So you don’t think that every point and every second in a wrestling match matters? Well, think again.

Of all the NCAA championships ever wrestled, the 2008 Division II tournament was likely the closest. Minnesota State-Mankato fell a mere half a second shy of potentially winning the title over Nebraska-Kearney. 

Two future superstars factored heavily into Kearney's win: Three-time World/Olympic medalist Tervel Dlagnev and UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. 

The Lopers clung to a half-point lead (100.5-100) over the Mavericks with Mankato sending three to the finals and Kearney sending two. The Lopers struck first with Brett Allgood winning the title at 133 pounds after Maverick Nick Smith fell, 8-2, at 125 pounds. 

Nebraska Kearney 104.5, Minnesota State-Mankato 100

The Mavericks fired back with wins from Jason Rhoten (157 pounds) and Andy Pickar (165 pounds). Pickar won his match 8-2 and had Hudson Harrison (Mercyhurst) on his back for one and a half seconds as time expired. Another half-second meant two additional points, which meant a major decision, which meant a bonus point for the Mavericks. Mankato didn't get the major decision so it only picked up four points for the title instead of five with a major decision. 

Minnesota State-Mankato 108, Nebraska-Kearney 104.5

The team title came down to the best heavyweight in the country (all divisions) winning his finals match against Central Oklahoma’s Dustin Finn. Tervel Dlagnev needed a win for Nebraska-Kearney to earn its first team title in program history, which he did, 4-1. 

Nebraska Kearney 108.5, Minnesota State-Mankato 108

Oh, So Close

Through the gift of hindsight, Pickar’s almost major decision in the finals could have won the title for Mankato. The Mavericks would have been up by 4.5 points, which would have forced Dlagnev to secure a major decision or better. There’s no guarantee he wouldn’t have, but the pressure would have been squarely on his shoulders to deliver, and his win came down to the wire. 

A half-point team title means that every win or loss from either side ultimately contributed to the final outcome, but there are key moments that stand out. 

Nebraska-Kearney
— Ryan Etherton (149) picked up a major decision and two falls in consolation on his way to placing third.

— Joe Ellenberger (157) lost in the first round then won five straight matches, including a major decision, a 10-8 sudden victory win in the consolation semis, and a win in tiebreakers for third place.

— Kamaru Usman (174) won 7-5 in sudden victory in the quarterfinals and 3-2 during his third-place match.

— Paul Sutton (184) went 1-2 but his lone victory was a major decision.

— Brett Allgood (133) defeated Mankato’s John Putnam in the semifinals, 3-1

Minnesota State-Mankato

— John Putnam (133) lost to Raymond Dunning, 7-6, during the consolation semis

— Tim Matheson (174) lost in the quarters, 3-2, and lost his consolation match, 6-4 in sudden victory

— Brady Wilson (285) lost in the semis, 4-3, in tiebreakers and lost his third-place match, 4-3.

Reflecting On A Memorable Title

Tervel Dlagnev, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist
The 2008 Nebraska-Kearney team title is one of my most cherished memories in the sport of wrestling. Everyone dreams of the opportunity to be the finisher. Make the last shot. Grab that last-second catch in the end zone. For me, it came in the most dramatic way. I win, we win the nationals. It’s something I will never forget and it was the best moment of my college career.

Tervel Dlagnev celebrates his title-clinching win at the 2008 NCAA Championships

Marc Bauer, head coach for the 2008 UNK team
Winning the school’s first national championship was hard for us to believe in 2008 because we weren’t favored to win. We had nine qualifiers, so we knew if we had a strong tournament there was a chance. 

It wasn’t until the consolation quarterfinals that we knew we had a chance. We punched four wrestlers into the consolation finals, pulling out two huge upsets that secured a team trophy with eight All-Americans and two national finalists. 

