By Kevin Clemens
UNO was the host team at the Kauffman-Brand open on Nov. 17 at the Sapp Fieldhouse. The Kauffman-Brand Open is the largest one-day collegiate tournament in the nation. Over 500 wrestlers competed at the event from all collegiate divisions. The Maverick wrestlers competed quite well at the event, with four wrestlers capturing titles on the day.
Freshman Esai Dominguez went 6-0 on the day at the 149-pound amateur division. He was also named the amateur division’s most outstanding wrestler for the tournament.
2006 All-American Sim Bribieseca also went 6-0 on the day and won the 161-pound amateur division title. Aaron Denson, who has been wrestling great as of late, also went undefeated and won the title at 165 pounds.
Jacob Marrs won all four of his matches in the elite division at 197 pounds to pull in his third consecutive title at the Kauffman-Brand Open.
Other wrestlers that placed at the event in the amateur division were Mario Morgan, who finished fourth at 133 pounds with a record of 5-2, Jake Ellenberger, who finished fourth at 174, Bruce Boehm, who finished fourth at 285, and Austin Boehm, who finished sixth at 184.
Sophomore Brent Pankoke was the only other Maverick, besides Marrs, to compete in the elite division, and he ended the day with a record of 5-1. He finished in third place at 184 pounds.
Iowa’s Brent Metcalf was named the elite division’s most outstanding wrestler on the day, winning the title at 149 pounds.
The Mavericks will compete again on the road this Sunday, Dec. 2, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, for the Northern Iowa Open.
