University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, January 11
Lincoln, NE
3:30 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Nebraska
Players Mentioned
157 lbs.
/ Wrestling
157 lbs.
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165 lbs.
/ Wrestling
149 lbs.
/ Wrestling
125 lbs.
/ Wrestling
197 lbs.
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184 lbs.
/ Wrestling
125 lbs.
/ Wrestling
157 lbs.
/ Wrestling
125 lbs.
/ Wrestling
174 lbs.
/ Wrestling
149 lbs.
/ Wrestling
184 lbs.
/ Wrestling
174 lbs.
/ Wrestling
174 lbs.
/ Wrestling
285 lbs.
/ Wrestling
285 lbs.
/ Wrestling
141 lbs.
/ Wrestling
133 lbs.
/ Wrestling
174 lbs.
/ Wrestling
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Big Ten Slate Starts Saturday at Nebraska
1/10/2025 9:12:00 AM | Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS -- Competing in its first dual since Dec. 1, No. 8 Minnesota (4-0) opens competition within the Big Ten Saturday at No. 6 Nebraska (5-1). The match is set to start at 3:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network with live results on TrackWrestling.com.
Minnesota heads into the weekend with a 4-0 record in duals this season, winning 38 of the 40 individual matchups and outscoring opponents, 148-6 . In fact, the team has not lost a matchup outside of 174 pounds in a dual so far this year.
The Gophers topped Bucknell on Nov. 15, 35-3, before shutting out both North Dakota State, 39-0, and Campbell, 44-0. 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. Most recently, the Gophers closed out their non-conference schedule by winning at then-No. 17 South Dakota State, 30-3, on Dec. 1.
Minnesota has won 10 straight duals dating back to last season. During the current streak, Minnesota has outscored opponents 329-54 and hasn't allowed more than 12 points in any dual.
Ten Gopher wrestlers are ranked in at least two of the major polls with eight appearing in all four: Intermat, Win Magazine, FloWrestling and OpenMat. Gable Steveson (285) is ranked No. 1 in all four polls, while Max McEnelly (184) is top-five in each. Cooper Flynn (125) is sixth or better in each poll, while Vance VomBaur (141) and Andrew Sparks (165) are ninth or better and Isaiah Salazar (197) is in the top-10 in each ranking.
McEnelly is 10-0 on the season with nine bonus-points wins, including eight by tech fall. Those eight tech fall wins rank tied for third in the nation behind Purdue's Matt Ramos (10) and Rutgers' Dean Peterson (9), according to WrestleStat.com.
VomBaur is 14-1 on the year with six of the wins coming by major decision. That ties him for second in the country in MD wins. Only Utah Valley's Terrell Barraclough has more with seven.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Minnesota heads into the weekend with a 4-0 record in duals this season, winning 38 of the 40 individual matchups and outscoring opponents, 148-6 . In fact, the team has not lost a matchup outside of 174 pounds in a dual so far this year.
The Gophers topped Bucknell on Nov. 15, 35-3, before shutting out both North Dakota State, 39-0, and Campbell, 44-0. 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. Most recently, the Gophers closed out their non-conference schedule by winning at then-No. 17 South Dakota State, 30-3, on Dec. 1.
Minnesota has won 10 straight duals dating back to last season. During the current streak, Minnesota has outscored opponents 329-54 and hasn't allowed more than 12 points in any dual.
Ten Gopher wrestlers are ranked in at least two of the major polls with eight appearing in all four: Intermat, Win Magazine, FloWrestling and OpenMat. Gable Steveson (285) is ranked No. 1 in all four polls, while Max McEnelly (184) is top-five in each. Cooper Flynn (125) is sixth or better in each poll, while Vance VomBaur (141) and Andrew Sparks (165) are ninth or better and Isaiah Salazar (197) is in the top-10 in each ranking.
McEnelly is 10-0 on the season with nine bonus-points wins, including eight by tech fall. Those eight tech fall wins rank tied for third in the nation behind Purdue's Matt Ramos (10) and Rutgers' Dean Peterson (9), according to WrestleStat.com.
