Ranked fifth in the country coming into the match, the Gophers treated the 3,019 in attendance to an impressive effort, especially at the top of the lineup, where the top four weights all scored a major decision or better.
Zach Sanders won by technical fall over Tyler Iwamura at 125 pounds (Photo/The Guillotine)Sanders' five points brought Minnesota within one at 5-6, after the Gophers went down 0-6, dropping decisions at 197 and heavyweight.
Their two top spots, Cal State Bakersfield boasted ranked wrestlers at each weight, led by No. 4 Mitch Montiero at heavyweight. In maybe the top match-up of the night, the Gophers' Ben Berhow (Hayward, Minn.) and his No. 8 ranking were matched up with Montiero.
The match lived up to the billing as scoring was at a premium and neither wrestler was able to gain much of an advantage. Montiero used an early takedown for a quick led, and then held on for a 4-1 win. The loss was just the second of the season for Berhow, with each coming to ranked opponents.
The Berhow loss gave the Roadrunners a 6-0 lead after No. 19 Riley Orozco gained a 10-4 decision over the Gophers Joe Nord (Waconia, Minn.) to being the night.
Mike Thorn won by major decision over Elijah Nacita at 141 pounds (Photo/The Guillotine)Mike Thorn (St. Michael, Minn.) at 141 and Luke Mellmer (Dickinson, N.D.) at 149 each earned 9-1 major decisions, and with just four matches left, the Gophers were in command at 19-6. Thorn's win came over a fellow national qualifier from last season, while Mellmer was impressive as a late addition to the starting line-up.
In the closest match of the night, Joe Grygelko (Greenfield, Minn.) used several early takedowns to sprint to a lead, and then held off a late rally for the 8-7 win, capping run of five straight victories for the Gophers and stretching the lead to 22-6.
The final win of the evening for the Roadrunners came at 165, where Joey Granata scored a 10-3 win over Brian Peterson (Richmond, Mich.). It was too little too late for Cal State Bakersfield, however, as the 22-9 team score was too much to overcome with just two matches left to go.
Closing out the win for the Gophers were Cody and Sonny Yohn (Alamosa, Colo.) at 174 and 184 respectively. In his first career start, Cody Yohn used three consecutive near falls in the first period on his way to a major decision at 13-3.
Sonny Yohn then put the perfect cap on the evening with a 15-0 tech fall in the second period for the 31-9 final.
Minnesota will continue dual meet action next weekend with a major test in Oklahoma State. The No. 5 Gophers will go on the road to face the No. 3 Cowboys, with the match scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start on Friday, Dec. 4.
Results:
197: No. 19 Riley Orozco (CSUB) dec. Joe Nord (MINN), 10-4 / 0-3
HWT: No. 4 Mitch Monteiro (CSUB) dec. No. 8 Ben Berhow (MINN), 4-1 / 0-6
125: No. 4 Zach Sanders (MINN) tech. Tyler Iwamura (CSUB), 21-5;6:04 / 5/6
133: No. 2 Jayson Ness (MINN) fall Justin Durham (CSUB), 2:20 / 11-6
141: No. 4 Mike Thorn (MINN) maj. Elijah Nacita (CSUB), 9-1 / 15-6
149: Luke Mellmer (MINN) maj. Anthony Box (CSUB), 9-1 / 19-6
157: Joe Grygelko (MINN) dec. Andrew Balch (CSUB), 8-7 / 22-6
165: Joey Granata (CSUB) dec. Brian Peterson (MINN), 10-3 / 22-9
174: Cody Yohn (MINN) maj. Trevor Hall (CSUB), 13-3 / 26-9
184: No. 16 Sonny Yohn (MINN) tech. Mike Larson (CSUB) 15-0;4:29 / 31-9
Related:
Minnesota, Cal State Bakersfield will be forever linked
Photo Gallery (The Guillotine)
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