Esai Dominguez
Weight: 149
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Omaha, Neb.
Previous School(s): Creighton Prep
Honors and Awards
2009, All-American, 3rd place
2009, Midwest Regional Freshman of the Year
2009, MIAA Freshman of the Year
2009, Ryan Kaufman Award
2009, UNO Platinum Award winner (37 wins)
2009, UNO’s OOOSSS Award winner (7 times)
2009, UNO Wrestler of the Week (12 times)
2009, UNO Outstanding Freshman
2008, UNO Outstanding Redshirt
2008, UNO Wrestler of the Week (six times)
2008, UNO’s OOOSSS Award winner (six times)
2008, U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier
Career Record: 37-11, 1 letter
Outlook: Esai is another young talented wrestler for the Mavericks…making his first trip to nationals last year, Dominguez placed third and should be a national champion threat at 149 pounds this season.
2008-09: Dominguez proved to be a strong addition to UNO’s starting lineup, compiling a 37-11 record including a 10-3 mark in dual competition…lost his first match at the NCAA Championships, but rebounded with five-straight wins (including a fall and two major decisions) to place third…beat Wisconsin-Parkside’s Craig Becker 6-4 in sudden-victory in the third match to help the Mavericks win the national championship…Dominguez qualified for the NCAA Championships with a second-place finish at the NCAA Super Regional…took first at the Daktronics Open to start the season…placed second at the Brand and UNK Opens…finished fourth at the Nichols Open…was named UNO Wrestler of the week 12 times…UNO’s OOOSSS Award Winner seven times during the season…Nebraska High School Graduate Wrestler of the Year… named UNO’s Outstanding Freshman…Platinum Match award for his 37 victories…Led the squad with 15 major decisions and tech falls…was named MIAA Freshman of the Year (went 3-0 with two pins at the MIAA Duals)…voted NCAA Midwest Super Regional Freshman of the Year…earned a spot on the All-Rookie Amateur Wrestling News Third Team…was UNO’s Ryan Kaufman Award winner.
Summer 2008: Became first Maverick in UNO wrestling history to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Greco-Roman wrestling...Was one of 12 wrestlers to qualify at 145.5 lbs...went 0-2 losing to Jacob Curby of the Gator Wrestling Club
2007-08 Season: Wrestling unattached he went 26-2 on the year...named one of the team’s outstanding redshirts...was UNO Wrestler of the Week six times...won UNO’s OOOSSS Award six times...won championships at Daktronics, Kaufman-Brand, Hastings and Brand Opens...placed second at the Nebraska-Kearney and Dana Opens...won nine matches by fall with his fastest in 59 seconds...also had 10 wins by major decisions and technical falls.
High School: One of Nebraska’s top wrestlers in Class A history…four-time state qualifier and a four-time placewinner in Class A State tournament…state champion as a senior going 37-1 and also as a sophomore finishing 34-1…placed second as a freshman (32-3) and junior (35-3)…career record was 138-8…had an outstanding spring and summer in 2007 wrestling freestyle and Greco…went 17-3 at the Junior Nationals in July 2007 in Fargo, N.D., placing second in Greco and just missed placing by one match in freestyle…placed third in Greco and fourth in freestyle at the Junior FILA National Tournament in Las Vegas in April 2007…2005 and 2006 Brute Adidas National Champion at 140 pounds while being named the outstanding wrestler in 2005…won the 138 pound Greco Division at FILA Greco Cadet Nationals in 2005 while placing fourth in the freestyle division in 2006…finished fourth at Cadet Fargo nationals (Greco, 130 pounds)… 2006 National Champion at Fargo Junior Nationals (Greco, 140 pounds)…placed second at the European Czech Republic Grand Prix (Greco, 138 pounds)…brother Eli was a two-time All-American for the Mavs while brother Zac is in his fourth year as a Maverick assistant coach.
High School Record: Freshman: 32-3; Sophomore: 34-1; Junior: 35-3; Senior 37-1; Career Record: 138-8.
About Esai
High school coaches: John Hiffernan and Todd Enger
Place of birth: Papillion, Neb.
Birthday: Sept. 17, 1988
Nickname: Easy “D”
Parents: Raymond and Joanna Dominguez
Siblings: Brothers Zac (Mav Assistant) and Eli (Former Mav All-American)
Major: construction engineering
My greatest individual moment in wrestling so far: making Olympic trials!
Most impressive person I’ve met: my dad!
Craziest ambitions: to own a portable taco stand and to qualify for the Olympics.
Favorite entertainer: Hugh Laurie
People that have the greatest influence on my life: my parents and brothers
Something people should really know about me, but don’t: I enjoy school!
What Is One Food That You Wouldn’t Be Paid To Eat?: onions
What Is Playing On Your iPod Right Now?: “I Wanna Rock”
I came to UNO because: we have a great wrestling program and engineering school.
Favorite quote: “Never rest upon past accomplishments.”
Favorite Athlete: sand volleyball gold medalist Misty May-Treanor
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