UNO improved to 7-2 in dual meets, avenging a loss to MSU in the finals of the NWCA National Duals. Minnesota State suffered its first dual meet loss, going to 16-1-1.
The meet started with a matchup of the top two 125-pound wrestlers in the country with UNO's No. 1 Cody Garcia facing MSU's No. 2 Nick Smith. Garcia dominated the match, setting a tone for the whole meet, taking a 15-3 major decision.
Mario Morgan gave UNO a 7-0 lead in the team score, hanging on for a 6-5 decision over John Putman. Morgan scored a takedown and near fall in the first period. Putman scored a takedown with 1:07 left in the third, but Morgan made the escape for the deciding point.
Sim Brisbieseca made it three-straight wins for UNO with a 9-4 decision over Tim Haneberg at 141 pounds. Haneberg filled in for No. 5 Travis Elg who was scratched with the flu. Brisbieseca had little trouble in the match, scoring four takedowns.
At 149 pounds, UNO's Todd Meneely, ranked No. 1, handily defeated Willy Mekeel, 21-8, for a major decision and a 14-0 UNO team lead. Mekeel was subbing for No. 5-ranked Tommy Abbot, another victim of the flu. Meneely scored 10 takedowns in the match.
MSU's Jason Rhoten, the top-ranked wrestler at 157 pounds, provided one of the lone highlights for his team with a 15-4 major decision over UNO's Henry Wahle. The victory was the 126th of Rhoten's career, tying him for the school's all-time lead.
The 165-pound match pitted MSU's Andy Pickar, ranked No. 4, against UNO's No. 3 Aaron Denson. Pickar scored a two-point reversal early in the third, then scored a takedown with 14 seconds left to secure an 8-5 decision, making the team score 14-7 in favor of UNO.
Taplin, ranked No. 4 at 174 pounds, scored the first fall of the night, pinning No. 8 Tim Matheson in 3:50. Taplin nearly scored a fall in the first period, gaining a 7-2 lead. He used a double-leg takedown in the second period, but this time was able to roll Matheson over for the pin.
Brett Pankoke, named North Central Conference wrestler of the week for the second time, and the No. 2-ranked 184-pounder, clinched the meet for UNO with an 8-1 decision over Ben Becker, making the team score 23-7. Pankoke held a 2-1 lead going to the third period, putting the match away with a reversal and near fall.
At 197 pounds, UNO's No. 2 Jacob Marrs made quick work of Tom Block. Marrs scored a takedown just 46 seconds into the match, securing the pin at 2:12. Marrs improved his record on the year to 25-1.
Though the meet was decided, UNO's No. 6 Tony Lewis and MSU's No. 2 Brady Wilson locked up in the match of the night in the heavyweight division. The score stood tied 1-1 at the end of regulation. The overtime and first two tiebreakers produced no points. Midway through the third tiebreaker Lewis pulled off a double-leg takedown for a 3-1 decision.
UNO's next meet will be Wednesday night against Augustana at Sapp Fieldhouse, starting at 7 p.m.
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