Mavericks Host Top-Ranked Minnesota State Friday
Weekly Notes
OMAHA, Neb. -- In a match-up between the top-two ranked teams in the nation, the second-ranked UNO wrestling team will host No. 1-ranked Minnesota State, Mankato on Friday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Sapp Fieldhouse.
UNO lost to MSU in the finals of the NWCA National Duals, 19-17, on January 13, but the Mavericks hold an 18-7 edge in the all-time series between the two teams.
Live Broadcast
The match will be televised live locally on the Knowledge Network (Cox Channel 17 and Qwest Channel 74) with Torri Pantaleon and former Maverick All-American Pat Kelley III calling all of the action. It will also be webcast live.
Records & Rankings
The Mavericks are currently 6-2 overall on the season and 1-0 in the North Central Conference.
UNO remains at No. 2 in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association poll released on Feb. 6. The Mavericks have seven ranked individuals led by national champions Todd Meneely, who is ranked No. 1 at 149 pounds, and Cody Garcia, No. 1 at 125. Aaron Denson is third at 165 this week, Ross Taplin is fourth at 174, and Brent Pankoke is No. 2 at 184. Jacob Marrs remains at second this week at 197 pounds, while Tony Lewis moved up two spots to sixth at 285.
Minnesota State is currently 16-0-1 on the season and 1-0 in the NCC. With a win Friday night over the Mavericks, MSU would establish a school record for dual victories in a season.
Minnesota State is ranked No. 1 in the most recent NWCA poll and also has seven ranked individuals led by top-ranked Jason Rhoten at 157 pounds. Rhoten is one win shy of tying the school record for career wins with 126 (Jack Eustice had 126 wins from 1972-76). Other MSU ranked individuals include: Nick Smith, 125, 3rd; Travis Elg, 141, 4th; Tommy Abbott, 149, 5th; Andy Pickar, 165, 4th; Tim Matheson, 174, 8th; and Brady Wilson, 285, 2nd.
The Coach
Mike Denney is in his 29th season as the Maverick head coach. The Dakota Wesleyan graduate has a 274-108-5 career mark. He has twice been named the NCAA II National Coach of the Year and led the 1991, 2004, 2005, and 2006 Mavericks to NCAA II national championships.
Last Week
For the second straight week, sophomore 184-pounder Brent Pankoke was named the North Central Conference Wrestler of the Week for his performances in duals last week on the road at No. 3-ranked Central Oklahoma and No. 4-ranked Nebraska-Kearney.
Pankoke improved to 22-3 on the season by downing a pair of ranked opponents. On Friday night he defeated fourth-ranked Heath Jolly of Central Oklahoma 6-1 and followed that up with a 6-4 win over Nebraska-Kearney's Paul Sutton on Saturday.
The Mavericks convincingly defeated No. 3-ranked Central Oklahoma 26-9 on Friday, and finished their weekend road trip with a 24-12 victory over in-state rival and fourth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney Saturday. UNO moved their dual record to 6-2 on the year and 1-0 in the NCC.
On Deck
The Mavericks will stay home next week to host NCC foe Augustana on Wednesday Feb. 13 in the Sapp Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. The dual is set to be webcast free of charge via the UNO athletic website.
OMAHA, Neb. -- In a match-up between the top-two ranked teams in the nation, the second-ranked UNO wrestling team will host No. 1-ranked Minnesota State, Mankato on Friday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Sapp Fieldhouse.
UNO lost to MSU in the finals of the NWCA National Duals, 19-17, on January 13, but the Mavericks hold an 18-7 edge in the all-time series between the two teams.
Live Broadcast
The match will be televised live locally on the Knowledge Network (Cox Channel 17 and Qwest Channel 74) with Torri Pantaleon and former Maverick All-American Pat Kelley III calling all of the action. It will also be webcast live.
Records & Rankings
The Mavericks are currently 6-2 overall on the season and 1-0 in the North Central Conference.
UNO remains at No. 2 in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association poll released on Feb. 6. The Mavericks have seven ranked individuals led by national champions Todd Meneely, who is ranked No. 1 at 149 pounds, and Cody Garcia, No. 1 at 125. Aaron Denson is third at 165 this week, Ross Taplin is fourth at 174, and Brent Pankoke is No. 2 at 184. Jacob Marrs remains at second this week at 197 pounds, while Tony Lewis moved up two spots to sixth at 285.
Minnesota State is currently 16-0-1 on the season and 1-0 in the NCC. With a win Friday night over the Mavericks, MSU would establish a school record for dual victories in a season.
Minnesota State is ranked No. 1 in the most recent NWCA poll and also has seven ranked individuals led by top-ranked Jason Rhoten at 157 pounds. Rhoten is one win shy of tying the school record for career wins with 126 (Jack Eustice had 126 wins from 1972-76). Other MSU ranked individuals include: Nick Smith, 125, 3rd; Travis Elg, 141, 4th; Tommy Abbott, 149, 5th; Andy Pickar, 165, 4th; Tim Matheson, 174, 8th; and Brady Wilson, 285, 2nd.
The Coach
Mike Denney is in his 29th season as the Maverick head coach. The Dakota Wesleyan graduate has a 274-108-5 career mark. He has twice been named the NCAA II National Coach of the Year and led the 1991, 2004, 2005, and 2006 Mavericks to NCAA II national championships.
Last Week
For the second straight week, sophomore 184-pounder Brent Pankoke was named the North Central Conference Wrestler of the Week for his performances in duals last week on the road at No. 3-ranked Central Oklahoma and No. 4-ranked Nebraska-Kearney.
Pankoke improved to 22-3 on the season by downing a pair of ranked opponents. On Friday night he defeated fourth-ranked Heath Jolly of Central Oklahoma 6-1 and followed that up with a 6-4 win over Nebraska-Kearney's Paul Sutton on Saturday.
The Mavericks convincingly defeated No. 3-ranked Central Oklahoma 26-9 on Friday, and finished their weekend road trip with a 24-12 victory over in-state rival and fourth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney Saturday. UNO moved their dual record to 6-2 on the year and 1-0 in the NCC.
On Deck
The Mavericks will stay home next week to host NCC foe Augustana on Wednesday Feb. 13 in the Sapp Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. The dual is set to be webcast free of charge via the UNO athletic website.
