Ryan Pankoke
Weight: 165
Class: Junior
Hometown: Beaver Crossing, Neb.
Previous School(s): Centennial HS
Career record: 42-20, 2 letters
Outlook: Pankoke is poised for a leading role in the Maverick lineup after an impressive showing last season…he has also excelled in the classroom, earning his second Academic All-American Honor last season.
2008-09: Finished with a 31-13 overall record and went 3-1 in duals...earned his second letter…won the Northern Iowa and Brand Opens…finished second at the Dana Open…took fourth at the Kaufman Open…placed fifth at the UNK Open and sixth at Grand View Open…in his first dual match, he won 3-1 over Kelly Henderson of Central Oklahoma...moved up to 174 pounds against Minnesota State and lost a hard fought, 5-4 decision to Ben Becker…finished his dual season at the MIAA Duals with a 16-1 technical fall over Truman's JC Housley…won UNO’s Wrestler of the Week ten times and was the teams OOOSSS Award winner four times…shared UNO’s Most Improved Wrestler Award…was one o the team’s Gold Match award winners with 31 wins…was named second team NCAA Division II Academic All-American.
2007-08 Season: Went 11-7 while wrestling in four opens...named to the NCAA Division II Academic All-American second team...member of the North Central Conference Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll...UNO’s Wrestler of The Week twice...UNO’s OOOSSS Award winner after placing third at Hastings Open.
2006-07 Season: Redshirted in 2006-07…did not compete in any matches.
High School: Three-time placewinner in Nebraska Class B and C State Tournament…state champion as a senior going 34-0…placed third as a junior and freshman…had an outstanding high school career record of 138-6 with 90 pins…four-time district champion and four-time Southern Nebraska Conference champion…competed in the first annual Nebraska-Iowa Border Brawl All-Star Wrestling Dual…selected to wrestle in Nebraska NSWCA All-Star Dual…selected as all-district linebacker in football...named the 2005-06 Centennial High School Male Athlete of the Year.
High School Record: Freshman: 34-1; Sophomore: 34-4; Junior: 36-1; Senior: 34-0; Career Record: 138-6
About Ryan
High school coach: Dean Davis
Place of birth: Seward, Neb.
Birthday: Sept. 3, 1987
Major: Biology
Parents: Mike and Peggy Pankoke
Siblings: Sarah, Mitch, Kristen, and former Mav Brent
Best thing about being a college wrestler: getting free t-shirts
Most impressive person I’ve met: Coach Denney
Favorite class at UNO: self-defense
People that have had the greatest influence on my life: my family and God.
If I could change one thing about myself it would be: I would be taller
I came to UNO because: steel sharpens steel!
Favorite quote: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
Number one thing that I’ve learned in college: don’t get behind in school work.
What’s your favorite sport outside of wrestling?: football
Ten years from now I want to be: farming.
Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan
When I want to get away from wrestling, I: go back to the farm
Favorite class at UNO: World Civ II
Return to Roster