2/7/08

Battle of the Mavericks

MSU won the last two duals of this bitter rivalry. But the series returns to Omaha Friday, where MSU hasn't won in ten seasons.

by Tyler Buckentine

Issue date: 2/7/08
Section: Mens Sports

Seniors Dominate, Wrestlers Wrap Up NCC Title

When it comes to big-time wrestling duals, it simply cannot get any better than this.

Consider the teams: Minnesota State (16-0-1, 1-0 North Central Conference) and Nebraska-Omaha, a pair of bitter NCC rivals that are rated the top two programs in Division II - MSU is No. 1 and UNO No. 2.

Rest assured, this dual has the makings of a classic when the two national powerhouses meet at 7 p.m. Friday at Sapp Fieldhouse in Omaha, Neb.

"Us and UNO have a healthy rivalry where we've been really competitive over the years," said MSU coach Jim Makovsky. "Bottom line: This is one of those years where the road to winning a national championship goes through Omaha.

"It's a heated, passionate rivalry. Once the whistle blows, there's not a lot of love lost."

This won't be the first time the teams went head-to-head as the top two teams in Division II. In 2006, UNO was the top-rated team in the nation and MSU was No. 2.

MSU got off to a quick start, gaining a 6-0 advantage after one match, but the lead crumbled as UNO rattled off six consecutive wins en route to a 22-12 win.

"Two years ago, we thought we had them," said 125-pounder Nick Smith, who was one of two current MSU wrestlers in the lineup that night.

"We went down there and we basically choked."

MSU is winless in Omaha since it beat UNO 21-12 at Sapp Fieldhouse Jan. 26, 1998.

After beating MSU, UNO went on to beat Augustana, place first in the North Regional and win its third-straight Division II Title. Since then the UNO-MSU rivalry's momentum has swung MSU's way.

Last season, MSU - ranked fourth at the time - defeated No. 3 UNO 27-9 Feb. 9 at the Taylor Center. The teams met less than a month ago in the championship of the NWCA National Duals where MSU clipped UNO 19-17.

"I wouldn't say we're looking for revenge or anything," said Denney, whose team is riding a three-dual win streak including recent victories over No. 3 Central Oklahoma and No. 4 Nebraska-Kearney.

"It didn't make or break our whole season. We're not looking at it that way."

"There's no question they're going to come after us and be motivated, but as a coach I want their best effort because it helps us."

UNO's hopes for revenge rest on the shoulders of its seven ranked wrestlers, but MSU will counter that with seven of its own.

The dual features five matches with ranked wrestlers starting at 125 pounds with MSU's No. 2 Nick Smith and UNO's No. 1 Cody Garcia who's never faced MSU in a dual.

Neither team has a man ranked at 133 pounds (the only match without one), but No. 5 Travis Elg will face Sim Bribieseca - who Elg has pinned in the last two meetings - at 141 pounds.

At 149 pounds, MSU's star freshman No. 5 Tommy Abbott will look to avenge a 21-8 loss against top-rated Todd Meneely at the National Duals.

No. 1 Jason Rhoten will likely face either Henry Wahle or Marcus Hillario at 157 pounds before the 165 pound-match where MSU's No. 4 Andy Pickar will try and get with No. 3 Aaron Denson. Denson edged Pickar 6-5 at the National Duals.

At 174 pounds, No. 2 Ross Taplin of UNO is out for second staright win over No. 8 Tim Matheson. The two met at National Duals where Taplin won 5-2.

UNO hopes it can capitalize at 184 and 197 pounds where it has wrestlers ranked and MSU doesn't. MSU's Brady Wilson will take on No. 8 Tony Lewis in the heavyweight match to conclude the dual.

"As long as I'm as I'm here, we're going to schedule Omaha," Makovsky said. "They're on board with that and we're on board with that."

As for the rivalry, it will be the final time UNO and MSU face each other as NCC or North Region opponents. Still, Makovsky assures the rivalry will continue in future seasons.

For now, MSU's focus is on Friday night, and hopefully leaving Sapp Fieldhouse with a win.

"It's another stiff test for us, wrestling in a tough environment where we don't have a lot of friends," Makovsky said.

Tyler Buckentine is the Reporter sports editor