VomBaur is 14-1 on the year with six of the wins coming by major decision. That ties him for second in the country in MD wins. Only Utah Valley's Terrell Barraclough has more with seven.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
| MINNESOTA | WEIGHT | NEBRASKA |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Cooper Flynn (9-1 overall, 4-0 Dual) or Brandon Morvari (4-4, 0-0) |
125 | #7 Caleb Smith (11-3, 2-1) or Kael Lauridsen (3-1, 1-0) |
| #11 Tyler Wells (8-1, 4-0) | 133 | #19 Jacob Van Dee (6-5, 3-2) |
| #8 Vance VomBaur (14-1, 4-0) | 141 | #6 Brock Hardy (12-2, 3-1) or Blake Cushing (3-2, 2-0) |
| #21 Drew Roberts (8-0, 4-0) or Theo Cha (5-7, 0-0) |
149 | #5 Ridge Lovett (9-1, 5-0) |
| #10 Tommy Askey (14-1, 3-0) or Charlie Millard (7-1, 1-0) |
157 | #5 Antrell Taylor (13-1, 4-1) |
| #9 Andrew Sparks (14-2, 4-0) | 165 | #7 Bubba Wilson (9-4, 2-2) or Christopher Minto (12-1, 0-1) |
| #24 Clayton Whiting (9-5, 2-2) or Ethan Riddle (11-4, 0-0) |
174 | #16 Lenny Pinto (12-3, 4-0) |
| #4 Max McEnelly (10-0, 4-0) | 184 | #6 Silas Allred (11-1, 3-1) or Ethan DeLeon (10-2, 0-1) |
| #9 Isaiah Salazar (10-2, 4-0) | 197 | #22 Camden McDanel (12-5, 3-1) |
| #1 Gable Steveson (3-0, 3-0) or Bennett Tabor (9-4, 1-0) |
285 | #24 Harley Andrews (8-6, 3-2) |
FACING NEBRASKA
Minnesota holds the all-time series lead over Nebraska with a record of 52-27 in a series that dates back to the 1921-22 season. The 79 all-time dual matches are the third-most in Minnesota history. The only other schools that the Golden Gophers have faced more are Iowa (108) and Wisconsin (102).
In Lincoln, Minnesota owns a 21-15 lead in the all-time series. The 21 wins are the most against one school in road duals and the 36 meetings are second most behind 38 duals at Iowa.
The Cornhuskers enter Saturday with a 5-1 record in duals this season. They won the first five of the season, including a 34-3 win at then-No. 25 North Carolina on Nov. 15, but fell to 10th-ranked Northern Iowa last weekend, 24-9, in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Minnesota and Nebraska have one common opponent this year in Campbell. The Golden Gophers shut out the Fighting Camels, 44-0, in Minneapolis on Nov. 24, while the Huskers went on the road for their 40-6 victory on Nov. 15.
Minnesota fifth-year senior Tommy Askey (157) and Nebraska graduate student Caleb Smith (125) were teammates at Appalachian State for three seasons from 2020-21 to 2022-23. Askey is in his first season with the Gophers, while Smith is in year two with the Huskers.
Minnesota has no Nebraska natives on its roster, while the Cornhuskers have two Minnesotans in redshirt freshman Alan Koehler (125, Prior Lake, Prior Lake HS) and true freshman Marco Christiansen (184, Shorewood, Minnetonka HS).
RANKED MATCHUPS
In Lincoln, Minnesota owns a 21-15 lead in the all-time series. The 21 wins are the most against one school in road duals and the 36 meetings are second most behind 38 duals at Iowa.
The Cornhuskers enter Saturday with a 5-1 record in duals this season. They won the first five of the season, including a 34-3 win at then-No. 25 North Carolina on Nov. 15, but fell to 10th-ranked Northern Iowa last weekend, 24-9, in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Minnesota and Nebraska have one common opponent this year in Campbell. The Golden Gophers shut out the Fighting Camels, 44-0, in Minneapolis on Nov. 24, while the Huskers went on the road for their 40-6 victory on Nov. 15.
