Minnesota dominates with four major decision victories
The No. 3-ranked Minnesota Golden Gopher wrestling team delivered a beating over No. 5 Ohio State tonight, winning the dual 25-9 in Columbus, Ohio. The Maroon and Gold improves to 9-1 overall on the season and remain undefeated (3-0) in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes pick up their second loss of the season to drop to 7-2 overall, 1-2 B1G.
The night began at 125 lbs. where No. 13 David Thorn met a closely matched No. 13 Nikko Triggas. Down 0-4 in the second, Thorn tallied a reversal. Early in the third, he notched a takedown but was fought off to the end, falling by a 6-4 decision.
No. 6 Chris Dardanes followed at 133 lbs. to take on Kyle Visconti. Dardanes racked up points with multiple takedowns to earn a 14-4 major, giving the Gophers a 4-3 lead in the dual. No. 11 Nick Dardanes took on powerhouse No. 2 Hunter Stieber in the 141-pound weight class. Dardanes managed to hold Stieber to only two takedowns, but with an escape in the second period, Stieber won the match by a 5-3 score.
Minnesota answered with another major decision to claim back the lead (8-6). In his first dual meet of the season, No. 5 Dylan Ness dominated in a 15-7 overtaking of OSU’s Ian Paddock. Ness showed a reversal and a takedown while earning six back points all in the first period. At 157 lbs., Danny Zilverberg faced Cam Tessari (No. 14 at 149 lbs.). Tessari gathered the score to 6-0 before Zilverberg got on board with a reversal. The two battled to the end but with a final score of -2, the Buckeyes went into break with a 9-8 lead in the dual.
The heavier weights took control out of intermission as Minnesota would win out the final five bouts on the night. In a close match at 165 lbs., Cody Yohn edged Josh Demas, 3-1. Tied 1-1 in the third, Yohn marked a takedown to collect the victory. No. 2 Logan Storley followed at 174 lbs. against No. 7 Nick Heflin. Choosing down to start the third, Storley made the quick escape and immediately attacked for the two-pointer. With an additional point for riding time, Storley was victorious with a 12-3 major.
After a scoreless first period, No. 5 Kevin Steinhaus scored an escaped and a takedown to lead CJ Magrum, 3-0. He followed with another takedown and a three-point near fall in the third, which when added to a riding time bonus gave him a 9-1 victory.
No. 14 Scott Schiller and No. 2 Tony Nelson closed out the night with consecutive decisions. Schiller captured a 5-2 final over No. 9 Andrew Campolattano, while Nelson capitalized on a takedown in the finals seconds against No. 12 Peter Capone.
Minnesota gets a day break before it meets Indiana in Bloomington on Sunday, Jan. 13. The battle between the Gophers and the Hoosiers is set for 1 p.m. CT.
#3 Minnesota 25, #5 Ohio State 9
125 – No. 12 Nikko Triggas (OSU) dec. No. 13 David Thorn (Minn) 6-4
133 – No. 6 Chris Dardanes (Minn) maj. dec. Kyle Visconti (OSU) 14-4
141 – No. 2 Hunter Stieber (OSU) dec. No. 11 Nick Dardanes 5-3
149 – No. 5 Dylan Ness (Minn) maj. dec. Ian Paddock (OSU) 15-7
157 – No. 14 (149) Cam Tessari (OSU) dec. Danny Zilverberg (MInn) 7-2
165 – No. 12 Cody Yohn (Minn) dec. Josh Demas (OSU) 3-1 sv
174 – No. 2 Logan Storley (Minn) maj. dec. No. 7 Nick Heflin (OSU) 12-3
184 – No. 5 Kevin Steinhaus (Minn) maj. dec. C.J. Magrum (OSU) 9-1
197 – No. 14 Scott Schiller (Minn) dec. No. 9 Andrew Campolattano (OSU) 5-2
Hwt – No. 2 Tony Nelson (Minn) dec. No. 12 Peter Capone (OSU) 3-1
