Gophers Tally First Conference Win of the Season over Michigan State
MINNEAPOLIS – After over a month away from their home arena, the No. 12 Gophers celebrated their return to Maturi Pavilion by knocking off ranked foe Michigan State, 21-11.
The Gophers took seven of the evening’s ten bouts, including each of the first four contests, to jump out to what proved to be an insurmountable 13-0 lead.
The dual kicked off at 125 pounds, where Patrick McKee knocked off No. 25 Tristan Lujan by 5-1 decision. McKee tallied the opening takedown in the match, then clinched the match with a clutch reversal in the third period.
Aaron Nagao followed that up with perhaps the statement win of his young career as he rolled to a 9-4 victory over eleventh-ranked Rayvon Foley. Nagao dominated on the feet with four takedowns and rode Foley for over two minutes as he earned his highest-ranked victory of the season.
Jake Bergeland kept the Gophers rolling with a 3-2 decision over Jordan Hamdan, as his second-period takedown proved to be the difference-maker in the match.
Michael Blockhus followed that up with a decision victory of his own in an 8-2 match over Peyton Omania, as the redshirt senior also tallied three takedowns in the match.
On the other side of the break, Bailee O’Reilly earned a 10-6 win over Ceasar Garza, as O’Reilly secured a third-period reversal to put the match out of reach.
Isaiah Salazar continued his impressive weekend by knocking off his second-ranked opponent in as many duals, this time defeating No. 17 Layne Malczewski by a score of 5-3. Salazar secured the opening takedown of the match, then secured a clutch reversal in the second period to put him out front early. Malczewski looked to battle back in a takedown late, but Salazar was able to scramble enough to let the clock run out and earn himself the win.
Minnesota’s final win of the night came at heavyweight, as Garrett Joles earned the winning takedown with thirty seconds left to defeat Ryan Vasbinder by a score of 4-3.
The victory pushes the Gophers to 8-2 on the season and 1-2 in conference action, while Michigan State falls to 7-2 on the year after getting swept in their opening weekend of Big Ten play.
Looking ahead, the Gophers will hit the road next Friday to take on the Indiana Hoosiers at 5:00 p.m. CST, before returning home on Sunday to celebrate Alumni Night with a dual against Purdue at 1:00 p.m. CST.
January 15, 2023 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Maturi Pavilion | Attendance: 2022
#12 Minnesota 21 #29 Michigan State 11
125: #4 Patrick McKee (MINN) dec. #25 Tristan Lujan (MSU), 5-1
133: #20 Aaron Nagao (MINN) dec. #11 Rayvon Foley (MSU), 9-4
141: #11 Jake Bergeland (MINN) dec. Jordan Hamdan (MSU), 3-2
149: #14 Michael Blockhus (MINN) dec. Peyton Omania (MSU), 8-2
157: #23 Chase Saldate (MSU) dec. #12 Brayton Lee (MINN), 3-1
165: Caleb Fish (MSU) pinned #24 Andrew Sparks (MINN), 6:37
174: #15 Bailee O’Reilly (MINN) dec. Caesar Garza (MSU), 10-6
184: #12 Isaiah Salazar (MINN) dec. #17 Layne Malczewski (MSU), 5-3
197: #15 Cameron Caffey (MSU) dec. #27 Michial Foy (MINN), 3-2
HWT: #25 Garrett Joles (MINN) dec. Ryan Vasbinder (MSU), 4-3
Note: Michigan State deducted a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct
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