Mavericks 4th After First Day
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The University of Nebraska at Omaha advanced three wrestlers into the semifinals of the NCAA Division II National Championships Friday evening, but fell to fourth in the team standings after the first day of competition at the U.S. Cellular Center.
The Mavs, who are seeking their fourth title in the last five years, are trailing fist-day leader Minnesota State, Mankato who has 66.5 points and five wrestlers in Saturday’s semifinals. UNO has 49.5 heading into the next session.
Both Cody Garcia and Toddy Meneely, aiming for their second individual titles, advanced through to the semifinals on Saturday, while 174-pounder Ross Taplin, a 2006 All-American, had to battle through a tough quarterfinal match to move on.
Garcia didn’t have to spend much time on the mat, pinning both of his opponents on the day in less than three minutes, while Meneely was able to follow up his dominating opening-round performance with a 6-1 decision over Kearney’s Ryan Etherton.
Taplin’s second-round bout at 174 was a tight battle that came down to the very end. After being awarded a pair of penalty points, the No. 2-ranked Taplin was able to hold of a late charge by Newberry’s Bryant Blanton for a 5-3 decision.
Although only three are still in the hunt for individual crowns, UNO has a total of six wrestlers still in competition. Aaron Denson, Jacob Marrs and Tony Lewis all fought their way through wrestleback matches to advance into Saturday’s sessions in the consolation bracket
After dropping his opening-round match, Denson rebounded by winning an 11-4 decision over Mesa’s Cole Johnson and a 10-0 major decision over Chadron State’s Brett Hunter to survive day one.
Lewis took a similar path into Saturday’s sessions, winning a pair of decisions following an opening round defeat, while Marrs, who won his first-round bout, lost a 12-6 decision in the second round, but came back and pinned Matt Norton of Upper Iowa in one of the last matches of the day to advance.
Saturday’s session will begin at 10 a.m., while the championship matches are set to go at 7 p.m.
Team Standings
1. Minnesota State, Mankato - 66.5
2. Nebraska-Kearney - 57.5
3. Pittsburg Johnstown - 51.0
4. Nebraska-Omaha - 49.5
5. Western State - 42.0
6. Central Oklahoma - 40.5
7. Adams State - 36.5
8. Newberry - 31.0
9. Ashland - 23.0
10. Upper Iowa - 22.0
The Mavs, who are seeking their fourth title in the last five years, are trailing fist-day leader Minnesota State, Mankato who has 66.5 points and five wrestlers in Saturday’s semifinals. UNO has 49.5 heading into the next session.
Both Cody Garcia and Toddy Meneely, aiming for their second individual titles, advanced through to the semifinals on Saturday, while 174-pounder Ross Taplin, a 2006 All-American, had to battle through a tough quarterfinal match to move on.
Garcia didn’t have to spend much time on the mat, pinning both of his opponents on the day in less than three minutes, while Meneely was able to follow up his dominating opening-round performance with a 6-1 decision over Kearney’s Ryan Etherton.
Taplin’s second-round bout at 174 was a tight battle that came down to the very end. After being awarded a pair of penalty points, the No. 2-ranked Taplin was able to hold of a late charge by Newberry’s Bryant Blanton for a 5-3 decision.
Although only three are still in the hunt for individual crowns, UNO has a total of six wrestlers still in competition. Aaron Denson, Jacob Marrs and Tony Lewis all fought their way through wrestleback matches to advance into Saturday’s sessions in the consolation bracket
After dropping his opening-round match, Denson rebounded by winning an 11-4 decision over Mesa’s Cole Johnson and a 10-0 major decision over Chadron State’s Brett Hunter to survive day one.
Lewis took a similar path into Saturday’s sessions, winning a pair of decisions following an opening round defeat, while Marrs, who won his first-round bout, lost a 12-6 decision in the second round, but came back and pinned Matt Norton of Upper Iowa in one of the last matches of the day to advance.
Saturday’s session will begin at 10 a.m., while the championship matches are set to go at 7 p.m.
Team Standings
1. Minnesota State, Mankato - 66.5
2. Nebraska-Kearney - 57.5
3. Pittsburg Johnstown - 51.0
4. Nebraska-Omaha - 49.5
5. Western State - 42.0
6. Central Oklahoma - 40.5
7. Adams State - 36.5
8. Newberry - 31.0
9. Ashland - 23.0
10. Upper Iowa - 22.0
