Gophers Tie No. 3 Penn State 18-18
February 13, 2011
MINNEAPOLIS — The No. 5 Minnesota wrestling team remained unbeaten in the Big Ten after tying No. 3 Penn State 18-18 on Sunday afternoon at the Sports Pavilion. The Gophers recorded wins via decisions by Zach Sanders and Mike Thorn and also tallied key major decisions by Cody Yohn, Kevin Steinhaus and Sonny Yohn to overcome a 12-6 deficit at half time and keep the Gophers unbeaten in their last seven duals.
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| 2011 Penn State at Minnesota |
Penn State-Minnesota Post-Meet Interviews – intermatwrestle.com
Sanders, a two-time All-American ranked fifth in the nation at 125 lbs., scrounged a 10-8 decision over No. 11 Brad Pataky in the dual opener before Penn State’s Andrew Long – ranked No. 7 – tallied a 14-4 major decision over David Thorn in the 133 lbs. match. The Nittany Lions’ first lead would be short lived however when No.2 Mike Thorn edged No. 7 Andrew Alton with a 4-1 decision – giving Minnesota a 6-4 advantage. Penn State would reply with a pair of wins in the next two matches to take a 12-6 lead into the half. At 149 lbs, No. 5 Frank Molinaro snuck by Minnesota’s Danny Zilverberg to pick up a 6-5 decision before No. 3 David Taylor scored a 16-1 technical fall on Matt Mincey in the 157 lbs. match.
Minnesota would match Penn State’s success in the second half when the Gophers would outscore their conference opponent 12-6 thanks to three major decisions in the heavier weight classes. No. 11 Cody Yohn scored an 8-0 major decision over Jake Kemerer in the 165 lbs. match, and No. 8 Kevin Steinhaus followed a 12-5 decision in Penn State’s favor at 174 lbs. with another major decision for the Gophers – this time outscoring No. 13 Quentin Wright 10-1 to put the Gophers down by just one point at 14-15.
All-American and fourth-ranked Sonny Yohn then came up big for Minnesota in his return to the mat. Yohn, who had been out of action since late December, put the Gophers up 18-15 when the Alamosa, Colo. native scored a 10-2 major decision over Nick Ruggear at 197 lbs. At heavyweight, No. 6 Cameron Wade of Penn State would earn a 2-0 decision over No. 8 Tony Nelson to close out the dual and secure an 18-18 tie. The even slate extends the Gophers’ unbeaten streak against the Nittany Lions to ten-straight meetings while Penn State has never won a dual against the Gophers in Minneapolis.
Minnesota closes out the regular season next Sunday against No. 2 Iowa at Williams Arena. Tickets are still available for the 2 p.m. dual atmygophersports.com. The Big Ten Network will broadcast the dual on same-day tape delay.
No. 3 Penn State at No. 5 Minnesota
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Minneapolis, Minn. (Sports Pavilion)
Minnesota 18 Penn State 18
125: #5 Zach Sanders (MINN) dec. #11 Brad Pataky (PSU) 10-8
133: #9 Andrew Long (PSU) maj. David Thorn (MINN) 14-4
141: #2 Mike Thorn (MINN) dec. #7 Andrew Alton (PSU) 4-1
149: #5 Frank Molinaro (PSU) dec. Danny Zilverberg (MINN) 6-5
157: #3 David Taylor (PSU) tech. Matt Mincey (MINN) 16-1; 3:37
165: #11 Cody Yohn (MINN) maj. Jake Kemerer (PSU) 8-0
174: #2 Ed Ruth (PSU) dec. #13 Scott Glasser (MINN) 12-5
184: #8 Kevin Steinhaus (MINN) maj. #13 Quentin Wright (PSU) 10-1
197: #4 Sonny Yohn (MINN) maj. Nick Ruggear (PSU) 10-2
285: #6 Cameron Wade (PSU) dec. #8 Tony Nelson (MINN) 2-0