We were highly favored in both finals matches with returning national champions Brett Allgood (133) and Tervel Dlagnev (285). After Brett’s victory at 133, we had to wait and watch as Mankato had to win their matches to determine both teams’ fate. One of Mankato’s wrestlers lost, keeping them 3.5 points ahead of us. The title came down to the final match. Tervel got the victory and we won the team title by half a point. 

That team was very special. All nine contributed to the score. Our 184-pounder was the only wrestler who wasn’t an All-American, but he won a match that scored us one point. Everyone contributed to that national championship.

I loved that team. They were dedicated and committed to putting the work in. Each of them brought something different to the team but they always found a way to pull together and support each other.

Jim Makovsky, Minnesota State-Mankato head coach
We were ahead by 3.5 points going into the last 30 seconds of that heavyweight match. I would have loved to have won it. You drive down the highway every once in a while and you think about it. I'm really proud of the effort that the team put together. There were a couple of weeks afterward where no matter what anybody said it wasn't the right thing. 

As I was watching Tervel's match, I remember thinking that if Dustin Finn could pull this thing off he was going to be flown up to Mankato, Minnesota, and that guy was going to be taken care of for a weekend. I was sitting up top during the finals. I knew the gig. I had a moleskin notebook keeping the scores. 

As soon as (Tervel) got that takedown I didn't know what I wanted to do. We had a huge crowd. I came back to the hotel room and my family was all there. There was a big embrace. I cried a little bit and then we had a big party afterward. We were going to hang our heads high. All these people had unconditional love. 

There's no doubt about it: it stung. I think our guys understand the bigger picture. 

Future UFC welterweight champion Kamarudeen Usman finished third at the 2008 NCAA D2 Championships

2008 Kearney vs Mankato: Match-by-Match

Nebraska-Kearney — 108.5 points

125: DNQ

133: Brett Allgood — 1st (4-0 record)
R16: WON dec. over Mario Morgan, 12-6
Quarters: WON dec. over Tim Elliott, 9-5
Semis: WON dec. over John Putnam, 3-1
Finals: WON dec. over Shane Perkey, 5-3

141: Jeff Rutledge — 3rd (4-1 record)
R16: WON dec. over Cory Bloodgood, 8-3
Quarters: WON dec. over Yasiim Bribieseca, 2-1
Semis: LOST dec. to Kyle Evans, 4-1
Cons Semis: WON dec. over James Annon, 10-3
Third-place: WON dec. over Shane Valko, 4-3

149: Ryan Etherton — 3rd (5-1 record)
R16: WON dec. over Zach McKendree, 3-1
Quarters: LOST dec. to Todd Meneely, 6-1
Cons Quarters: WON maj. dec. over Brian Pogel, 10-1
Round of 12: WON fall over Mike Long, :25
Cons Semis: WON fall over Colby Robinson, 4:12
Third-place: WON dec. over Joseph Deaguero, 4-2

157: Joe Ellenberger — 3rd (5-1 record)
R16: LOST dec. to Henry Wahle, 5-3
Cons: WON dec. over Daniel Nauman, 10-3
Cons: WON maj. dec. over Andy Lamancusa, 11-3
Cons: WON dec. over Noomis Jones, 8-3
Cons Semis: WON dec. over Muhammad Abdur-Rahman, 10-8 SV
Third-place: WON dec. over Travis Eggers, 2-1 TB1

165: Keenan McCurdy — 8th (2-3 record)
R16: LOST fall to Blake Peterson, 5:31
Cons.: WON dec. over Jacob Wilson, 9-2
Cons: WON dec. over Zachary Lee, 5-2
Cons: LOST dec. to Kyle Becker, 10-4
Seventh-place: LOST dec. to Aaron Denson, 3-0

174: Kamarudeen Usman — 3rd (4-1 record)
R16: WON maj. dec. over Chris Gibbs, 10-0
Quarters: WON dec. over Tyler Tubbs, 7-5 SV
Semis: LOST dec. to Albert Miles, 6-2
Cons. Semis: WON dec. over Chris Gibbs, 4-1
Third-place: WON dec. over Josh Shields, 3-2