Minnesota fifth-year senior Tommy Askey (157) and Nebraska graduate student Caleb Smith (125) were teammates at Appalachian State for three seasons from 2020-21 to 2022-23. Askey is in his first season with the Gophers, while Smith is in year two with the Huskers.
Minnesota has no Nebraska natives on its roster, while the Cornhuskers have two Minnesotans in redshirt freshman Alan Koehler (125, Prior Lake, Prior Lake HS) and true freshman Marco Christiansen (184, Shorewood, Minnetonka HS).
RANKED MATCHUPS
Based on probable lineups and the latest rankings from InterMat, all 10 weights on Saturday could feature top-25 matchups. Minnesota and Nebraska would each be favored in five of the matches with the Gophers having the edge at 125, 133, 184, 197 and 285.
At 125 pounds, No. 5 Cooper Flynn has never faced No. 7 Caleb Smith. Flynn is 4-1 against ranked opponents this year, including top-five wins over then-No. 4 Tanner Jordan in a dual against South Dakota State and then-No. 5 Stevo Poulin of Northern Colorado at the Cougar Clash. Smith is 5-2 against ranked foes.
No. 11 Tyler Wells and No. 19 Jacob Van Dee met last year in the 133-pound consolation bracket at the NCAA Championships with Wells ending Van Dee's season in an 11-2 major decision. Wells is 4-1 this year against a ranked opponent, including a victory over then-No. 8 Connor McGonagle of Virginia Tech at the Mountaineer Invite. Van Dee is 1-4 in such matchups.
No. 8 Vance VomBaur was 0-2 last year against No. 6 Brock Hardy at 141 pounds. Hardy prevailed in the dual, 8-3, then won by major decision at Big Tens, 10-2, in the consolation bracket. Like Flynn and Wells, VomBaur is also 4-1 against ranked opponents this year, while Hardy is 5-2.
No. 21 Drew Roberts lost in the dual last year against No. 5 Ridge Lovett at 149 pounds, 11-0. It would be just the second ranked opponent for Roberts this season as he topped then-No. 32 Gavin Drexler of North Dakota State in a dual in late-November.
At 157 pounds, No. 10 Tommy Askey has not faced No. 5 Antrell Taylor before. Askey is 0-1 in ranked matchups this year, falling to then-No. 19 Jared Hill of Wyoming at the Soldier Salute. Taylor is 6-1 against ranked wrestlers this season.
No. 9 Andrew Sparks is 1-1 all-time against seventh-ranked Bubba Wilson as the pair split the matchups in the 2023 season at 165 pounds. Sparks won the regular season dual, 6-1, but Wilson prevailed in the wrestlebacks at Big Tens in a 3-2 decision. Sparks is 2-2 this year against ranked opponents, while Wilson is 3-3.
At 174 pounds, No. 24 Clayton Whiting has not met No. 16 Lenny Pinto before. All five of Whiting's losses this year have come to wrestlers ranked 27th or higher at the time of the match. Pinto is 2-3 against ranked foes.
The highest ranked matchup of the day could come at 184 in the first ever meeting between No. 4 Max McEnelly and sixth-ranked Silas Allred. McEnelly has faced just one ranked opponent this year but it was a 9-6 decision over then-No. 4 Bennett Berge of South Dakota State. Allred is 2-1 against ranked wrestlers this year.
Another first-time meeting could come at 197 pounds between No. 9 Isaiah Salazar and No. 22 Camden McDanel. Salazar is 1-0 against ranked opponents, topping then-No. 8 Zach Glazier of South Dakota State, 8-1, in a dual last month. McDanel is 1-4 versus ranked.
At heavyweight, No. 1 Gable Steveson is slated to meet No. 24 Harley Andrews for the first time ever. Steveson is 2-0 against ranked opponents this year, posting tech fall over then-No. 7 Taye Ghadiali of Campbell and then-No. 28 Luke Rasmussen of SDSU. Andrews is 3-4 against ranked wrestlers.
LAST MEETING WITH THE HUSKERS
At 125 pounds, No. 5 Cooper Flynn has never faced No. 7 Caleb Smith. Flynn is 4-1 against ranked opponents this year, including top-five wins over then-No. 4 Tanner Jordan in a dual against South Dakota State and then-No. 5 Stevo Poulin of Northern Colorado at the Cougar Clash. Smith is 5-2 against ranked foes.
