Garcia, Eight Other Mavericks, Heading to National
MANKATO, Minn. -- Cody Garcia was named the outstanding wrestler of the NCAA Division II North Regional Wrestling Tournament Sunday night at Minnesota State University, advancing along with eight other University of Nebraska at Omaha wrestlers to the National Championship meet.
As a team, UNO finished second in the meet with 92.5 points, finishing behind only host MSU with 104.5 points.
Garcia, the top seed at 125 pounds, was one of three Maverick wrestlers to win his weight class. In the finals he pinned the No. 2 seed, Tyler Mumbolo of Upper Iowa, in just 1:38. Garcia will be looking for his second national championship, having won it two years ago.
Todd Meneely, the defending national champion and top seed at 149 pounds, dominated his final match, scoring a 20-5 technical fall over second-seeded Tommy Abbott of MSU.
Ross Taplin won the 174-pound division, battling to a 3-1 decision over Tyler Tubbs of Minnesota State-Moorhead, earning his third-straight trip to the national tournament.
Aaron Denson was the runner-up at 165 pounds, losing a narrow 11-9 decision to MSU's Andy Pickar in overtime. Denson held a 9-8 lead at the end of regulation, but Pickar earned a point for riding time to force the extra period, then scoring a takedown 37 seconds in.
Fifth-year senior Henry Wahle earned his first trip to nationals, taking fourth place at 165 pounds. Redshirt freshman Mario Morgan will also make his first trip after taking fourth at 133 pounds. Sophomore Sim Bribieseca will be making his second appearance at nationals after placing third at 141 pounds with a 3-2 win over Jay Sherer of Augustana.
At 197 pounds, top-seeded Jacob Marrs got pinned in his first match, but battled all the way back through the consolation bracket to get into the fourth-place match. There he earned a 15-0 technical fall to advance to his second national meet. Tony Lewis will also make his second appearance after taking fourth place in the 285-pound division.
The only Maverick not to advance was Brett Pankoke, the top seed at 184 pounds. Pankoke suffered an ankle injury in an early-round match, but battled through the pain to reach the fourth-place match, only to suffer a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat.
The NCAA II National Tournament is scheduled for March 14-15 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
As a team, UNO finished second in the meet with 92.5 points, finishing behind only host MSU with 104.5 points.
Garcia, the top seed at 125 pounds, was one of three Maverick wrestlers to win his weight class. In the finals he pinned the No. 2 seed, Tyler Mumbolo of Upper Iowa, in just 1:38. Garcia will be looking for his second national championship, having won it two years ago.
Todd Meneely, the defending national champion and top seed at 149 pounds, dominated his final match, scoring a 20-5 technical fall over second-seeded Tommy Abbott of MSU.
Ross Taplin won the 174-pound division, battling to a 3-1 decision over Tyler Tubbs of Minnesota State-Moorhead, earning his third-straight trip to the national tournament.
Aaron Denson was the runner-up at 165 pounds, losing a narrow 11-9 decision to MSU's Andy Pickar in overtime. Denson held a 9-8 lead at the end of regulation, but Pickar earned a point for riding time to force the extra period, then scoring a takedown 37 seconds in.
Fifth-year senior Henry Wahle earned his first trip to nationals, taking fourth place at 165 pounds. Redshirt freshman Mario Morgan will also make his first trip after taking fourth at 133 pounds. Sophomore Sim Bribieseca will be making his second appearance at nationals after placing third at 141 pounds with a 3-2 win over Jay Sherer of Augustana.
At 197 pounds, top-seeded Jacob Marrs got pinned in his first match, but battled all the way back through the consolation bracket to get into the fourth-place match. There he earned a 15-0 technical fall to advance to his second national meet. Tony Lewis will also make his second appearance after taking fourth place in the 285-pound division.
The only Maverick not to advance was Brett Pankoke, the top seed at 184 pounds. Pankoke suffered an ankle injury in an early-round match, but battled through the pain to reach the fourth-place match, only to suffer a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat.
The NCAA II National Tournament is scheduled for March 14-15 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
