January 9, 2002

UNC wrestlers fall to UNO despite early efforts, 35-10

The University of Northern Colorado wrestling team dropped to 1-2 on the season with a 35-10 loss to the number 4-ranked University of Nebraska-Omaha in a Wednesday evening dual.

Ronnie Stafford opened the evening at 141 pounds and pinned UNO's Kasey Kohl at 5:19 for an early 6-0 lead for the Bears. UNC lost the next match as Simon Hoepfner dropped a 13-6 decision to make the score 6-3. UNC's number 5-ranked Brody Olson followed at 157 pounds with a major decision over Dirk Desmond 14-5 and put the Bears up 10-3.

But that did it for the Bears as they lost the next seven weights. Highlighting the later matches, however, Jason McMillan returned to the Bears lineup in a rematch from last year's NCAA National tournament and was narrowly defeated by number 2-ranked Chad Wallace. McMillan, who finished third at the national tournament last year and earned All-American honors, has been out with a football injury and returned for his first match Wednesday. Wallace has already wrestled 21 matches and sits at 18-3.

"We did well in about half of the matches, but we need to get a lot better before this weekend, and we can," said coach Jack Maughan. "UNO should be a much tougher dual team that South Dakota State and Augustana."

Unfortunately for the Bears, Eric Spry failed to make weight at 125 pounds, and Tyler Haner who also wrestles that weight and was going with the team this week broke his hand right before they left. It was not a bad break, and he is not expected to be out long. All the same, Maughan believed this was a tough thing for his team to overcome mentally going up against the fourth ranked team in the nation.

The Bears will be on the road for the rest of the week as they face off against South Dakota State Friday at 6 p.m., and then they head to Augustana for a dual on Saturday at 6 p.m. (All times Mountain) 

Results
141	Ronnie Stafford (UNC) won by fall at 5:19 over Kasey Kohl (UNO)
	Stafford is now 7-7. Kohl is now 19-8.




149	Cody Ritter (UNO) won by decision 13-6 over Simon Hoepfner (UNC)
	Ritter is now 15-6. Hoepfner is now 9-9.




157	#5 Brody Olson (UNC) won by major decision 14-5 over Dirk Desmond (UNO)
	Olson is now 16-7. Desmond is now 10-11.




165	Kurt Bahoboj (UNO) won by fall  at 4:28 over Jared Deaguero (UNC)
	Bahoboj is now 17-8. Deaguero is now 13-6.




174	#4 Bob Edmonds (UNO) won by major decision 14-6 over Tanner Linsacum (UNC)
	Edmonds is now 23-3. Linsacum is now 0-1.




184	#4 Zach Stalder (UNO) won by major decision 12-3 over Jeremy Sears (UNC)
	Stalder is now 15-3. Sears is now 12-9.




197	#2 Chad Wallace (UNO) won by decision 10-6 over Jason McMillan (UNO)
	Wallace is now 18-3. McMillan is now 0-1.




Hwt	Lance Tolstedt (UNO) won by decision 7-4 over Tony Schunke (UNC)
	Tolstedt is now 17-8. Schunke is now 8-8.




125	Dustin Tovar (UNO) won by default.
	Tovar is now 9-1.




133	Eli Dominguez (UNO) won by fall at 4:37 over Jon Nider (UNC)
	Dominguez is now 15-7. Nider is now 0-3.