University of Minnesota Athletics
Tuesday, November 25
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
South Dakota State
Players Mentioned
165 lbs.
/ Wrestling
133 lbs.
/ Wrestling
133 lbs.
/ Wrestling
125 lbs.
/ Wrestling
285 lbs.
/ Wrestling
125 lbs.
/ Wrestling
141 lbs.
/ Wrestling
184 lbs.
/ Wrestling
157 lbs.
/ Wrestling
125 lbs.
/ Wrestling
197 lbs.
/ Wrestling
197 lbs.
/ Wrestling
174 lbs.
/ Wrestling
149 lbs.
/ Wrestling
197 lbs.
/ Wrestling
165 lbs.
/ Wrestling
285 lbs.
/ Wrestling
133 lbs.
/ Wrestling
285 lbs.
/ Wrestling
125 lbs.
/ Wrestling
141 lbs.
/ Wrestling
133 lbs.
/ Wrestling
174 lbs.
/ Wrestling
174 lbs.
/ Wrestling
Photo by: Ryan Schroeder
Gophers to Host South Dakota State in Home Opener
11/24/2025 1:40:00 PM | Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS -- No. 7/10 (InterMat Dual/Tournament rankings) Minnesota wrestling (4-1) hosts No. 18/22 South Dakota State (1-0) Tuesday night in the team's home opener. The match will start at 7 p.m. and take place at historic Williams Arena with streaming coverage on B1G+. With Gopher Volleyball hosting a match in Maturi Pavilion on Wednesday, Nov. 26, wrestling is moving next door for the first time since a dual with Augustana on Dec. 1, 2022.
Promotions: $2 hot dogs | Goldy's Kids Club Members receive FREE tickets! | Post-dual autographs
The Golden Gophers are looking to win their home opener for the fourth straight year after topping Binghamton to open 2022-23 (19-15), defeating South Dakota State to kick off the 2023-24 home slate (19-13) and besting Bucknell last year (35-3). All-time under head coach Brandon Eggum, Minnesota is 7-2 in home openers.
The Gophers have won 20 of their last 23 duals dating back to the 2023-24 season. During the stretch, Minnesota has outscored opponents, 616-241, an average final score of 26.8-10.5. Within the run, Minnesota had a 10-match win streak that covered the final six duals of 2023-24 and first four of 2024-25 , the team's longest stretch since claiming 17 straight duals over the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.Â
Promotions: $2 hot dogs | Goldy's Kids Club Members receive FREE tickets! | Post-dual autographs
The Golden Gophers are looking to win their home opener for the fourth straight year after topping Binghamton to open 2022-23 (19-15), defeating South Dakota State to kick off the 2023-24 home slate (19-13) and besting Bucknell last year (35-3). All-time under head coach Brandon Eggum, Minnesota is 7-2 in home openers.
The Gophers have won 20 of their last 23 duals dating back to the 2023-24 season. During the stretch, Minnesota has outscored opponents, 616-241, an average final score of 26.8-10.5. Within the run, Minnesota had a 10-match win streak that covered the final six duals of 2023-24 and first four of 2024-25 , the team's longest stretch since claiming 17 straight duals over the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.Â
PROBABLE LINEUPS
| WEIGHT | MINNESOTA | SOUTH DAKOTA STATE |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | #4 Jore Volk (11-1 Overall, 4-1 Dual) | #24 Brady Roark (7-0, 1-0) |
| 133 | Chris Cannon (1-5, 0-3) or Brandon Morvari (1-5, 0-2) |
#18 Derrick Cardinal (0-0, 0-0) or Cale Seaton (6-0, 1-0) |
| 141 | #11 Vance VomBaur (10-2, 3-2) | #13 Julian Tagg (1-0, 0-0) |
| 149 | Drew Roberts (2-2, 0-0) or Rhett Koenig (6-3, 0-1) or Jager Eisch (5-6, 0-4 |
#27 Alek Martin (2-2, 0-0) or Avery Allen (3-3, 1-0) |
| 157 | #15Â Charlie Millard (11-1, 4-1) | #22 Cael Swensen (5-1, 1-0) |
| 165 | #9Â Andrew Sparks (10-2, 4-1) or Blaine Brenner (3-1, 0-0) |
Marcus Espinoza-Owens (6-1, 1-0) |
| 174 | #20 Ethan Riddle (8-3, 2-2) or Clayton Whiting (4-3, 0-1) |
#27 Moses Espinoza-Owens (6-2, 1-0) |
| 184 | #3 Max McEnelly (6-1, 4-1) | Brock Fettig (5-2, 1-0) |
| 197 | #19 Gavin Nelson (6-4, 1-3) or Gabe Nagel (4-3, 0-1) |
#6 Bennett Berge (0-0, 0-0) or Quin Morgan (4-4, 1-0) |
| 285 | #13 Koy Hopke (9-2, 2-1) or Bennett Tabor (6-2, 1-1) |
#20 Luke Rasmussen |
IN THE RANKINGS
The Golden Gophers enter Tuesday ranked seventh in InterMat's dual team rankings and the NWCA Coaches Poll. The team is also 10th in the InterMat tournament rankings.