No. 11 Tyler Wells and No. 19 Jacob Van Dee met last year in the 133-pound consolation bracket at the NCAA Championships with Wells ending Van Dee's season in an 11-2 major decision. Wells is 4-1 this year against a ranked opponent, including a victory over then-No. 8 Connor McGonagle of Virginia Tech at the Mountaineer Invite. Van Dee is 1-4 in such matchups.
No. 8 Vance VomBaur was 0-2 last year against No. 6 Brock Hardy at 141 pounds. Hardy prevailed in the dual, 8-3, then won by major decision at Big Tens, 10-2, in the consolation bracket. Like Flynn and Wells, VomBaur is also 4-1 against ranked opponents this year, while Hardy is 5-2.
No. 21 Drew Roberts lost in the dual last year against No. 5 Ridge Lovett at 149 pounds, 11-0. It would be just the second ranked opponent for Roberts this season as he topped then-No. 32 Gavin Drexler of North Dakota State in a dual in late-November.
At 157 pounds, No. 10 Tommy Askey has not faced No. 5 Antrell Taylor before. Askey is 0-1 in ranked matchups this year, falling to then-No. 19 Jared Hill of Wyoming at the Soldier Salute. Taylor is 6-1 against ranked wrestlers this season.
No. 9 Andrew Sparks is 1-1 all-time against seventh-ranked Bubba Wilson as the pair split the matchups in the 2023 season at 165 pounds. Sparks won the regular season dual, 6-1, but Wilson prevailed in the wrestlebacks at Big Tens in a 3-2 decision. Sparks is 2-2 this year against ranked opponents, while Wilson is 3-3.
At 174 pounds, No. 24 Clayton Whiting has not met No. 16 Lenny Pinto before. All five of Whiting's losses this year have come to wrestlers ranked 27th or higher at the time of the match. Pinto is 2-3 against ranked foes.
The highest ranked matchup of the day could come at 184 in the first ever meeting between No. 4 Max McEnelly and sixth-ranked Silas Allred. McEnelly has faced just one ranked opponent this year but it was a 9-6 decision over then-No. 4 Bennett Berge of South Dakota State. Allred is 2-1 against ranked wrestlers this year.
Another first-time meeting could come at 197 pounds between No. 9 Isaiah Salazar and No. 22 Camden McDanel. Salazar is 1-0 against ranked opponents, topping then-No. 8 Zach Glazier of South Dakota State, 8-1, in a dual last month. McDanel is 1-4 versus ranked.
At heavyweight, No. 1 Gable Steveson is slated to meet No. 24 Harley Andrews for the first time ever. Steveson is 2-0 against ranked opponents this year, posting tech fall over then-No. 7 Taye Ghadiali of Campbell and then-No. 28 Luke Rasmussen of SDSU. Andrews is 3-4 against ranked wrestlers.
LAST MEETING WITH THE HUSKERS
Despite three upset victories, No. 9 Minnesota came up just short in a 19-14 dual loss to No. 6 Nebraska at Maturi Pavilion last season in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers won four of the 10 matches on the night, including three victories over wrestlers ranked seventh or better by InterMat.
No. 18 Patrick McKee got things started with a bang thanks to an 18-2 tech fall over No. 7 Caleb Smith at 125 pounds. No. 27 Tyler Wells kept the momentum with a 6-3 overtime victory over Kyle Burwick at 133 pounds. Nebraska fought back, however, and won the next two matches as No. 8 Brock Hardy defeated No. 19 Vance VomBaur, 8-3, at 141 pounds, while No. 1 Ridge Lovett scored an 11-0 major decision over No. 13 Drew Roberts at 149.
Minnesota's second upset of the evening came at 157 pounds as Michael Blockhus topped No. 3 Peyton Robb, 12-6. Ranked 10th, Blockhus exploded for a double-leg takedown in the second period and added four nearfall points after a thunderous mat return to take an 8-5 lead. A third-period takedown provided the exclamation point.
