University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, December 1
Brookings, SD
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
South Dakota State
Players Mentioned
157 lbs.
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157 lbs.
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165 lbs.
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125 lbs.
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125 lbs.
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184 lbs.
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125 lbs.
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157 lbs.
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197 lbs.
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149 lbs.
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184 lbs.
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174 lbs.
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285 lbs.
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285 lbs.
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141 lbs.
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133 lbs.
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174 lbs.
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174 lbs.
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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Top-20 Showdown Sends Gophers to SDSU
11/30/2024 10:30:00 AM | Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota wrestling (3-0) is back in action Sunday with its first ranked dual matchup of the season as the seventh-ranked Golden Gophers visit No. 17 South Dakota State (1-1). The match is set to begin at 2 p.m. with streaming coverage on MidcoSports.com.
Minnesota has won nine straight duals dating back to last season. During the current streak, Minnesota has outscored opponents 299-51 and hasn't allowed more than 12 points in any dual.
Minnesota heads into the match with a 3-0 record in duals this season, topping Bucknell on Nov. 15, 35-3, before shutting out both North Dakota State, 39-0, and Campbell, 44-0, last weekend. It was the first time posting back-to-back shutouts since blanking four straight opponents in December of 1997 when current head coach Brandon Eggum was a sophomore on the team. Prior to that, the only other time it happened in program history came in the first three matches of the 1936-37 campaign.
The Golden Gophers enter the weekend ranked seventh in Intermat's dual team rankings, while the NWCA Coaches Poll has the Gophers ninth. Intermat's tournament rankings put Minnesota fourth.
Ten Gopher wrestlers are ranked in at least two of the major polls with eight appearing in all four: Intermat, Win, Flo and OpenMat. Steveson is ranked No. 1 in all four polls, while returning All-Americans Isaiah Salazar and Vance VomBaur, plus 133-pounder Tyler Wells and 157-pound transfer Tommy Askey, are ranked in the top 10 of all four publications.
Redshirt freshman Max McEnelly is 6-0 on the season with all six wins by tech fall. Those six tech fall wins rank second in the nation behind Purdue's Matt Ramos (7). McEnelly's average of 5.0 points per match ranks tied for sixth in the country, according to WrestleStat's Match Power rankings.
VomBaur is 7-0 on the year with four of the wins coming by major decision, tying him for second in the country in MD wins.
FACING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Minnesota has won nine straight duals dating back to last season. During the current streak, Minnesota has outscored opponents 299-51 and hasn't allowed more than 12 points in any dual.
Minnesota heads into the match with a 3-0 record in duals this season, topping Bucknell on Nov. 15, 35-3, before shutting out both North Dakota State, 39-0, and Campbell, 44-0, last weekend. It was the first time posting back-to-back shutouts since blanking four straight opponents in December of 1997 when current head coach Brandon Eggum was a sophomore on the team. Prior to that, the only other time it happened in program history came in the first three matches of the 1936-37 campaign.
The Golden Gophers enter the weekend ranked seventh in Intermat's dual team rankings, while the NWCA Coaches Poll has the Gophers ninth. Intermat's tournament rankings put Minnesota fourth.
Ten Gopher wrestlers are ranked in at least two of the major polls with eight appearing in all four: Intermat, Win, Flo and OpenMat. Steveson is ranked No. 1 in all four polls, while returning All-Americans Isaiah Salazar and Vance VomBaur, plus 133-pounder Tyler Wells and 157-pound transfer Tommy Askey, are ranked in the top 10 of all four publications.
Redshirt freshman Max McEnelly is 6-0 on the season with all six wins by tech fall. Those six tech fall wins rank second in the nation behind Purdue's Matt Ramos (7). McEnelly's average of 5.0 points per match ranks tied for sixth in the country, according to WrestleStat's Match Power rankings.
VomBaur is 7-0 on the year with four of the wins coming by major decision, tying him for second in the country in MD wins.
FACING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Minnesota leads the all-time series with South Dakota State, 28-5, including 12 straight wins dating to 1977. The teams have met each season since the 2015-16 campaign, except for 2020-21 when the Gophers faced a conference-only slate.
Among teams they've faced at least 30 times, the Gophers' .848 win percentage against the Jackrabbits ranks second behind a .898 percentage versus Indiana. The 28 wins are the Gophers' second most against all non-Big Ten schools, behind only the 33 wins they have against Northern Iowa. The 12-match win streak ties for Minnesota's third-longest active win streak. The only streaks longer come against North Dakota State (19) and Michigan State (13).
In Brookings, the Gophers are 9-1 all-time and have won the past six meetings there. The six-match win streak currently ranks fourth for Minnesota at one school behind 10-match streaks at North Dakota State and Michigan State, plus an eight-match streak at Indiana.
South Dakota State is led by head coach Damion Hahn, a two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American for Minnesota (2000-04). A three-time Big Ten champion, Hahn was the conference's Male Athlete of the Year in 2004. He was inducted into the University of Minnesota's M Club Hall of Fame in 2018.
