Home-hosted championship will continue to produce special memories
J Parker Adair
Issue date: 3/9/10 Section: Sports
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The NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship is a six-ring circus, and Mike Denney is the best ring master there is. I have had the pleasure and honor to be there for the three-consecutive national championships Denney and the Mavericks won, and there was no better show than what was put on in Omaha.
In 2004, UNO was ranked second all year. It was the final year for North Dakota State in Division II, and some had already crowned them national champions. After the first day of competition, the Bison had a pretty big lead, and their fans were partying by the hotel pool. Denney met with his team in his room . . . which happened to overlook the festivities.
"We will celebrate tomorrow night," Denney said.
In the second day of competition, UNO chipped away at North Dakota State's lead. The Bison started dropping a few matches. This was the day UNO wrestling legends were made. Dustin Tovar and Patrick Allibone made the finals. J.D. Naig had some big points on pure grit, and Eli Dominguez also made himself an All American. It was a total team effort that came down to a couple North Dakota State championship losses and the final match of the tournament. Sophomore Les Sigman won his second-consecutive national title, helping the Mavs to a 2 ½ point win.
I had traveled with some of the coaches to that tournament in Mankato, Minnesota, and I remember Chad Wallace (who had won his national title a year earlier) nearly mauling me in my seat in celebration after the victory. That was also the first year I wore a red tie for the second day of competition.
The following year was supposed to be UNO's year. They won everything. They were No. 1 in the nation all year. . . until they lost the regional to Augustana. That was only fuel for the fire as J.D. Naig and Patrick Allibone turned in national championship performances joining Sigman who won his third. Three other Mavericks became All Americans, and UNO didn't have to wait until the final match to win the national title. They won it on the second-to-last match. Sigman's title was the victory lap.
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