mobanmarketThe No. 4 Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers by a score of 34-5 this afternoon in Madison, Wis. The Gophers claimed nine victories out of the 10 weight classes, including at fall at 125 lbs., a major at 149 lbs. and a forfeit at 184 lbs. With the win, Minnesota closes out the Big Ten Conference season with a 7-1 record, tying Penn State for second in the league standings. Iowa clinched the regular season championship title with a 31-7 win over Nebraska this afternoon.
David Thorn opened the meet to rousing success at 125 lbs. After earning two takedowns, Thorn caught Matt Cavallaris on his back and held long enough to earn the pin at the 2:42 mark and give the Gophers a comfortable lead, one they would hold throughout the competition. Corey Hodowanic once again stepped in at 133 lbs. and watch outmatched by Wisconsin’s No. 5-ranked Tyler Graff. Hodowanic managed to avoid the pin, but Graff still earned an 18-2 tech fall for five team points.
It wouldn’t matter. Minnesota won out the remainder of the bouts to dominate the Badgers. At 141 lbs., Nick Dardanes tallied an 8-2 decision over Tom Kelliher and Dylan Ness followed with a 10-0 major decision over Cole Schmitt at 149 lbs. Danny Zilverberg earned his second dual win of the season with a 5-4 close decision. The Gophers led the Badgers, 16-5 at intermission.
After a scoreless first period at 165 lbs., Cody Yohn turned on the heat to start racking up points. With two takedowns, an escape, and 2:36 of riding time, Yohn walked away with the 6-1 victory. At 174 lbs., Logan Storley was closely matched by Scott Liegel. After regulation the score was tied at three but Storley received an additional point for riding time, winning by a 4-3 decision.
Wisconsin’s forfeit at 184 lbs. gave Minnesota an overwhelming 28-5 advantage with only two weight classes to go. Scott Schiller notched a sudden victory over Jackson Hein at 197 lbs. The wrestlers managed one escape apiece in the regulation seven-minute frame. Forty-eight seconds deep in overtime, Schiller attacked for the two-point takedown and earned three back points on a near fall.
Heavyweight Tony Nelson delivered Connor Medbery his first dual loss of the season. In the second period, Nelson tallied an early takedown and earned three points on the near fall to move ahead 5-1. He gathered three more technical points in the third period and added a bonus for 1:17 of riding time, giving him the 9-2 victory and sending the Gophers to a 34-5 final dual score.
After a week off of competition, the Gophers will come back home as the University of Minnesota plays host to the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Dual Meet Championship, for which the team received an automatic bid. The competition will take place on Feb. 22-23. Tickets for the event are available at mygophersports.com.
#4 Minnesota 34, #25 Wiscosin 5
125: #13 David Thorn (Minn) fall Matt Cavallaris (Wisc) 2:42
133: #4 Tyler Graff (Wisc) tech fall Cody Hodowanic (Minn) 18-2 5:38
141: Nick Dardanes (Minn) dec Tom Kelliher (Wisc) 8-2
149: #9 Dylan Ness (Minn) maj dec Cole Schmitt (Wisc) 10-0
157: Danny Zilverberg (Minn) dec Kalvin York (Wisc) 5-4
165: #14 Cody Yohn (Minn) dec Frank Cousins (Wisc) 6-1
174: #1 Logan Storley (Minn) dec Scott Liegel (Wisc) 4-3
184: #5 Kevin Steinhaus (Minn) vs Forfeit (Wisc)
197: #12 Scott Schiller (Minn) dec #17 Jackson Hein (Wisc) 6-1 sv
Hwt: #2 Tony Nelson (Minn) dec #11 Connor Medbery (Wisc) 9-2
Exhibition Match
157: Pat Smith (Minn) maj dec Brad Nardick (Wisc) 15-2