University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, January 10
Champaign, IL
1:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Illinois
Players Mentioned
165 lbs.
/ Wrestling
285 lbs.
/ Wrestling
184 lbs.
/ Wrestling
157 lbs.
/ Wrestling
197 lbs.
/ Wrestling
174 lbs.
/ Wrestling
149 lbs.
/ Wrestling
197 lbs.
/ Wrestling
165 lbs.
/ Wrestling
285 lbs.
/ Wrestling
125 lbs.
/ Wrestling
141 lbs.
/ Wrestling
174 lbs.
/ Wrestling
Photo by: Ryan Schroeder
Seventh-Ranked Gophers Open Big Ten Slate at No. 11 Illinois Saturday
1/9/2026 10:55:00 AM | Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS -- Competing in its first dual since Dec. 7, No. 7/12 Minnesota (6-2) opens competition within the Big Ten Saturday at No. 11/9 Illinois (7-2). The match is set to start at 1 p.m. on Big Ten Plus.
Saturday will mark the first true road competition of the season for the Golden Gophers after six duals at neutral sites and two at home. Last season, Minnesota was 5-1 in road duals, including three straight wins to close out last season.
Minnesota was 6-2 in duals during the non-conference schedule this season. This included a 4-1 mark at the National Duals Invitational in November that resulted in a fifth-place finish and a $50,000 prize for the team.
IN THE RANKINGS
Saturday will mark the first true road competition of the season for the Golden Gophers after six duals at neutral sites and two at home. Last season, Minnesota was 5-1 in road duals, including three straight wins to close out last season.
Minnesota was 6-2 in duals during the non-conference schedule this season. This included a 4-1 mark at the National Duals Invitational in November that resulted in a fifth-place finish and a $50,000 prize for the team.
IN THE RANKINGS
As noted above, the Golden Gophers enter the weekend ranked seventh in InterMat's dual team rankings and 12th in the InterMat tournament rankings. The team is also 11th in the NWCA Coaches Poll.
Nine Gopher wrestlers are ranked in at least two of the major polls with five appearing in all four: InterMat, Flo, Win 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-9 of each publication, including being ranked sixth by Flo.
Redshirt senior Vance VomBaur (141) and redshirt freshman Koy Hopke (285) are both 12th or better in all four polls with WIN giving VomBaur his highest ranking at No. 5, while Hopke's best mark comes from OpenMat at No. 8. Sixth-year senior Andrew Sparks (165) is ranked top-15 in all four polls, highlighted by a No. 11 ranking from InterMat.
Redshirt sophomore Gavin Nelson (197) and redshirt freshman Charlie Millard (157) appear in three of the four polls. Nelson (197) does not appear in WIN's rankings, but it is 20th in the other three. Millard doesn't show up in OpenMat's polls, but he's top-21 in the other three, including 20th by WIN.
Redshirt senior Drew Roberts (149) and redshirt sophomore Ethan Riddle (174) are both ranked by both InterMat and Flo, but don't appear in rankings from WIN or OpenMat. Riddle is ranked 22nd in both polls, while Roberts is 26th by InterMat and 28th by Flo.
A complete list of rankings can be found on Page 8 of the notes.
NATIONAL STAT LEADERS
Nine Gopher wrestlers are ranked in at least two of the major polls with five appearing in all four: InterMat, Flo, Win 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-9 of each publication, including being ranked sixth by Flo.
Redshirt senior Vance VomBaur (141) and redshirt freshman Koy Hopke (285) are both 12th or better in all four polls with WIN giving VomBaur his highest ranking at No. 5, while Hopke's best mark comes from OpenMat at No. 8. Sixth-year senior Andrew Sparks (165) is ranked top-15 in all four polls, highlighted by a No. 11 ranking from InterMat.
Redshirt sophomore Gavin Nelson (197) and redshirt freshman Charlie Millard (157) appear in three of the four polls. Nelson (197) does not appear in WIN's rankings, but it is 20th in the other three. Millard doesn't show up in OpenMat's polls, but he's top-21 in the other three, including 20th by WIN.
Redshirt senior Drew Roberts (149) and redshirt sophomore Ethan Riddle (174) are both ranked by both InterMat and Flo, but don't appear in rankings from WIN or OpenMat. Riddle is ranked 22nd in both polls, while Roberts is 26th by InterMat and 28th by Flo.
A complete list of rankings can be found on Page 8 of the notes.
NATIONAL STAT LEADERS
Through last weekend's competition, Vance VomBaur (141) and Clayton Whiting (174) both had six major decision victories to tie for the second most in the country. Only Virginia's Gable Porter has more with seven. Gophers heavyweight Koy Hopke has five majors, tying for 10th nationally.
Max McEnelly (184) is tied for second in the nation with seven tech fall wins this season. Only Ohio State's Ben Davino has more with nine.
Heavyweight Bennett Tabor is tied for fourth in the country with six wins by fall this year.
FACING ILLINOIS
Minnesota is 37-24-2 all-time against Illinois, including six straight wins. The Gophers have won those six meetings by a combined score of 142-75, or an average of 23.7-12.5. The Gophers have not lost to the Illini since falling in Champaign in February of 2016, 19-16, and dating to the 2009-10 season, Minnesota has won 11 of the past 12 meetings in the series.
