University of Minnesota Athletics
WRESTLERS LOOKING FOR FIRST BIG TEN TITLE SINCE 1959
3/2/1999 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
LAST YEAR AT THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS: Minnesota placed a disappointing third last year at University Park, Pa., with 107 points. Iowa won its 25th consecutive Big Ten title with 132.5 points, while Penn State was second with 120.5 points. Iowa claimed an impressive four individual titles in the victory. Minnesota1s Tim Hartung won the lone title for the Golden Gophers at 190 pounds. It was his second consecutive Big Ten title.
MINNESOTA1S HISTORY AT BIG TENS: The Golden Gophers have won four Big Ten titles in their history. The first one came back in 1914, which acutally was a tie with Illinois for the crown. Minnesota also won the title in 1941 in Columbus, Ohio. The Golden Gophers also won the championship in 1957 in Evanston, Ill., and the last time they won it was in 1959 in Iowa City, Iowa. The Big Ten title drought is at 39 years heading into this year1s championships.
Overall, Minnesota has claimed 58 individual titles and has had one four-time Big Ten champion in Verne Gagne (1944, 1947-49). The Golden Gophers have also had two three-time Big Ten champions in Dick Mueller (1953, 1957-58) and Larry Zilverberg (1974-75, 1976). Minnesota also has nine wrestlers who have won two Big Ten titles including senior Tim Hartung who claimed the 1997 and 1998 190-pound title. He could join the prestigous three-time club this season.
Minnesota has had three wrestlers earn the Wrestler of the Year Award in the Big Ten. Those include Ed Giese (1986), Dave Zuniga (1990) and Marty Morgan (1991). The Golden Gophers have only had one Big Ten Freshman of the Year in Keith Nix in 1988.
HEAD COACH J ROBINSON: Minnesota Head Coach J Robinson has built quite the wrestling dynasty at Minnesota. In his 13th season, Robinson has one of his best teams ready to win a Big Ten title and make a run at a first-ever NCAA Championship. Robinson has won Big Ten Coach of the Year three times in his career: 1989, 1994 and most recently in 1997. He currently has compiled an overall record of 185-78-3 and 60-40-2 in the Big Ten.
FOUR WRESTLERS RANKED NO. 1 IN LATEST BIG TEN POLL: The University of Minnesota has four individual wrestlers ranked No. 1 according to the Feb. 12 Big Ten Coaches Poll. Senior Chad Kraft at 157, junior Brandon Eggum at 184, senior Tim Hartung at 197 and junior Brock Lesnar at heavyweight. The Golden Gophers also have five other wrestlers ranked in the top five. Freshman Leroy Vega is ranked second at 125, senior Pat Connors is tied for fourth at 133, freshman Chad Erikson is ranked fifth at 141, senior Troy Marr< /a> is ranked second at 149 and senior Josh Holiday is ranked No. 2 at 165.
CHASING CAREER MARKS: Seniors Chad Kraft and Tim Hartung are chasing the all-time school career wins list. Hartung is currently 31-0 on the season and holds a 125-21-0 career mark which puts him fifth on the school1s all-time wins list. Kraft is 22-1 on the year and 108-20-0 in his career, which is good for a tie for 11th on the school1s all-time wins list. Ed Giese (1982-86) holds the top career mark with a record of 159-34-3.
PIN CITY: Senior Tim Hartung led the team in pins last season, recording 19 total pins, which is the second highest single season pin total in Golden Gopher history. Marty Morgan had 20 pins in the 1989-90 season. Hartung currently has 13 pins this season and 48 career pins moves him into second on the school1s all-time pins list just surpassing Marty Morgan1s (1988-91) record of 47 career pins. Billy Pierce (1992-96) holds the school record with 51 career pins. Hartung needs just three pins to break Pierce1s school record. Freshman Chad Erikson also has 12 total pins this season.
TRACKING THE ALL-AMERICAN: Senior Chad Kraft has the opportunity this season to become Minnesota1s first-ever four-time All-American. Kraft has earned three All-America honors his first three years with the Golden Gophers after finishing fifth at NCAAs in 1996, third in 1997 and second in 1998. Only four other Golden Gophers have three All-America honors. They are: Larry Zilverberg (1974-76), Marty Morgan (1989-91), Billy Pierce (1993-96) and Jason Davids (1996-98). As Kraft looks for his school record fourth All-America honor, he has his sights set on a NCAA title.
HARTUNG IS ON A ROLL: Senior Tim Hartung, ranked No. 1 nationally, has won 47 consecutive matches dating back to Jan. 17, 1998. Hartung1s last loss occurred last year at the National Duals Championships in Iowa City, Iowa. In the championship match of the National Dual Tournament, Hartung lost a close 6-7 decision to Iowa1s Lee Fullhart. It would be Hartung1s lone loss on the year and currently his last loss. Hartung has won 31 consecutive matches this season.
FOUR GOLDEN GOPHERS GO UNDEFEATED IN THE BIG TEN: Senior Chad Kraft, junior Brandon Eggum, senior Tim Hartung and junior Brock Lesnar all went undefeated in the Big Ten Conference dual meets this season. Kraft, Hartung and Lesnar were all 8-0 in Big Ten dual meets, while Eggum was 9-0 in the conference.
GOLDEN GOPHERS ARE NO. 2 IN LATEST RANKING: Minnesota is ranked No. 2 in the nation according to NWCA1s January 27th poll. According to InterMat, seniors Tim Hartung and Chad Kraft are ranked No. 1 at 197 and 157. Junior Brandon Eggum is ranked No. 2 at 184 pounds. Senior Josh Holiday is No. 5 at 165, senior Bart Golyer is ranked No. 20 at 133, freshman Chad Erikson is ranked No. 14 at 141, senior Troy Marr is 6th at 149, junior Brock Lesnar is 2nd at heavyweight and freshman Leroy Vega is ranked No. 11 at 125.
UP NEXT: Minnesota will have two weeks off to prepare for the NCAA Championships, March 18-20 at University Park, Pa.
