Nebraska-Omaha hammers Augustana
2/6/2009
University of Nebraska-Omaha Sports Information


SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The University of Nebraska at Omaha wrestling team improved to 9-0 in duals this season with a 28-9 win against No. 13 Augustana College Thursday night at the Elmen Center.

The Mavericks won eight of ten bouts, including a pin by Todd Meneely and a major decision by Mario Morgan.

Matt Rein put the Mavericks on top early, scoring an 8-5 decision over the Vikings' Alex Meger at 125 pounds to start the rout. The sophomore recorded an escape, a takedown and a near fall in the third period for the come-from-behind win.

Second-ranked wrestlers Cody Garcia and Morgan followed that up with wins of their own. Garcia scored two takedowns, a near fall, an escape and 2:21 riding time for the 9-3 decision. At 141 pounds, Morgan scored UNO's only major decision in the dual, defeating AC's Jay Sherer, 15-6. The sophomore is now 23-11 on year.

The Vikings scored their first points of the dual at 149 pounds where AC's Mike Long upset the Mavericks' No. 3 Esai Dominguez. The redshirt freshman took a 5-2 lead into the third period, but Long scored a takedown with just 38 seconds remaining to come away with the 6-5 decision.

UNO won five of the final six matches. Meneely, the top-ranked wrestler at 157 pounds, pinned Kyle Svendsen in 4:10 to give UNO a 16-3 advantage. The Skutt Catholic product scored 11 takedowns before pinning Svendsen in the second period.

Ryan Pankoke became the second Maverick wrestler to reach the 30-win plateau this season joining teammate Ross Taplin (31-7) with a 2-0 decision at 165 pounds. Pankoke scored an escape in the third period and 1:28 riding time to come away with the win.

The match at 174 pounds pitted No. 2 Taplin against Vikings' Brian Schultz. The two-time All-American from Abilene, Kan. scored two takedowns and an escape to come away with with a 5-2 decision.

Brent Pankoke made it four straight wins for UNO when he came away with a 9-2 decision against Nick Henning. Pankoke, the second-ranked wrestler at 184 pounds, tallied three takedowns, two escapes and 1:33 riding time to improve to 6-1.

After forfeiting the match at 197 pounds, Tony Lewis put the finishing touches on the Vikings, scoring a 4-3 decision. Lewis, ranked No. 3 at 285 pounds, scored a three-point near fall in the third period to win the match.

UNO will be back in action tomorrow night with a 7:00 p.m. road dual scheduled against last year's NCAA II national runner-up, No. 3 Minnesota State, Mankato. MSU has an overall record of 9-3 and have six wrestling ranked in their respective weight class.