Minnesota made it seven-for-seven on this season’s home schedule when No. 4 Ohio State visited the Sports Pavilion on Sunday, the seventh ranked opponent to come to Minneapolis this season, and the fifth-ranked in the top-five. The Gophers split their 10 matches with the Buckeyes on Senior Day, but bonus points played tiebreaker, with Ohio State taking four bonus-point wins to Minnesota’s pair to take the match, 24-20.
After drawing weights, the dual’s premier bout wound up as the opener, with No. 2 Brett Pfarr defeating No. 4 Kollin Moore for the second time this season. Eighth-ranked Michael Kroells followed with a tech fall over Josh Fox. For both Pfarr and Kroells, Sunday was their last career home dual.
Following a pair of wins for Ohio State, No. 12 Tommy Thorn put Minnesota on top again heading into the halftime intermission with a decision over No. 15 Luke Pletcher.
In the second half, No. 8 Jake Short again put the Gophers on top at 157 pounds, the fourth straight match that flipped the team points lead during the dual. Short brought the crowd to its feet with a first-period pin of Anthony DeCarlo. Nick Wanzek, No. 17 at 165, followed with a decision over Cody Burcher.
Along with Pfarr and Kroells, Brandon Kingsley wrestled his last career home match on Sunday when he took on No. 5 Micah Jordan at 149 pounds. Also honored as part of the senior class were: Sam Brancale, Jordan Bremer and Ben Morgan.
The Gophers finish their regular season this Sunday in Ames, Iowa, where Minnesota will take on regional rival Iowa State.
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