Eight Gopher wrestlers are ranked in at least two of the major polls with six appearing in all three: InterMat, Flo and OpenMat. All-American Max McEnelly is the No. 3-ranked wrestler at 184 pounds in all three polls, while Jore Volk (125) appears in the top-4 of each publication, including third by both Flo and OpenMat.
Redshirt senior Vance VomBaur (141)and sixth-year senior Andrew Sparks (165) are both 11th or better in all three polls with OpenMat giving VomBaur his highest ranking at No. 8, while Sparks peaked at No. 9 InterMat's rankings. Redshirt freshman Charlie Millard (157) is top-20 in all three, highlighted by a No. 15 ranking from InterMat. In addition, redshirt freshman heavyweight Koy Hopke is 17th or better with InterMat and Flo both putting him at No. 13.Â
Redshirt sophomores Ethan Riddle (174) and Gavin Nelson (197) are ranked by both InterMat and Flo. Riddle is ranked 20th by InterMat and 21st by Flo, while Nelson is 19th by the former and 24th by the latter.
A complete list of rankings can be found on Page 7 of the match notes.
Eight Gopher wrestlers are ranked in at least two of the major polls with six appearing in all three: InterMat, Flo and OpenMat. All-American Max McEnelly is the No. 3-ranked wrestler at 184 pounds in all three polls, while Jore Volk (125) appears in the top-4 of each publication, including third by both Flo and OpenMat.
Redshirt senior Vance VomBaur (141)and sixth-year senior Andrew Sparks (165) are both 11th or better in all three polls with OpenMat giving VomBaur his highest ranking at No. 8, while Sparks peaked at No. 9 InterMat's rankings. Redshirt freshman Charlie Millard (157) is top-20 in all three, highlighted by a No. 15 ranking from InterMat. In addition, redshirt freshman heavyweight Koy Hopke is 17th or better with InterMat and Flo both putting him at No. 13.Â
Redshirt sophomores Ethan Riddle (174) and Gavin Nelson (197) are ranked by both InterMat and Flo. Riddle is ranked 20th by InterMat and 21st by Flo, while Nelson is 19th by the former and 24th by the latter.
A complete list of rankings can be found on Page 7 of the match notes.
FACING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Minnesota leads the all-time series with South Dakota State, 30-4, including 13 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 because of COVID. the 13-match win streak ties for Minnesota's second-longest active win streak. The only longer streak is 19 in a row versus North Dakota State (19).
Among teams they've faced at least 25 times, the Gophers' .882 win percentage against the Jackrabbits ranks second behind a .917 percentage versus Indiana. The 30 wins are the Gophers' second most against all non-Big Ten schools, behind only the 34 wins they have against Northern Iowa.
In Minneapolis, the Gophers are 17-3 all-time and have won the past nine meetings there. The nine-match win streak is Minnesota's longest home streak against another DI program.
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 junior 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: senior Derrick Cardinal (Forest Lake; Forest Lake HS), redshirt juniors Bennett Berge (Mantorville; Kasson-Mantorville HS) and Cael Swensen (Plymouth; Wayzata HS), redshirt sophomores Thomas Dineen (Hancock; Benson HS) and Parker Janssen (St. Michael; St. Michael-Albertville HS), redshirt freshmen Quin Morgan (Arden Hills; Mounds View HS) and Logan Swensen (Plymouth; Wayzata HS) and true freshmen Conlan Carlson (Pennock; Willmar HS) and Jarrett Wadsen (Ramsey; St. Michael-Albertville HS).
Janssen, Wadsen and Gopher redshirt freshman Jed Wester were high schools teammates together at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
Morgan, the younger brother of former Gopher wrestler Rowan Morgan who competed at Minnesota from 2020-24, went to Mounds View High School with Gopher true freshman Brett Swenson.
