Gophers win eight of 10 matches
The Minnesota wrestling team picked up their second consecutive victory of the season this afternoon. Minnesota defeated North Dakota State 29-9, in front of 2,260 fans inside the Sports Pavilion. With the win, the No. 3 ranked Gophers improve to 2-1 on the season.
“Our guys wrestled very hard today,” said Head Coach J Robinson. “We want to improve on each match each week and we just need to continue wrestling aggressively and dominantly.”
Sonny Yohn started things off for the first home dual of the season at 197 lbs. The senior would pick up the first of six straight wins for Minnesota with a 7-1 dec. over John Gusewelle.
Tony Nelson was next to the mat and took on Evan Knutson, who Nelson pinned in the opening period back at the Bison Open earlier this season. This time out, Nelson didn’t score a pin, but scored four takedowns in route to his 10-1 major dec. victory.
Zach Sanders would jump onto the mat next for the Gophers at 125 lbs. Sanders took on the Bison’s Trent Sprenkle, who is ranked No. 7. Both were attacking each other back and forth, before Sanders picked up the 4-2 win, to put Minnesota up 10-0.
Minnesota would go on to win the next three matches scoring points from David Thorn at 133 lbs., Nick Dardanes at 141 lbs. and Matt Mincey at 149 lbs. Thorn defeated Justin Solberg by a 16-6 major dec., Dardanes picked up the 17-8 major dec. over Tyler Diamond and Mincey, who stepped in for Dylan Ness won a 13-6 dec. over Mark Erickson.
The other two winners for Minnesota were Cody Yohn at 165 lbs. and Kevin Steinhaus at 184 lbs. Yohn, would pick up the 12-3 major dec. over Tyler Johnson after a scoreless period and Steinhaus, who was this week’s Big Ten Wrestler of The Week, closed out the afternoon with a 12-3 major dec. over Mac Stoll.
Minnesota will next hit the road for two duals. First up for the Gophers will be Central Michigan on Friday December 2 and on Sunday Minnesota will travel to take on Oklahoma State, who is ranked. 2 in the nation at 1 p.m.
Minnesota 29, North Dakota State 9
197: No. 3 Sonny Yohn (Minn) dec. John Gusewelle (NDSU) 7-1
Hwt: No. 3 Tony Nelson (Minn) maj. dec. Evan Knutson (NDSU) 10-1
125: No. 2 Zach Sanders (Minn) dec. Trent Sprenkle (NDSU) 4-2
133: No. 6 David Thorn (Minn) maj. dec. Justin Solberg (NDSU) 16-7
141: No: 13 Nick Dardanes (Minn) maj. dec. Tyler Diamond (NDSU) 17-8
149: Matt Mincey (Minn) dec. Mark Erickson (NDSU) 13-6
157: Steven Monk (NDSU) fall Wesley Richard (Minn) 4:25
165: No. 8 Cody Yohn (Minn) maj. dec. Tyler Johnson (NDSU) 12-3
174: Kurtis Julson (NDSU) dec. Steve Avalos (Minn) 10-6
184: No. 5 Kevin Steinhaus (Minn) maj. dec. Mac Stoll (NDSU) 12-3