In Champaign, the Gophers own a 17-11-1 advantage in the all-time series, including wins in the last three matchups in 2024, 2022 and 2019.
Minnesota and Illinois have three common opponents this season in Little Rock, Missouri and Virginia Tech. The Gophers are 4-0 against those teams, including two wins over the Hokies, while Illinois is 3-1 with its loss coming to Virginia Tech and two wins over Missouri.
Minnesota's Clayton Whiting (174) and Illinois' Ryan Boersma (285) were teammates at Missouri during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
LAST MEETING WITH THE ILLINI
Max McEnelly (184) is tied for second in the nation with seven tech fall wins this season. Only Ohio State's Ben Davino has more with nine.
Heavyweight Bennett Tabor is tied for fourth in the country with six wins by fall this year.
FACING ILLINOIS
Minnesota is 37-24-2 all-time against Illinois, including six straight wins. The Gophers have won those six meetings by a combined score of 142-75, or an average of 23.7-12.5. The Gophers have not lost to the Illini since falling in Champaign in February of 2016, 19-16, and dating to the 2009-10 season, Minnesota has won 11 of the past 12 meetings in the series.
In Champaign, the Gophers own a 17-11-1 advantage in the all-time series, including wins in the last three matchups in 2024, 2022 and 2019.
Minnesota and Illinois have three common opponents this season in Little Rock, Missouri and Virginia Tech. The Gophers are 4-0 against those teams, including two wins over the Hokies, while Illinois is 3-1 with its loss coming to Virginia Tech and two wins over Missouri.
Minnesota's Clayton Whiting (174) and Illinois' Ryan Boersma (285) were teammates at Missouri during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
LAST MEETING WITH THE ILLINI
Minnesota won six of the final seven matches, including three by pin, for a 28-12 comeback victory when the teams last met in 2024 in Champaign.
Trailing 9-0 after three matches, Minnesota got on the board at 149 pounds with No. 17 Drew Roberts' 15-3 major decision over Jake Harrier. Things fully shifted the Gophers' way at 157 pounds as No. 4 Michael Blockhus pinned Joe Roberts at the 2:27 mark.
No. 27 Blaine Brenner made it three straight wins for Minnesota with an 8-2 decision over No. 33 Chris Moore at 165 pounds, while the Illini got its final win of the night with a 7-1 decision from No. 8 Edmond Ruth over Andrew Sparks at 174.
At 184 pounds, No. 5 Isaiah Salazar scored a 6-0 decision over No. 31 Dylan Connell, while both 197 and heavyweight ended in the first period as Garrett Joles (2:25) and Bennett Tabor (2:06), respectively, each pinned their opponents.
RANKED MATCHUPS
Trailing 9-0 after three matches, Minnesota got on the board at 149 pounds with No. 17 Drew Roberts' 15-3 major decision over Jake Harrier. Things fully shifted the Gophers' way at 157 pounds as No. 4 Michael Blockhus pinned Joe Roberts at the 2:27 mark.
No. 27 Blaine Brenner made it three straight wins for Minnesota with an 8-2 decision over No. 33 Chris Moore at 165 pounds, while the Illini got its final win of the night with a 7-1 decision from No. 8 Edmond Ruth over Andrew Sparks at 174.
At 184 pounds, No. 5 Isaiah Salazar scored a 6-0 decision over No. 31 Dylan Connell, while both 197 and heavyweight ended in the first period as Garrett Joles (2:25) and Bennett Tabor (2:06), respectively, each pinned their opponents.
RANKED MATCHUPS
Based on the probable starters and the latest rankings from InterMat, there are four ranked matchups scheduled for Saturday with the possibility of seven total taking place.
At 125 pounds, No. 9 Jore Volk could face No. 21 Spencer Moore. It would be the first ever matchup between the two. Volk is 6-1 this year against ranked opponents, tied for the most ranked wins on the team. He and Moore have three common opponents this year in Virginia Tech's Eddie Ventresca, Northern Iowa's Trever Anderson and Missouri's Mack Maguer. Volk is 4-0 against that group this year, including a pair of wins over Ventresca at the National Duals Invitational. Moore, meanwhile, has gone 3-2, including a 2-1 record against Mauger. The other loss was to Ventresca.
At 141 pounds, No. 11 Vance VomBaur is set to face 13th-ranked Danny Pucino for the third time in his career. They met twice in 2024 with Pucino winning in the regular season dual, 8-5, while VomBaur prevailed at the Big Ten Championships, 4-1, in sudden victory, putting their all-time point total at 9-9. They have one common opponent this year in Missouri's Zeke Seltzer, with both winning by decision. VomBaur is 4-2 against ranked opponents this year.
The matchup at 149 is set to feature No. 26 Drew Roberts and No. 20 Michael Gioffre. Roberts is 1-1 against ranked opponents this year. He and Gioffre have never met and have no common opponents this season. Among common opponents in their careers, Roberts is 4-6 and Gioffre is 6-4.
