Fifth-ranked Minnesota (8-4, 3-0) entered the match fresh off two wins in the first weekend of Big Ten action, and were at home for the first time since Jan. 3. Wisconsin (5-7, 1-1), meanwhile, came into the match with a No. 12 national ranking and won 21-18 over Indiana in their last outing.
The 10 individual matches were split by the Gophers and Badgers, with the first six decisions alternating between teams. The dual meet started at 141, and Wisconsin was the first to win back-to-back matches at 184 and 197. Minnesota, though, answered with wins at 125 and heavyweight to all but seal the match.
After their wins at 184 and 197, the Badgers took their first, and only, lead of the night at 14-13, with just three matches to go. With Wisconsin holding the momentum, the Gophers' Ben Berhow (Hayward, Minn.) took the mat at heavyweight against Eric Bungenhagen. A close match saw Bungenhagen hold a 3-1 lead entering the third period. An escape by Berhow brought him within before a stalling call on Bungenhagen tied the match at 3-3. A raucus crowd cheered as Berhow then scored a takedown late in the match for the win, also giving his team the lead for good at 16-14.
With the lead back in hand, the Gophers' Zach Sanders (Wabasha, Minn.) put the match all but out of reach for the Badgers. A tech fall for Sanders would have sealed the win with a match left, but he got the next best thing with a major decision to put Minnesota up 20-14 with one to go. A pair of near falls blew the match open for Sanders in his way to a 17-3 win.
Mike Thorn (St. Michael, Minn.) opened the match with a quick tech fall at 141, scoring a 19-4 win over Wisconsin's Cole Schmitt with nine seconds left in the second period. Thorn nearly had the pin, but a near fall before time expired was enough to end the match and give the Gophers a 5-0 lead out of the gate.
At 157 came the much anticipated return of Dustin Schlatter (Massillion, Ohio) as well as his debut at a new weight class. With a No. 2 national ranking and an 8-1 record at 165, Schlatter garnered similar results with his first match at 157. Schlatter rang up 12 points in a 12-3 victory over Greg Burke to win his ninth straight.
Scott Glasser (Bismarck, N.D.) was the final Gopher to crack the win column this evening and his 14-5 major decision over Jimmy Duffy at 174 gave Minnesota a 13-8 lead heading into the intermission. Glosser notched six takedowns in his match, while surrendering none, on his way to the win.
The Gophers now open Big Ten action 3-0 for the second straight season, while also avenging their 2009 loss to the Badgers. Minnesota returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 31 for a 2:00 p.m. tilt with Purdue in the Sports Pavilion. A win on Sunday would give the Gophers their first 4-0 start since 2006-07 when they went undefeated through the Big Ten season.
When the Gophers host the Boilermakers on Sunday, it will be the Minnesota Wrestling Endowment Meet, and all ticket proceeds from the match will go directly to the Gopher Wrestling Scholarship fund. As a century of excellence is celebrated, this the a chance for Wrestling fans to ensure the next 100 years of Golden Gopher Wrestling and directly impact the career of the student athletes. For tickets just visit www.GopherSports.com or call 1-800-U-GOPHER
Results:
141: #4 Mike Thorn (MINN) tech. Cole Schmitt (WIS), 19-4;4:51 / 5-0
149: #2 Kyle Ruschell (WIS) maj. #18 Mario Mason (MINN), 11-3 / 5-4
157: Dustin Schlatter (MINN) maj. Greg Burke (WIS), 12-3 / 9-4
165: #1 Andrew Howe (WIS) maj. Cody Yohn (MINN), 15-5 / 9-8
174: #8 Scott Glasser (MINN) maj. Jimmy Duffy (WIS), 14-5 / 13-8
184: #16 Travis Rutt (WIS) dec. Kaleb Young (MINN), 5-3 / 13-11
197: #8 Trevor Brandvold (WIS) dec. #14 Sonny Yohn (MINN), 4-2 / 13-14
HWT: Ben Berhow (MINN) dec. Eric Bugenhagen (WIS), 5-4 / 16-14
125: #6 Zach Sanders (MINN) maj. Drew Hammen (WIS), 17-3 / 20-14
133: #8 Tyler Graff (WIS) tech. Thane Antczak (MINN), 29-14 / 20-18
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