Jackrabbit freshman Conlan Carlson has several family ties to Minnesota as his brother Cael, father Chad and uncle Carl Carlson all wrestled for the Gophers.
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RANKED MATCHUPS
LAST MEETING WITH SDSU
RANKED MATCHUPS
Based on probable lineups and the Nov. 18 rankings from InterMat, six of the 10 weights Tuesday could feature ranked matchups with Minnesota having the higher ranked wrestler in five of the six bouts. In the other four matchups, Minnesota has the ranked wrestler at 165 and 184, while SDSU has the ranke wrestlers at 133 and 149.
At 125 pounds, No. 4 Jore Volk has not faced No. 24 Brady Roark in his career. The two have one common opponent this season in Missouri's Mack Mauger with both winning by decision. Volk is 5-0 against ranked opponents this season.
The matchup at 141 between No. 11 Vance VomBaur and No. 13 Julian Tagg would be the second between the two as VomBaur beat Tagg, 8-3, in last season's dual in Brookings. They have no common opponents so far this season.
At 157, No. 15 Charlie Millard has not faced No. 22 Cael Swensen before and the pair of no common opponents this season. In their careers, Millard is 3-1 against common opponents, while Swensen is 3-4 against the same group. This season, Millard is 0-1 against ranked wrestlers.
At 174 pounds, No. 20 Ethan Riddle has not faced No. 27 Moses Espinoza-Owens. The pair have one common opponent this year in North Dakota State's Max Magayna. Riddle won his match by decision, while Espinoza-Owens' win was by major decision.
At 197, No. 19 Gavin Nelson could face No. 6 Bennett Berge for the first time in their careers. They have no common opponents this year, but lifetime Nelson is 4-1 against similar opponents, while Berge is 5-0.
The heavyweight matchup would be the first meeting between No. 13 Koy Hopke and No. 20 Luke Rasmussen. They have no common foes this year, but Hopke is 2-0 all-time against common opponents, while Rasmussen is 1-3 against the same group.
At 125 pounds, No. 4 Jore Volk has not faced No. 24 Brady Roark in his career. The two have one common opponent this season in Missouri's Mack Mauger with both winning by decision. Volk is 5-0 against ranked opponents this season.
The matchup at 141 between No. 11 Vance VomBaur and No. 13 Julian Tagg would be the second between the two as VomBaur beat Tagg, 8-3, in last season's dual in Brookings. They have no common opponents so far this season.
At 157, No. 15 Charlie Millard has not faced No. 22 Cael Swensen before and the pair of no common opponents this season. In their careers, Millard is 3-1 against common opponents, while Swensen is 3-4 against the same group. This season, Millard is 0-1 against ranked wrestlers.
At 174 pounds, No. 20 Ethan Riddle has not faced No. 27 Moses Espinoza-Owens. The pair have one common opponent this year in North Dakota State's Max Magayna. Riddle won his match by decision, while Espinoza-Owens' win was by major decision.
At 197, No. 19 Gavin Nelson could face No. 6 Bennett Berge for the first time in their careers. They have no common opponents this year, but lifetime Nelson is 4-1 against similar opponents, while Berge is 5-0.
The heavyweight matchup would be the first meeting between No. 13 Koy Hopke and No. 20 Luke Rasmussen. They have no common foes this year, but Hopke is 2-0 all-time against common opponents, while Rasmussen is 1-3 against the same group.
LAST MEETING WITH SDSU
Minnesota won nine of the 10 matches, including six ranked bouts, as it trounced then-No. 17 South Dakota State by a score of 30-3 last season in Brookings, S.D.
The tone was set in the first match of the day at 125 pounds as No. 14 Cooper Flynn upset No. 4 Tanner Jordan, 7-2. After a scoreless first period at 133, No. 28 Derrick Cardinal escaped to lead 1-0 but No. 8 Tyler Wells got a takedown in the final seconds to lead 3-1. The final period was all Wells as he added an escape and two more takedowns. The first non-ranked matchup came at 141 pounds with No. 5 Vance VomBaur topping Julian Tagg, 8-3.Â
No. 21 Drew Roberts needed overtime to defeat Colin Dupill at 149 pounds. Both wrestlers registered escapes in regulation, but it was Roberts who scrambled his way to the winning takedown in the extra session. The matchup at 157 pounds saw Charlie Millard make his dual debut against No. 19 Cobe Siebrecht. Millard dominated in a 10-3 decision. Up 3-0 after one period, Millard extended the lead to 9-3 with an escape and later a reversal and takedown plus riding time.