At 157, No. 21 Charlie Millard, 1-3 against ranked foes this year, is set to meet No. 8 Kannon Webster for the first time. They have four common opponents this year in Little Rock's Jaivon Jones, Northern Iowa's RJ Weston, Missouri's Seth Mendoza and Virginia Tech's Collin Gaj. Webster is 4-0 against the group, while Millard is 3-1 with the loss coming to Jones in OT.
No. 11 Andrew Sparks, 1-1 against ranked opponents this year, could face No. 9 Braeden Scoles at 165 pounds. They have met once before with Sparks prevailing at last year's Big Ten Championships, 10-5. Sparks and Scoles have three common opponents this year in Virginia Tech's Ryan Burton, Missouri's Joel Mylin and Northern Iowa's Jack Thomsen. Scoles is 3-0 against them, while Sparks is 4-1, including a 2-1 mark versus Burton.
At 174, No. 22 Ethan Riddle, who has wrestled a team-high nine ranked opponents this year and gone 5-4 in such matches, could meet No. 19 Colin Kelly for the first time. They have two common foes this year in Virginia Tech's Sergio Desiante and Little Rock's Gunner Holland. Riddle is 4-0 against the pair, including 3-0 versus Desiante, while Kelly is 1-0 against each.
The final ranked matchup comes at 184 between No. 3 Max McEnelly and No. 33 Chris Moore, who have never met. McEnelly is 5-1 against ranked opponents this year. He and Moore have three common opponents this year in Little Rock's Brock Delsignore, Virginia Tech's Jaden Bullock and Missouri's Aeoden Sinclair. McEnelly is 4-1 against them with a 2-0 mark versus Bullock and the loss coming to Sinclair. Moore is 2-2 with both losses versus Sinclair.
At 125 pounds, No. 9 Jore Volk could face No. 21 Spencer Moore. It would be the first ever matchup between the two. Volk is 6-1 this year against ranked opponents, tied for the most ranked wins on the team. He and Moore have three common opponents this year in Virginia Tech's Eddie Ventresca, Northern Iowa's Trever Anderson and Missouri's Mack Maguer. Volk is 4-0 against that group this year, including a pair of wins over Ventresca at the National Duals Invitational. Moore, meanwhile, has gone 3-2, including a 2-1 record against Mauger. The other loss was to Ventresca.
At 141 pounds, No. 11 Vance VomBaur is set to face 13th-ranked Danny Pucino for the third time in his career. They met twice in 2024 with Pucino winning in the regular season dual, 8-5, while VomBaur prevailed at the Big Ten Championships, 4-1, in sudden victory, putting their all-time point total at 9-9. They have one common opponent this year in Missouri's Zeke Seltzer, with both winning by decision. VomBaur is 4-2 against ranked opponents this year.
The matchup at 149 is set to feature No. 26 Drew Roberts and No. 20 Michael Gioffre. Roberts is 1-1 against ranked opponents this year. He and Gioffre have never met and have no common opponents this season. Among common opponents in their careers, Roberts is 4-6 and Gioffre is 6-4.
At 157, No. 21 Charlie Millard, 1-3 against ranked foes this year, is set to meet No. 8 Kannon Webster for the first time. They have four common opponents this year in Little Rock's Jaivon Jones, Northern Iowa's RJ Weston, Missouri's Seth Mendoza and Virginia Tech's Collin Gaj. Webster is 4-0 against the group, while Millard is 3-1 with the loss coming to Jones in OT.
No. 11 Andrew Sparks, 1-1 against ranked opponents this year, could face No. 9 Braeden Scoles at 165 pounds. They have met once before with Sparks prevailing at last year's Big Ten Championships, 10-5. Sparks and Scoles have three common opponents this year in Virginia Tech's Ryan Burton, Missouri's Joel Mylin and Northern Iowa's Jack Thomsen. Scoles is 3-0 against them, while Sparks is 4-1, including a 2-1 mark versus Burton.
At 174, No. 22 Ethan Riddle, who has wrestled a team-high nine ranked opponents this year and gone 5-4 in such matches, could meet No. 19 Colin Kelly for the first time. They have two common foes this year in Virginia Tech's Sergio Desiante and Little Rock's Gunner Holland. Riddle is 4-0 against the pair, including 3-0 versus Desiante, while Kelly is 1-0 against each.
The final ranked matchup comes at 184 between No. 3 Max McEnelly and No. 33 Chris Moore, who have never met. McEnelly is 5-1 against ranked opponents this year. He and Moore have three common opponents this year in Little Rock's Brock Delsignore, Virginia Tech's Jaden Bullock and Missouri's Aeoden Sinclair. McEnelly is 4-1 against them with a 2-0 mark versus Bullock and the loss coming to Sinclair. Moore is 2-2 with both losses versus Sinclair.
Coach's Corner with Brandon Eggum
Wednesday, January 07
Highlights: Hopke Wins Soldier Salute
Tuesday, January 06
Coach's Corner with Brandon Eggum
Tuesday, December 23
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Little Rock in Mequon
Thursday, December 18