The Cornhuskers took the next two matches after the break as No. 18 Antrell Taylor topped No. 30 Blaine Brenner, 8-2, at 165 pounds, while No. 29 Bubba Wilson recorded a 4-2 decision over Sam Skillings at 174.
Down 13-11, the Golden Gophers took the lead back at 184 when No. 10 Isaiah Salazar earned a 4-1 decision over third-ranked Lenny Pinto. Salazar tallied a second-period takedown and fended off late attacks from Pinto.
At 197 pounds, No. 24 Garrett Joles went to overtime with No. 15 Silas Allred, but it was Allred who got the takedown for a 4-1 victory. The dual came down to heavyweight, but Harley Andrews won in an 11-7 decision. No. 28 Bennett Tabor led 5-3 through two periods, but Andrews scored a pair of takedowns in the third period, including one with the match tied in the final 20 seconds to claim the victory.
LAST TIME IN LINCOLN
No. 18 Patrick McKee got things started with a bang thanks to an 18-2 tech fall over No. 7 Caleb Smith at 125 pounds. No. 27 Tyler Wells kept the momentum with a 6-3 overtime victory over Kyle Burwick at 133 pounds. Nebraska fought back, however, and won the next two matches as No. 8 Brock Hardy defeated No. 19 Vance VomBaur, 8-3, at 141 pounds, while No. 1 Ridge Lovett scored an 11-0 major decision over No. 13 Drew Roberts at 149.
Minnesota's second upset of the evening came at 157 pounds as Michael Blockhus topped No. 3 Peyton Robb, 12-6. Ranked 10th, Blockhus exploded for a double-leg takedown in the second period and added four nearfall points after a thunderous mat return to take an 8-5 lead. A third-period takedown provided the exclamation point.
The Cornhuskers took the next two matches after the break as No. 18 Antrell Taylor topped No. 30 Blaine Brenner, 8-2, at 165 pounds, while No. 29 Bubba Wilson recorded a 4-2 decision over Sam Skillings at 174.
Down 13-11, the Golden Gophers took the lead back at 184 when No. 10 Isaiah Salazar earned a 4-1 decision over third-ranked Lenny Pinto. Salazar tallied a second-period takedown and fended off late attacks from Pinto.
At 197 pounds, No. 24 Garrett Joles went to overtime with No. 15 Silas Allred, but it was Allred who got the takedown for a 4-1 victory. The dual came down to heavyweight, but Harley Andrews won in an 11-7 decision. No. 28 Bennett Tabor led 5-3 through two periods, but Andrews scored a pair of takedowns in the third period, including one with the match tied in the final 20 seconds to claim the victory.
LAST TIME IN LINCOLN
When the teams last met in Lincoln in 2023, then-No. 12 Minnesota fell to then-No. 16 Nebraska in, 21-9. With the dual starting at 125 pounds, the Cornhuskers set the tone by winning four of the first five matches to take a 13-3 lead at the break. Minnesota tried to claw back into it, but a win at 197 pounds for Nebraska sealed the dual.
Coming out of halftime, it was Andrew Sparks who put the Maroon & Gold back on the scoreboard at 165 pounds, as he put on an impressive performance against ranked foe Bubba Wilson in a 6-1 decision.
Minnesota's final win came at 184 pounds in a wild, back-and-forth contest as Isaiah Salazar came out on top with a 7-6 victory over Lenny Pinto. Trailing 6-4 with 21 seconds left, Salazar fired off the whistle to get a quick escape, then blasted a double leg on the edge to convert the takedown as time expired.
No other current Gopher competed in the matchup.
Coming out of halftime, it was Andrew Sparks who put the Maroon & Gold back on the scoreboard at 165 pounds, as he put on an impressive performance against ranked foe Bubba Wilson in a 6-1 decision.
Minnesota's final win came at 184 pounds in a wild, back-and-forth contest as Isaiah Salazar came out on top with a 7-6 victory over Lenny Pinto. Trailing 6-4 with 21 seconds left, Salazar fired off the whistle to get a quick escape, then blasted a double leg on the edge to convert the takedown as time expired.
No other current Gopher competed in the matchup.
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