Wisconsin's win also gives the Badgers 40 points in the sixth annual Border Battle. Wisconsin now leads the Border Battle, 205-175. The Badgers are now 1-1 in dual action against Minnesota this year after dropping a 22-15 match at National Duals.
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The Badgers fell behind early 9-0, but used two wins at 141 and 149 lbs., in addition to four consecutive victories at 165, 174, 184 and 197 lbs. to seal the victory.
Minnesota jumped out to an early lead in the 125 and 133 lbs. weight classes. Minnesota's Zach Sanders, ranked eighth at 125 lbs., won a 10-4 decision over Wisconsin junior Drew Hammen to help the Golden Gophers to a 3-0 lead. Fifth-ranked Jayson Ness of Minnesota then pinned Badger junior Erik Senescu at the 1:51 mark at 133 lbs. to bring the Golden Gopher lead to 9-0.
Top-ranked Zach Tanelli then took on Minnesota's No. 8 Mike Thorn at 141 lbs. and got the Badgers on the board with a 7-5 decision at 141 lbs. Tanelli led 3-1 after the second period but Thorn scored two escapes and a takedown to even the score at five with 32 seconds left. Tanelli registered an escape of his own with 29 seconds left and had 1:20 of riding time for the win. Tanelli improves to 22-3 overall and extends his winning streak to 15 matches.
At 149 lbs., junior Kyle Ruschell registered bonus points with a 12-4 major decision over Minnesota's Joe Grygelko. Ruschell scored four takedowns in the third period, including one in the last second to secure the major decision. Ruschell, who is ranked No. 5, is now 21-5 overall this year and 12-2 in dual action.
Freshman Ben Jordan wrestled tough at 157 lbs. but fell in a close 7-5 decision to Tyler Safratowich.
With Minnesota up 12-7, the Badgers rattled off four victories in a row to take over the lead and clinch the win. True freshman and eighth-ranked Andrew Howe improved to a perfect 11-0 in dual action with a 4-1 decision over Scott Glasser at 165 lbs. Howe had a takedown, 1:22 of riding time and an escape in the win.
True freshman Travis Rutt, who is a New Prague, Minn., native, registered his first victory of the Big Ten Conference dual season at 174 lbs. He took down Kaleb Young with a 3-1 sudden victory. Both wrestlers traded escapes in regulation but Rutt registered the match-winning takedown with 32 seconds left in sudden victory.
Rutt's win put the Badgers ahead 13-12 and sophomore Eric Bugenhagen extended the UW's lead to 16-12 with another close win at 184 lbs. Bugenhagen met Sonny Yohn and each wrestler traded escapes until Bugenhagen registered a takedown with 1:01 left in the third. Yohn escaped with just two seconds left and that's all he could do in the 3-2 win for Bugenhagen.
"That's the dual meet right there with Rutt and Bugenhagen getting wins," UW head coach Barry Davis said. "Rutt kept his poise and got the takedown there at the end which was really good. The last couple of matches, he didn't keep his pose as much so he did a good job there. I can't say enough about Eric Bugenhagen tonight. That was a big win and that was pretty much the dual meet right there and that was a great win for us."
Senior Dallas Herbst cemented the Badger victory with a 5-2 decision over Minnesota's Gordon Bierschenk at 197 lbs. Herbst, who is ranked No. 3, had a takedown and two escapes for his 18th win this season.
Minnesota registered one more win as Ben Berhow upset UW's eighth-ranked heavyweight Kyle Massey, 3-2 to put the final tally at 19-15 in favor of Wisconsin.
"The win was good but I think we could have gotten a couple more wins there," Davis said. "I thought we'd do better at 157 lbs. and heavyweight. When you lose that last match at the end, it takes something out of you but the win was good."
Wisconsin returns to action at the UW Field House Sunday at 1 p.m. when No. 25 Purdue comes to town.
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