University of Minnesota Athletics
GOLDEN GOPHER WRESTLING TEAM TO VISIT WHITE HOUSE
12/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The Golden Gophers are in the Washington, D.C., area for a pair of duals this weekend. Minnesota defeated Virginia Tech 42-9 in Blacksburg, Va., and James Madison 41-6 in Harrisonburg, Va, Saturday to improve to 5-0 on the season.
The Golden Gophers stormed through the 2000-01 season, going 19-1 in dual meets and winning team titles at the Midlands Championships, the National Duals and Big Ten Championships. The lone blemish on Minnesota's record was a 25-12 loss to Oklahoma State in an early- season home dual meet with a shorthanded Golden Gopher lineup. Gold Country rebounded from the setback to win 14-straight dual meets to end the regular season, including a 20-12 win over the Cowboys in the title meet of the National Duals.
In dominating fashion, Minnesota captured the conference's dual meet title with its undefeated 8-0 campaign in Big Ten competitions. Then, at the Big Ten Championships, Jared Lawrence (149 lbs.) and Garrett Lowney (Hwt.) won individual titles to lead the Golden Gophers to a 24- point team victory over conference-upstart Illinois and perennial champion Iowa. All 10 Maroon and Gold wrestlers advanced to the much- anticipated national tournament.
At the NCAA Championships, Minnesota claimed the team title, utilizing a full-team effort with each Golden Gopher grappler placing in the top eight to earn All-America honors. It was the first time in the 71-year history of the NCAA Championships that 10 wrestlers from the same team had earned the prestigious All-American honor in one NCAA tournament. In addition, no team in the history of the national tournament had won the team title without a finalist, but Gold Country captured the national crown despite not placing a single wrestler in the championship matches. It truly was a memorable year.
