cent OK) M 12-3
285 Josh Leadingfox (Cent OK) WBD Tony Lewis (Neb-Om) D 3-2
The Mavericks started slowly, losing their first three matches of the dual to trail, 9-0.
Sophomore Todd Meneely (149) scored a major decision with a 14-4 upset over second ranked Shea Timothy to pull UNO within 9-4. The Bronchos then rebounded with a major decision of their own, as fifth-ranked Jason Leavitt notched a 12-4 win over Derek Keasling at 157 pounds.
Trailing 13-4 after five matches, the Mavericks turned things around with four straight victories, capped by 184-pounder Nate Oviatt's pin over seventh-ranked Jared Hess in 6:18 and Jacob Marrs' major decision over eight-ranked Heath Jolley at 197. Those two wins sealed the deal for UNO and were preceded by Ross Taplin's (165) 8-2 decision over seventh-ranked Justin Wood and 174-pounder JD Naig's 11-4 victory over Daniel Morrison.
Semifinals
UNO 20, Central Oklahoma 16
125 Shane Caruthers (Cent OK) WBD Jimmy Ball (Neb-Om) D 6-4
133 Jared Henning (Cent OK) WBD Jeff Rau (Neb-Om) D 5-4
141 Kyle Evans (Cent OK) WBD Yasiim Bribieseca (Neb-Om) D 5-2
149 Todd Meneely (Neb-Om) WBD Shea Timothy (Cent OK) M 14-4
157 Jason Leavitt (Cent OK) WBD Derek Keasling (Neb-Om) M 12-4
165 Ross Taplin (Neb-Om) WBD Justin Wood (Cent OK) D 8-2
174 JD Naig (Neb-Om) WBD Daniel Morrison (Cent OK) D 11-4
184 Nate Oviatt (Neb-Om) WBF Jared Hess (Cent OK) F 6:18
197 Jacob Marrs (Neb-Om) WBD Heath Jolley (Cent OK) M 12-3
285 Josh Leadingfox (Cent OK) WBD Tony Lewis (Neb-Om) D 3-2
