Mankato, Minn. -- In the battle of the Mavericks, the No. 4 Minnesota
State wrestling squad came away with a 29-7 win over No. 3
Nebraska-Omaha tonight as the crowd filled the Taylor Center to set a
new wrestling attendance record of 1,321.
The evening started at 125-pounds with No. 5 junior Nick Smith
(Yankton, S.D.) getting a 3-2 decision win over Jim Ball to put the
first points of the evening on the board for MSU. No. 3 senior Jeff
Pfaffinger (Blue Earth, Minn.) also got a a decision win over Jeff Rau
to put MSU up 6-0.
In what turned out to be the biggest match of the night, No. 3 freshman
Travis Elg (Mountain Lake, Minn.) was able to stick #4 Sim Bribieseca
in the overtime period. Elg was able to escape what looked like was
going to be a takedown by Bribieseca with a headlock and turn it into a
pinfall at the 7:28 mark.
After falling behind 12-0, UNO was able to get its first points of the
night when No. 1 Todd Meneely was able to pull a 6-5 decision over No.
2 Jason Rhoten (Kasson, Minn.). No. 6 senior Brandon Girtz (Forrest
Lake, Minn.) answered right back for MSU with a 13-3 major decision
over Henry Wahle to put MSU up 16-3.
No. 3 junior Andy Pickar (Brainerd, Minn.) was able to improve to 15-1
on the season as he downed the top-ranked wrestler in No. 1 Ross Taplin
by a 7-3 decision. UNO picked up its second win of the evening at
174-pounds as No. 1 J.D. Naig pulled a 7-3 decision over Tim Matheson
(Circle Pines, Minn.).
Again MSU was able to answer back with No. 6 senior Travis Krinkie
(Blue Earth, Minn.) was able to gain a riding point at the end of the
third period to give him a tech. fall win over Austin Boehm. No. 2
Jacob Marrs scored UNO's last team points of the night as he was able
pull a 6-3 decision over senior Ben Janike (Waseca, Minn.). No. 3
freshman Brady Wilson (Faribault, Minn.) ended the dual with a 6-2
decision over No. 7 Tony Lewis.
The next action for MSU will be next Thursday as the wrestling squad
heads to St. Cloud State to take on the Huskies and try for the sweep
over NCC opponents in dual action.
February 9, 2007 at Mankato, MN
MSU-Mankato 27, Nebraska-Omaha 9
125: #5 Nick Smith (MSU) dec. Jim Ball (UNO) 3-2
133: #3 Jeff Pfaffinger (MSU) dec. Jeff Rau (UNO) 9-3
141: #3 Travis Elg (MSU) fall #4 Sim Bribieseca (UNO) 7:28
149: #2 #1 Todd Meneely (UNO) dec. Jason Rhoten (MSU) 6-5
157: #6 Brandon Girtz (MSU) maj. dec. Henry Wahle (UNO) 13-3
165: #3 Andy Pickar (MSU) dec. #1 Ross Taplin (UNO) 7-3
174: #1 J.D. Naig (UNO) dec. Tim Matheson (MSU) 7-3
184: #6 Travis Krinkie (MSU) tech fall Austin Boehm (UNO) 22-7
197: #2 Jacob Marrs (UNO) dec. Ben Janike (MSU) 6-3
Hwt: #3 Brady Wilson (MSU) dec. #7 Tony Lewis (UNO) 6-2
Updated Dual Records: Minnesota State (14-3); Nebraska-Omaha (5-5)