Minnesota has one South Dakota native in redshirt sophomore Quincy Hulverson, who is from Tea and Tea Area High School, about an hour south of Brookings.
The Jackrabbits have nine Minnesotans on their roster: sixth-year senior Zach Glazier (Albert Lea; Albert Lea HS), juniors Derrick Cardinal (Forest Lake; Forest Lake HS) and Cael Swensen (Plymouth; Wayzata HS), redshirt sophomores Bennett Berge (Mantorville; Kasson-Mantorville HS) and Kail Wynia (Mantorville; Kasson-Mantorivlle HS), redshirt freshmen Thomas Dineen (Hancock; Benson HS) and Parker Janssen (St. Michael; St. Michael-Albertville HS), and true freshmen Quin Morgan (Arden Hills; Mounds View HS) and Logan Swensen (Plymouth; Wayzata HS).
Janssen and Gopher true freshman Jed Wester were high schools teammates together at St. Michael-Albertville High School. Morgan is the younger brother of former Gopher wrestler Rowan Morgan, who competed at Minnesota from 2020-24.
Among teams they've faced at least 30 times, the Gophers' .848 win percentage against the Jackrabbits ranks second behind a .898 percentage versus Indiana. The 28 wins are the Gophers' second most against all non-Big Ten schools, behind only the 33 wins they have against Northern Iowa. The 12-match win streak ties for Minnesota's third-longest active win streak. The only streaks longer come against North Dakota State (19) and Michigan State (13).
In Brookings, the Gophers are 9-1 all-time and have won the past six meetings there. The six-match win streak currently ranks fourth for Minnesota at one school behind 10-match streaks at North Dakota State and Michigan State, plus an eight-match streak at Indiana.
South Dakota State is led by head coach Damion Hahn, a two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American for Minnesota (2000-04). A three-time Big Ten champion, Hahn was the conference's Male Athlete of the Year in 2004. He was inducted into the University of Minnesota's M Club Hall of Fame in 2018.
Minnesota has one South Dakota native in redshirt sophomore Quincy Hulverson, who is from Tea and Tea Area High School, about an hour south of Brookings.
The Jackrabbits have nine Minnesotans on their roster: sixth-year senior Zach Glazier (Albert Lea; Albert Lea HS), juniors Derrick Cardinal (Forest Lake; Forest Lake HS) and Cael Swensen (Plymouth; Wayzata HS), redshirt sophomores Bennett Berge (Mantorville; Kasson-Mantorville HS) and Kail Wynia (Mantorville; Kasson-Mantorivlle HS), redshirt freshmen Thomas Dineen (Hancock; Benson HS) and Parker Janssen (St. Michael; St. Michael-Albertville HS), and true freshmen Quin Morgan (Arden Hills; Mounds View HS) and Logan Swensen (Plymouth; Wayzata HS).
Janssen and Gopher true freshman Jed Wester were high schools teammates together at St. Michael-Albertville High School. Morgan is the younger brother of former Gopher wrestler Rowan Morgan, who competed at Minnesota from 2020-24.
RANKED MATCHUPS VS. SDSU
Based on probable lineups, there are eight potential ranked matchups, based on the latest rankings from InterMat. The only two weights that aren't slated to feature ranked opponents come at 141 and 149 pounds. In the eight potential matchups, Minnesota would have the higher ranked wrestler in five of them.
At 125 pounds, No. 14 Cooper Flynn has never faced No. 4 Tanner Jordan. Flynn is 1-1 against ranked opponents this year, falling to then-No. 17 Eddie Vantresca of Virginia Tech at the Mountaineer Invite, 4-1, but besting then-No. 26 Anthony Molton of Campbell last weekend, 5-4.
No. 8 Tyler Wells and No. 28 Derrick Cardinal split their two matchups last season. Wells won at the Bison Open by tech fall, 19-4, while Cardinal prevailed in the dual matchup, 5-3.
At 157 pounds, No. 7 Tommy Askey has not faced No. 19 Cobe Siebrecht before, and it would be Askey's first ranked opponent of the season. One Gopher, Charlie Millard, has a win over Siebrecht this season, defeating him at the Daktronics Open by major decision, 13-4.
No. 11 Andrew Sparks has not faced No. 25 Drake Rhodes before at 165 pounds. Sparks' one loss on the season came to then-No. 14 Will Miller of Appalachian State at the Mountaineer Invite.
At 174 pounds, No. 25 Clayton Whiting has not met No. 3 Cade DeVos before. Whiting's two losses this year have both been to wrestlers ranked 27th or higher.
A pair of top-10 matchups could come at both 184 and 197. At 184, No. 9 Max McEnelly could square off with No. 4 Bennett Berge, while No. 7 Isaiah Salazar might meet No. 8 Zach Glazier at 197 pounds. Neither matchup has occured before, and McEnelly and Salazar would both be facing their first ranked foe of the year.
At heavyweight, No. 1 Gable Steveson is slated to meet No. 28 Luke Rasmussen for the first time ever. Steveson is 1-0 against ranked opponents this year, posting a tech fall over then-No. 7 Taye Ghadiali of Campbell last weekend.
