University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gopher Wrestlers Capture 2002 Big Ten Championship
3/10/2002 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Rounding out the top five in the team standings were Iowa (129 pts.), Michigan (121.5 pts.), Ohio State (115 pts.) and Illinois (91.5 pts.)
The 2002 edition of the Maroon and Gold became the first Minnesota wrestling team to repeat as conference champs since the 1912 and 1913 squads won consecutive Western Conference crowns. It was Minnesota's third Big Ten title in the past four years. The Golden Gophers also won the crown in 1999 and 2001.
All 10 Golden Gophers placed in the top six, ensuring that Minnesota will once again send its full lineup to the NCAA Championships, held March 21-23 in Albany, N.Y. Junior Ryan Lewis and redshirt freshman Nate Baker (165 pounds) will be making their first appearance at the Division I national tournament. It marks the second-straight season that Minnesota has advanced all 10 of its wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. The Golden Gophers placed all of its wrestlers in the top eight at NCAAs last season for a school- and national-record 10 All-Americans.
Minnesota had five individual champions, two runners-up (141-pounder Chad Erikson and 149-pounder Jared Lawrence), two third-place finishers (174-pounder Jacob Volkmann and heavyweight Garrett Lowney) and one fifth-place finisher (Baker). Gold Country's five champions in 2002 are the most by a Minnesota team in school history. The Golden Gophers' previous high for individual champions in one Big Ten tournament was three (in 1948, 1981, 1990 and 1999).
The Golden Gophers earned their ninth conference title overall. Minnesota's 2002 Big Ten crown was the program's fifth-straight finish in the top three at the Big Ten tournament.
Following the conclusion of the tournament, Lewis was named the 2002 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year while Head Coach J Robinson was named Coach of the Year along with Ohio State's Russ Hellickson. Iowa's Luke Moffitt won the Wrestler of the Championships award and heavyweight Steve Mocco of Iowa was named Freshman of the Year.
See below for highlights from Minnesota's championship bracket finals matches and consolation bracket finals matches.
2002 Big Ten Championships Session 3 Assembly Hall; University of Illinois Champaign, Illinois March 10, 2002 Attendance: 3,708 Final Team Results 1. Minnesota 174.0 points 2. Iowa 129.0 3. Michigan 121.5 4. Ohio State 115.0 5. Illinois 91.5 6. Penn State 66.5 7. Purdue 55.5 8. Michigan State 54.5 9. Wisconsin 50.0 10. Indiana 48.0 11. Northwestern 13.0 Championship Bracket - Golden Gopher Finals Results 125 - No. 1 Leroy Vega (MINN) dec. No. 7 Luke Eustice (IOWA), 7-4 133 - No. 1 Ryan Lewis (MINN) dec. No. 7 Jeff Ratliff (OSU), 5-2 141 - No. 6 Luke Moffitt (IOWA) pinned No. 3 Chad Erikson (MINN), 4:31 149 - No. 1 Mike Zadick (IOWA) dec. No. 2 Jared Lawrence (MINN), 4-3 157 - No. 1 Luke Becker (MINN) dec. No. 2 Ryan Bertin (MICH), 5-3 184 - No. 3 Damion Hahn (MINN) dec. No. 1 Andy Hrovat (MICH), 8-4 197 - No. 2 Owen Elzen (MINN) dec. No. 1 Nick Preston (OSU), 9-8 Golden Gopher Championship Bracket Finals Play-by-Play/Highlights: 125 - No. 1 Leroy Vega (MINN) vs. No. 7 Luke Eustice (IOWA) 1ST period: Vega takedown 0:18 (2-0); Eustice escape 1:43 (2-1); Vega takedown 2:40 (4-1); Advantage time Vega 1:43 2nd period: Eustice starts down; Eustice escape 0:05 (4-2); Advantage time Vega 1:48 3rd period: Vega starts down; Vega escape 0:02 (5-2); Eustice takedown 1:26 (5-4); Vega escape 1:30 (6-4); Advantage time Vega 1:42 (7-4) Final: Vega dec. Eustice, 7-4 Top-seeded Leroy Vega earned the first Big Ten individual title of his career, downing No. 7 Luke Eustice of Iowa 7-4 in the 125-pound championship bout. Vega stormed out of the gate, outscoring Eustice 4-1 in the first period. From there, Vega held on to gain the title which eluded him in 2001 when he lost to Iowa's Jody Strittmatter in the championship match. Vega finished in third place in both 1999 and 2000. He now turns his attention to NCAAs where he looks to become Minnesota's second four-time All-American and improve upon his third- place finish in 2001. 