|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#1 UNO halts #2 MSU's dual winning streak with 22-12 win
Friday, February 10, 2006
Omaha, Neb. -- The #1 and #2 ranked wrestling teams in NCAA Division II squared off for the second time this season tonight in a North Central Conference dual. Top-ranked UNO won six matches in a row en route to a 22-12 win over second-ranked MSU. The loss ended MSU's dual winning streak at six. With the win UNO moves to 9-0 (2-0, NCC) while MSU drops to 11-2 (1-1, NCC) on the year. MSU is now 5-17 all-time against UNO.
The dual started at the 125 pound weight class with eighth ranked sophomore Nick Smith (Yankton, S.D.) receiving a win by injury default over Jimmy Ball who suffered an ankle injury. The win put up six MSU points but sparked UNO to six-straight wins.
At 133, Jeff Pfaffinger (Blue Earth, Minn.) met #6 Dan Hilario. Hilario was able to hold off a late Pfaffinger push and earned a 6-5 win to put up the first UNO points of the night.
At 141, #3 Mitch Waite took on #7 Zach Stevens (Erwinna, Pa.). Waite went up 4-1 in the first period and never looked back as he went on to earn a 8-2 win.
At 149, Brandon Girtz (Forest Lake, Minn.) took on #6 Shane Unger. Unger picked up a 7-3 win to give UNO its first lead of the night by a score of 9-6.
#3 senior Mathias Bitz (Bismarck, N.D.) took on #1 Patrick Allibone at 157 pounds. A late stalling point was awarded to Allibone in the third period to secure the 3-2 win over Bitz.
At 165, #4 sophomore Andy Pickar (Brainerd, Minn.) took on #5 Ross Taplin. The UNO freshman was able to outlast Pickar and picked up the 4-1 win.
The match at 174 pounds featured the #1 and #2 wrestlers in the nation. Travis Krinkie (Blue Earth, Minn.) faced #2 J.D. Naig. Krinkie led most of the match and looked as if he would hold on for the win. But Naig managed to get a late reversal and near fall in the final 15 seconds to pick up the win and upset, 9-6.
At 184, #1 senior John Koons (Crosby, Minn.) met unranked Nate Oviatt. Koons picked up the 6-0 victory over Oviatt. The win moved MSU within nine points of UNO who led 18-9.
The match at 197 pounds was the only match of the evening that didn't involve a ranked wrestler for either squads. Junior Ben Janike (Waseca, Minn.) met Nick Edmonds in a must win match for MSU. Janike picked up the 2-1 win in triple overtime and put three more points on the board for MSU.
The final match of the evening featured #8 senior Tim Kraemer (Cold Springs, Minn.) took on three-time national champion and top-ranked Les Sigman. Sigman dominated the bout and won his 66th straight match of his collegiate career with a 14-1 major decision that sealed the win for UNO.
MSU will be back in action tomorrow when they travel to Marshall, Minn., to take on the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs. The dual is slated for 7 p.m.
Friday, February 10, 2006 at Omaha, NE
University of Nebraska-Omaha 22, Minnesota State University 12
125: No. 8 Nick Smith, MSU (20-12) inj. def. Jimmy Ball (10-12) UNO 3:42
133: No. 6 Dan Hilario, UNO (17-8) dec. Jeff Pfaffinger, MSU (19-8) 6-5
141: No. 3 Mitch Waite, UNO (15-7) dec. No. 7 Zach Stevens, MSU (16-8) 8-2
149: No. 6 Shane Unger, UNO (15-6) dec. Brandon Girtz , MSU (22-7) 8-3
157: No. 1 Patrick Allibone, UNO (25-6) dec. No. 3 Math Bitz, MSU (20-12) 3-2
165: No. 5 Ross Taplin UNO (32-11) dec. No. 4 Andy Pickar, MSU (20-10) 5-1
174: No. 2 J.D. Naig, UNO (27-4) dec. No. 1 Travis Krinkie, MSU (14-3) 9-6
184: No. 1 John Koons, MSU (24-10) dec. Nate Oviatt, UNO (14-16) 6-0
197: Ben Janike, MSU (10-11) dec. Nick Edmonds, UNO (7-18) 2-1 OT
Hwt: No. 1 Les Sigman, UNO (17-0) major dec. No. 8 Tim Kraemer, MSU (21-11) 14-1