Cedar Falls, Iowa --- The fourth-ranked Minnesota State wrestling squad defeated North Central Conference rival Nebraska-Omaha in the finals of the NWCA National duals Sunday, 19-17, to claim the NWCA National Duals Championships. The Mavericks defeated two of the nation's top-four teams en route to the title.

In the championship match, MSU won the first three weight classes and jumped out to a 13-0 lead as sixth-ranked Nick Smith (Yankton, S.D.)won by a 9-3 decision over Matt Rein at 125-pounds, John Putman (Oak Lawn, Ill.) pulled at 10-2 major decision win over Mario Morgan and seventh-ranked Travis Elg (Mountain Lake, Minn.) upset fifth-ranked Yasjim Bribieseca with a pin at the 4:04 mark.

Nebraska-Omaha, ranked second nationally, mounted a comeback by winning five of six matches between 149 and 197 pounds and held a 17-16 lead going into the final match between heavyweights second-ranked Brady Wilson (Faribault, Minn.) and seventh-ranked Tony Lewis. The match was forced into a overtime period as the two battled to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation. Wilson earned a takedown in the overtime period to propel the MSU the championship.

In the championship semifinals, MSU jumped out early against the top-ranked team in the nation as Nick Smith gave the Mavericks a 6-0 lead with an early pin over Mike Abril in the first period at the 1:59 mark. Nebraska-Kearney answered back with nine straight points to grab the a 9-6 lead but freshman 149-pounder Tommy Abbott (Wilmington, Del.) answered back with a decision win over eighth-ranked Ryan Etherton to tie the match at 9-9 going into two key matchups between ranked opponents.

At 157-pounds, the Mavericks top-ranked senior Jason Rhoten grabbed the lead back for the Mavericks which they would not relinquish as he defeated second-ranked Joe Ellenberger, 4-3. At 165 pounds second-ranked Andy Pickar added to the lead with a hard-earned 2-1 decision win over fourth-ranked Taylor May. The Mavericks would hold on for a 25-15 win to move to the finals.

In the second round, the Mavericks were able to defeat #6 Pittsburgh-Johnstown, 24-13, with two wins in the match were Maverick wrestlers were able to win matches over higher-ranked opponents. At 125-pounds sixth-ranked Nick Smith (Yankton, S.D.) was able to defeat third-ranked Derrick Bosso by a major decision and seventh-ranked Travis Elg (Mountain Lake, Minn.) won by decision over sixth-ranked Shane Valko.

In the opening round the Mavericks squared up against #12 Chadron State and were able to win eight of ten matches on the way to a 34-9 win. Only loses came in the 197-pound match as top-ranked Josh Majerus was able to pin Tom Block and Willy Jones was able to upset third-ranked Tim Matheson, 9-2.

--Courtesy MSU Athletic Media Relations