Nebraska-Omaha senior wrestler Cody Garcia

Garcia's Legend Growing at Tradition-Rich UNO

By David Boyce

For the first time in his wrestling career, Cody Garcia didn't have his hand raised in every match at the NCAA Division II national wrestling meet.

Garcia ended his junior season at Nebraska-Omaha with a third-place finish at the national meet.

"After winning it twice and then coming in third, it motivated me this year," Garcia said. "But I feel it didn't make me any worse as a wrestler. It was one of those matches that didn't go my way. Even when I was walking out of there I felt like I was one of the best wrestlers.

"It didn't work out. I had to learn from it and make the most of it and that's what I tried to do going into this year."

Given Garcia's background in wrestling, it was expected that he would use the slight setback to inspire him to an even higher standard than the incredible one he had already established.

Garcia, wrestling for his dad at Hutchinson High School, won Kansas State titles as a freshman, junior and senior and took third as a sophomore. He left Hutchinson 132-9.

After battling through some injuries that derailed his first season at UNO, Garcia captured the 125-pound national title in the 2005-06 season.

Injuries set him back again the following year. Garcia responded to that adversity by winning the 125-pound national title in 2007-08 as a sophomore.

So it figured that Garcia was likely going to do something special in his final season of wrestling in college.

But who would have thought a perfect start. Garcia is 33-0 and has won 23 of those matches by pins.

"I wouldn't say surprised," he said. "I've been fortunate to stay pretty healthy. You have to be confident going into each match and expect to win.

"This is the first year I've been undefeated. I've had a good start. Usually, I try to peak later in the season. I've been able to win some matches early in the year. But I'm building for the end of the year."

Through the years Garcia has learned a lot of tactical things in wrestling from his dad, who coached him at Hutchinson High School.

Mike Denney, who is in his 31^st season as UNO head wrestling coach, has obviously added more technical wrestling knowledge.

But one lesson from his father sticks with Garcia and it has nothing to do with take downs or wrestling holds.

"The thing that always comes into mind is he told me to be confident and comfortable wrestling," Garcia said. "Wrestling is the one thing I've done my whole life, so I should be able to enjoy it.

"He said you've been doing this more than anything else in your life. The only thing you've done more than wrestling is sleeping. If you are comfortable sleeping you should be comfortable wrestling."

A simple message like that from Garcia rubs off on younger wrestlers coming into the Mavericks program. Garcia is 132-17 at Nebraska-Omaha, and that record naturally commands respect from underclassmen.

But a bit of advice, sometimes in just a few words, means more to freshmen trying to find their way at the college level.

"Cody is a tremendous leader for us, one of the best I've ever had," Denney said. "It's not a lot of vocal stuff. It's just by example, and when he does talk they listen. He's done a great job for us.

"Gosh, he's been a gift to our program."

That's an amazing statement from Denney when you consider the national power Nebraska-Omaha has been in Division II wrestling over the years.

The Mavericks won their fifth national title last season, and they will play host to their fifth national tournament, which will be held March 12-13 in Omaha.

"We found out the key to the excitement and enthusiasm and all the work of hosting is to have a good team," Denney said.

They will most likely be a major player again this year if history means anything. UNO is currently riding 29 straight top-10 finishes, including 21 straight top-three finishes.

Denney has been coaching at UNO so long that he remembers coaching against Garcia's dad when he wrestled at Central Missouri and won a national title.

"I followed him," Denney said. "I knew he had a son. When Cody was little I kind of followed him through. He's coached Cody since Cody was a little guy. He's done a pretty good job preparing him."

There is something about the sons of wrestling coaches that Denney likes. He has seven or eight of them on his team and another one on the way.

"They seem to have a little broader perspective," Denney said. "They seem to see it more in a team sense."

You definitely get that vibe after talking to Garcia for several minutes. His record on the mat makes it clear that he takes his sport seriously and does all the things necessary to win.

"Wrestling a great teaching tool because it takes such a work ethic," Denney said. "Wrestling is demanding. They are only going to raise one hand. You have to maintain a weight and perform at that weight and be consistent with it. It's a tough sport and a great sport you can use to teach things."

Garcia has taken that same discipline on the mat and applied it in the classroom. He has earned academic awards every year at UNO.

And last year Garcia won the UNO Junior Scholar award with a 3.51 GPA and was a National Wrestling Coaches Association Academic All-American.

"It does mean a lot to me," Garcia said. "Wrestling itself is a very demanding sport, so to be able to have your priorities right and have good grades should be part of it. That's why I'm here is to get an education, and I'm enjoying wrestling while I'm doing it."

Garcia is majoring in secondary education and wants to be a teacher sometime in the future. But he plans on more education next year and see where it takes him.

Whatever happens in the reminder of the wrestling season, Garcia recognizes he's been part of a special program.

"It's coach Denney," Garcia said. "The majority of it is we have developed this brand of what we bring in and what we develop. We are consistent in our training and consistent in our rituals.

"He does a great job recruiting and once we get them here we get them acclimated to our culture and we thrive off it. We get guys in here who enjoy wrestling and enjoy each other, and we feed off each other and things start rolling for us."

Garcia, though, is one wrestler who will leave a legacy in UNO's rich wrestling tradition that will stand out for many years.

"We've been blessed to have some great leaders like Cody and guys who have dedicated themselves to our program," Denney said. "We've been fortunate. But, man, he's a special one."

To reach David Boyce, contributing writer for the MIAA, e-mail dboyce@themiaa.com.