LAST MEETING WITH THE JACKRABBITS
At 125 pounds, No. 14 Cooper Flynn has never faced No. 4 Tanner Jordan. Flynn is 1-1 against ranked opponents this year, falling to then-No. 17 Eddie Vantresca of Virginia Tech at the Mountaineer Invite, 4-1, but besting then-No. 26 Anthony Molton of Campbell last weekend, 5-4.
No. 8 Tyler Wells and No. 28 Derrick Cardinal split their two matchups last season. Wells won at the Bison Open by tech fall, 19-4, while Cardinal prevailed in the dual matchup, 5-3.
At 157 pounds, No. 7 Tommy Askey has not faced No. 19 Cobe Siebrecht before, and it would be Askey's first ranked opponent of the season. One Gopher, Charlie Millard, has a win over Siebrecht this season, defeating him at the Daktronics Open by major decision, 13-4.
No. 11 Andrew Sparks has not faced No. 25 Drake Rhodes before at 165 pounds. Sparks' one loss on the season came to then-No. 14 Will Miller of Appalachian State at the Mountaineer Invite.
At 174 pounds, No. 25 Clayton Whiting has not met No. 3 Cade DeVos before. Whiting's two losses this year have both been to wrestlers ranked 27th or higher.
A pair of top-10 matchups could come at both 184 and 197. At 184, No. 9 Max McEnelly could square off with No. 4 Bennett Berge, while No. 7 Isaiah Salazar might meet No. 8 Zach Glazier at 197 pounds. Neither matchup has occured before, and McEnelly and Salazar would both be facing their first ranked foe of the year.
At heavyweight, No. 1 Gable Steveson is slated to meet No. 28 Luke Rasmussen for the first time ever. Steveson is 1-0 against ranked opponents this year, posting a tech fall over then-No. 7 Taye Ghadiali of Campbell last weekend.
LAST MEETING WITH THE JACKRABBITS
No. 13 Minnesota opened its home season with a 19-13 comeback victory over No. 12 South Dakota State last season.
After dropping the first two matches, the Gophers on the board at 141 pounds behind Vance VomBaur's 4-2 win over Caleb Gross. Minnesota evened the match at 6-6 when then-No. 19 Drew Roberts prevailed over Alek Martin, 7-1, at 149 pounds.
A turning point in the match came in a top-15 dual at 157 pounds between then-No. 13 Michael Blockhus and then-No. 11 Cael Swensen. Blockhus' takedown with 30 seconds left sent the match into overtime, and one minute into the extra session, he secured the 7-4, comeback win with a takedown.
Blaine Brenner made it four straight wins for the Gophers with a 9-6 upset of then-No. 19 Tanner Cook at 165. After SDSU won at 174 pounds, Isaiah Salazar came through with a 14-3 major decision at 184 to push the lead back to 16-9.
A Jackrabbit major decision at 197 left the dual result to heavyweight, where Bennett Tabor secured a 9-7 decision and dual victory.
After dropping the first two matches, the Gophers on the board at 141 pounds behind Vance VomBaur's 4-2 win over Caleb Gross. Minnesota evened the match at 6-6 when then-No. 19 Drew Roberts prevailed over Alek Martin, 7-1, at 149 pounds.
A turning point in the match came in a top-15 dual at 157 pounds between then-No. 13 Michael Blockhus and then-No. 11 Cael Swensen. Blockhus' takedown with 30 seconds left sent the match into overtime, and one minute into the extra session, he secured the 7-4, comeback win with a takedown.
Blaine Brenner made it four straight wins for the Gophers with a 9-6 upset of then-No. 19 Tanner Cook at 165. After SDSU won at 174 pounds, Isaiah Salazar came through with a 14-3 major decision at 184 to push the lead back to 16-9.
A Jackrabbit major decision at 197 left the dual result to heavyweight, where Bennett Tabor secured a 9-7 decision and dual victory.
LAST TIME IN BROOKINGS
When the teams last met in Brookings in 2022, Minnesota trailed 16-7 with four bouts remaining, but the Gophers rattled off four-straight decision victories to complete the comeback and beat then-No. 24 South Dakota State, 19-16.
Isaiah Salazar won with a major decision victory over Bennett Berge, 12-0 at 184 pounds, while Patrick McKee defeated Tanner Jordan by a 7-3 decision at 125 pounds. The match of the night came at 141 pounds, where Vance VomBaur upset former All-American and sixth-ranked Clay Carlson by a score of 6-4. With the dual on the line, Michael Blockhus closed out the comeback win with a 4-1 decision victory over Alek Martin at 157 pounds.
Isaiah Salazar won with a major decision victory over Bennett Berge, 12-0 at 184 pounds, while Patrick McKee defeated Tanner Jordan by a 7-3 decision at 125 pounds. The match of the night came at 141 pounds, where Vance VomBaur upset former All-American and sixth-ranked Clay Carlson by a score of 6-4. With the dual on the line, Michael Blockhus closed out the comeback win with a 4-1 decision victory over Alek Martin at 157 pounds.
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