184: Paul Sutton — DNP (1-2 record)
R16: WON maj. dec. over Tyler Johnson, 11-3
Quarters: LOST dec. to Heath Jolley, 8-6
Cons: LOST dec. to Jeremy Hudson, 5-3

197: Derek Ross — 8th (2-3 record)
R16: WON dec. over Jarrett Edison, 7-5
Quarters: LOST dec. to Tyler Copsey, 6-5 TB2
Cons: WON dec. over Patrick Walsh, 9-4
Cons: LOST maj. dec. to Jacob Marrs, 10-1
Seventh-place: LOST to Kelly Anundson, 6-3

285: Tervel Dlagnev — 1st (4-0)
R16: WON fall over Niall McGrath, 4:21
Quarters: WON tech. fall over Dan Goodson, 21-5
Semis: WON dec. over Cy Wainwright, 9-5
Finals: WON dec. over Dustin Finn, 4-1

Minnesota State-Mankato — 108 points

125: Nick Smith — 2nd (3-1 record)
R16: WON dec. over Robert Nahlik, 7-4
Quarters: WON dec. over Eddie Lopez, 12-6
Semis: WON dec. over Tyler Mumbulo, 12-9
Finals: LOST dec. to Cody Garcia, 8-2

133: John Putman — 6th (2-3 record)
R16: WON tech. fall over Jimmy Savala, 18-3
Quarters: WON dec. over Andrew Young, 3-2
Semis: LOST dec. to Brett Allgood, 3-1
Cons Semis: LOST dec. to Raymond Dunning, 7-6
Fifth-place match: LOST maj. dec. to Tim Elliott, 11-0

141: Travis Elg — 6th (3-3 record)
R16: LOST dec. to Shane Valko, 7-6
Cons: WON fall over Kyle Kanaga, 6:09
Cons: WON fall over Yasiim Bribieseca, 3:48
Cons: WON maj. dec. over Doug Surra, 16-5
Cons Semis: LOST dec. to Shane Valko, 3-1
Fifth-place match: LOST dec. to James Annon, 6-4

149: Tom Abbott — 5th (4-2 record)
R16: WON dec. over Chad Woods, 7-2
Quarters: LOST maj. dec. to Camille DuPont, 16-4
Cons: WON dec. over Latra Collick, 5-4
Cons: WON dec. over Zack McKendree, 5-4
Cons Semis: LOST fall to Joseph Deguero, :52
Fifth-place match: WON dec. over Colby Robinson, 6-1

157: Jason Rhoten — 1st (4-0 record)
R16: WON fall over Danny Grater, 4:37
Quarters: WON fall over Phil Bliss, 4:10
Semis: WON dec. over Muhammad Abdur-Rahman, 6-2
Finals: WON dec. over Antonio Guerra, 3-2

165: Andy Pickar — 1st (4-0 record)
R16: WON fall over Jacob Wilson, 6:00
Quarters: WON maj. dec. over Blake Peterson, 9-1
Semis: WON dec. over Kyle Keane, 8-3
Finals: WON dec. over Hudson Harrison, 8-2

174: Tim Matheson — DNP (1-2 record)
R16: WON maj. dec. over Jeffery Havelka, 11-2
Quarters: LOST dec. to Albert Miles, 3-2
Cons: LOST dec. to Justin Ferguson, 6-4 SV

184: DNQ

197: DNQ

285: Brady Wilson — 4th (3-2 record)
R16: WON tech. fall over Thomas Minwell, 17-0
Quarters: WON fall over William Moss, :26
Semis: LOST dec. to Dustin Finn, 4-3 TB1
Cons Semis: WON dec. over Jesse Laber, 3-1
Third-place match: LOST to Cy Wainwright, 4-3