Minnesota Earns 1000th Win in Program History with Win over SDSU
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota claimed their first win of the season and their 1000th win in program history on Sunday afternoon as they defeated the South Dakota State Jackrabbits by a score of 27-13. The Gophers won seven of the dual’s ten bouts.
With the win, Minnesota became just the fifth Division-I in collegiate wrestling history to surpass the 1000-win landmark, behind Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Oregon State, and Iowa.
The Jackrabbits got out of the gates quickly by winning a pair of matchups between nationally-ranked wrestlers. With the dual starting at 165 pounds, 17th-ranked Tanner Cook of SDSU and No. 20 Andrew Sparks traded takedowns and near-falls in a high-scoring opening period that ended with Sparks leading 11-7. Cook regained control in the second period, recording a pin midway through the stanza.
All six of Cook’s wins so far this season have been by fall.
Cade DeVos, ranked 17th at 174 pounds, pushed the SDSU lead to 9-0 with a 6-1 decision over No. 21 Jared Krattiger. After a scoreless first period, DeVos tallied takedowns in each of the final two periods and added points via escape and riding time to improve to 5-0 on the season.
Isaiah Salazar kicked off a streak of six straight Gophers wins as he secured the 10-1 major decision over Jacob Schoon.
Michial Foy earned the most exciting victory by defeating No. 12 Tanner Sloan with a 9-3 decision, as Sloan entered the lineup as a late replacement for projected starter Nick Casperson. Foy dominated the ranked foe from start to finish, securing four takedowns in the victory.
Minnesota won the next three bouts by bonus points, as Gable Steveson looked dominant as ever in his 22-6 technical fall win over A.J Nevills, while Patrick McKee and Jake Gliva followed that up with major decision victories of their own.
After Jake Bergeland dropped a major decision in a rematch against tenth-ranked Clay Carlson, Michael Blockhus clinched the dual with a 13-7 decision over Zach Price, and Brayton Lee closed out the contest with a 13-5 major decision over Kenny O’Neil.
Minnesota jumps to 1-1 on the year as they head into Big Ten dual competition, while South Dakota State falls to .500 at an even 1-1 following the loss. The Gopher’s next competition will be next weekend as they travel to Las Vegas, Nev. for the Cliff Keen Invitational. Their next home dual will be Sunday, January 9 at 1:00 p.m. CT when they host the Northwestern Wildcats.
The Jackrabbit starters are also slated to compete Dec. 3-4 at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Another group of SDSU wrestlers is set to compete Dec. 4 at the Doane Conner/Oppenheim Open in Crete, Nebraska.
#12 Minnesota 23, South Dakota State 10
165: #17 Tanner Cook (SDSU) def. #20 Andrew Sparks, by fall 3:52
174: #17 Cade DeVos (SDSU) dec. #21 Jared Krattiger, 6-1
184: Isaiah Salazar (MINN) major dec. Jacob Schoon, 10-1
197: Michial Foy (MINN) dec. #6 Tanner Sloan, 9-3
285: #1 Gable Steveson (MINN) tech. fall #19 A.J. Nevills, 21-6 (5:00)
125: #9 Patrick McKee (MINN) major dec. #23 Tanner Jordan, 13-1
133: Jake Gliva (MINN) major dec. Trayton Anderson, 10-2
141: #7 Clay Carlson (SDSU) major dec. #23 Jake Bergeland, 12-3
149: #22 Michael Blockhus (MINN) dec. #29 Zach Price, 13-7
157: #5 Brayton Lee (MINN) major dec. Kenny O’Neil, 13-5
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