Brackets & Team Standings|Twitter Updates|Contest Standings
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Minnesota's Kevin Steinhaus understood the importance of his semifinal match on Saturday night at the 2012 Big Ten Wrestling Championships.
The Gopher 184-pound sophomore found himself locked in a 1-1 tie with Iowa's Grant Gambrall in the third period after the two returning All-Americans traded escapes. With just over a minute remaining in the match, Steinhaus picked up the go-ahead takedown and held on for the 3-2 victory.
"Getting a win was huge for me individually and for us as a team because it not only gives us more points, but keeps Iowa from scoring as well, which is huge," Steinhaus said following his semifinal victory.
Steinhaus' win, combined with semifinal victories from teammates Zach Sanders (125), Dylan Ness (149), Logan Storley (174), and Tony Nelson (285), helped Minnesota pass both Penn State and Iowa, and lead the team race heading into Sunday's final session.
Minnesota finished Saturday night's session with 117 points, 4.5 points ahead of second-place Iowa (112.5), and 6 points ahead of third-place Penn State (111).
Iowa has six finalists, one more than Minnesota. The six Hawkeye finalists are Matt McDonough (125), Tony Ramos (133), Montell Marion (141), Derek St. John (157), Mike Evans (165), and Bobby Telford (285).
"We've got to build on it and keep going," said Iowa coach Tom Brands, "We have six in the finals and we've got to win championships."
Defending Big Ten and NCAA champion Penn State has three finalists, all returning All-Americans: Frank Molinaro (149), David Taylor (165), and Ed Ruth (174).
Minnesota and Iowa wrestlers will meet in the finals at 125 pounds and heavyweight. Minnesota and Penn State wrestlers will meet at 149 pounds and 174 pounds. The only meeting between Iowa and Penn State wrestlers in the finals is at 165 pounds.
Minnesota coach J Robinson believes the team title might be won or lost on the backside of the brackets.
"The guys that are coming back in the consolations can score a lot of points and make a lot of difference," said Robinson. "So that might be really where it's won."
Michigan's Kellen Russell (141) will be going for his fourth Big Ten title.
Team Standings:
1. Minnesota 117
2. Iowa 112.5
3. Penn State 111
4. Illinois 81.5
5. Ohio State 76
6. Northwestern 61.5
7. Nebraska 56.5
8. Michigan 50
9. Purdue 47.5
10. Indiana 35.5
10. Michigan State 35.5
12. Wisconsin 9
Finals Matchups:
125: No. 1 Matt McDonough (Iowa) vs. No. 2 Zach Sanders (Minnesota)
133: No. 2 Logan Stieber (Ohio State) vs. No. 3 Tony Ramos (Iowa)
141: No. 1 Kellen Russell (Michigan) vs. No. 4 Montell Marion (Iowa)
149: No. 1 Frank Molinaro (Penn State) vs. No. 9 Dylan Ness (Minnesota)
157: No. 2 Jason Welch (Northwestern) vs. No. 20 Derek St. John (Iowa)
165: No. 1 David Taylor (Penn State) vs. No. 6 Mike Evans (Iowa)
174: No. 2 Ed Ruth (Penn State) vs. No. 6 Logan Storley (Minnesota)
184: No. 6 Kevin Steinhaus (Minnesota) vs. No. 7 Josh Ihnen (Nebraska)
197: No. 3 Matt Powless (Indiana) vs. No. 17 Mario Gonzalez (Illinois)
285: No. 3 Tony Nelson (Minnesota) vs. No. 13 Bobby Telford (Iowa)
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