Coming out of the break, No. 11 Andrew Sparks handed No. 25 Drake Rhodes an 8-4 decision. Sparks followed a similar pattern in the first and second periods, notching takedowns in the final 20 seconds of each.
The Jackrabbits' lone victory came at 174 pounds as No. 3 Cade DeVos posted a 2-0 win over No. 25 Clayton Whiting, behind an escape and riding time.
Arguably the match of the day came with No. 9 Max McEnelly meeting fourth-ranked Bennett Berge at 184. Berge was up 3-0 after the first period and had a 5-3 lead through two. McEnelly got a takedown in the third period, only to see Berge escape and send the match to overtime at 6-6. After no points were scored in the first overtime session, McEnelly rode out Berge in the second period and then got a late takedown in the next frame to secure the 9-6 win.
Another top-10 match followed at 197 pounds as seventh-ranked Isaiah Salazar dueled with eighth-ranked Zach Glazier. Scoreless after the first period, Salazar started on top in period two and got Glazier's shoulders to the mat for four nearfall points. After riding out Glazier for all of the second, Salazar started on bottom in the final period and got a reversal. A clasped hands call on Glazier plus riding time gave Salazar the 8-1 decision.
The final match of the day came at heavyweight and top-ranked Gable Steveson made quick work of No. 28 Luke Rasmussen. Steveson needed just 2:25 to post a 19-4 tech fall over Rasmussen, using five takedowns plus four nearfall points to get the win.
The tone was set in the first match of the day at 125 pounds as No. 14 Cooper Flynn upset No. 4 Tanner Jordan, 7-2. After a scoreless first period at 133, No. 28 Derrick Cardinal escaped to lead 1-0 but No. 8 Tyler Wells got a takedown in the final seconds to lead 3-1. The final period was all Wells as he added an escape and two more takedowns. The first non-ranked matchup came at 141 pounds with No. 5 Vance VomBaur topping Julian Tagg, 8-3.Â
No. 21 Drew Roberts needed overtime to defeat Colin Dupill at 149 pounds. Both wrestlers registered escapes in regulation, but it was Roberts who scrambled his way to the winning takedown in the extra session. The matchup at 157 pounds saw Charlie Millard make his dual debut against No. 19 Cobe Siebrecht. Millard dominated in a 10-3 decision. Up 3-0 after one period, Millard extended the lead to 9-3 with an escape and later a reversal and takedown plus riding time.
Coming out of the break, No. 11 Andrew Sparks handed No. 25 Drake Rhodes an 8-4 decision. Sparks followed a similar pattern in the first and second periods, notching takedowns in the final 20 seconds of each.
The Jackrabbits' lone victory came at 174 pounds as No. 3 Cade DeVos posted a 2-0 win over No. 25 Clayton Whiting, behind an escape and riding time.
Arguably the match of the day came with No. 9 Max McEnelly meeting fourth-ranked Bennett Berge at 184. Berge was up 3-0 after the first period and had a 5-3 lead through two. McEnelly got a takedown in the third period, only to see Berge escape and send the match to overtime at 6-6. After no points were scored in the first overtime session, McEnelly rode out Berge in the second period and then got a late takedown in the next frame to secure the 9-6 win.
Another top-10 match followed at 197 pounds as seventh-ranked Isaiah Salazar dueled with eighth-ranked Zach Glazier. Scoreless after the first period, Salazar started on top in period two and got Glazier's shoulders to the mat for four nearfall points. After riding out Glazier for all of the second, Salazar started on bottom in the final period and got a reversal. A clasped hands call on Glazier plus riding time gave Salazar the 8-1 decision.
The final match of the day came at heavyweight and top-ranked Gable Steveson made quick work of No. 28 Luke Rasmussen. Steveson needed just 2:25 to post a 19-4 tech fall over Rasmussen, using five takedowns plus four nearfall points to get the win.
Coach's Corner with Brandon Eggum
Sunday, November 23
Highlights: Gophers 25, Virginia Tech 10
Sunday, November 16
Highlights: Gophers 15, Missouri 14
Sunday, November 16
Highlights: Gophers 19, Virginia Tech 17
Saturday, November 15