133 - No. 1 Ryan Lewis (MINN) vs. No. 7 Jeff Ratliff (OSU) 1ST period: No scoring 2nd period: Lewis starts down; Lewis escape 0:15 (1-0); Ratliff takedown 0:23 (1-2); Lewis reversal 0:47 (3-2); Ratliff stall warning 1:16; Advantage time Lewis 0:35 3rd period: Ratliff starts down; Ratliff stall warning 1:08 (4-2); Advantage time Lewis 2:35 (5-2) Final: Lewis dec. Ratliff, 5-2 Top-ranked Ryan Lewis' perfect season continued as the undefeated 133- pounder downed No. 7 Jeff Ratliff 5-2 in the Big Ten championships match. Lewis finished the bout with 2:35 of advantage time and improved to 28-0 on the season. Lewis was named the 2002 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year following the conference tournament. His 28 straight wins now ranks fifth on Minnesota's most consecutive victories list. Lewis, a native of Vernal, Utah and a Division II All-American, advances to his first NCAA Championships. 141 - No. 4 Chad Erikson (MINN) vs. No. 6 Luke Moffitt (IOWA) 1ST period: Moffitt takedown 1:28 (0-2); Moffitt 3 pt near fall (0-5); Erikson reversal (2-5); Erikson 2 pt near fall (4-5); Moffitt escape (4-6); Advantage time Moffitt 0:42 2nd period: Moffitt starts down; Moffitt pin 1:31 Final: Moffitt pinned Erikson, 4:31 Fourth-seeded Chad Erikson's attempt at revenge on Iowa's Luke Moffitt fell short as the sixth-seeded Hawkeye reprised his performance from the Border Brawl, pinning Erikson in 4:31 in the 141-pound title bout. Moffitt began the second period in the down position with the lead at 6-4. From there, Moffitt took the advantage and rolled Erikson to his back, pinning him with 29 seconds to go. Erikson's runner-up finish matches that from last season's Big Tens when he lost 9-6 to Iowa's Doug Schwab in the title bout. Erikson moves on to his second NCAA Championships. He finished in eighth place at last year's NCAAs for his first All-America honor. 149 - No. 2 Jared Lawrence (MINN) vs. No. 1 Mike Zadick (IOWA) 1ST period: No scoring 2nd period: Zadick starts down; Zadick escape 0:14 (0-1); Lawrence takedown 1:20 (2-1); Zadick escape 1:56 (2-2); Advantage time Lawrence 0:48 3rd period: Lawrence starts down; Lawrence escape 0:02 (3-2); Zadick takedown 1:52 (3-4); Advantage time Lawrence 0:38 Final: Zadick dec. Lawrence, 4-3 Top-ranked Mike Zadick stayed unbeaten overall and versus No. 2 Jared Lawrence in 2002 in the 149-pound championship match, but it did not come without controversy. With Lawrence leading 3-2 late in the third period, Zadick shot near the edge of the mat in attempt for a last- second winning takedown. The primary official ruled that the competitors were out-of-bounds, but the second official scored the takedown for Zadick with eight seconds remaining in the match. Zadick held on from there to move to 3-0 over Lawrence on the season. Minnesota Head Coach J Robinson filed an official protest following the match, but the request was denied. Lawrence, the 2001 149-pound Big Ten Champion, advances to his third NCAA Championships as a two-time All- American. 157 - No. 1 Luke Becker (MINN) vs. No. 2 Ryan Bertin (MICH) 1ST period: No scoring 2nd period: Bertin starts down; Bertin escape 0:54 (0-1); Advantage time Becker 0:54 3rd period: Becker starts down; Becker reversal 0:16 (2-1); Bertin escape 0:44 (2-2); Becker takedown 1:04 (4-2); Becker stall warning 1:30; Bertin escape 1:39 (4-3); Advantage time Becker 1:43 (5-3) Final: Becker dec. Bertin, 5-3 Top-seed Luke Becker became Minnesota's third Big Ten champion of the day, downing No. 2 Ryan Bertin of Michigan 5-3 in the 157-pound title match. Becker earned the first conference title of his career, scoring four points in the third period to overcome an early deficit to Bertin. With the win, Becker improves upon his second-place finishes from the 2000 and 2001 Big Ten Championships. Becker advances to the 2002 NCAA Championships as a two-time All-American. 184 - No. 3 Damion Hahn (MINN) vs. No. 1 Andy Hrovat (MICH) 1ST period: Hahn takedown 1:17 (2-0); Hrovat escape 1:40 (2-1); Advantage time Hahn 0:23 2nd period: Hrovat starts down; Hrovat escape 0:25 (2-2); Hahn takedown 1:05 (4-2); Hrovat escape 1:17 (4-3); Advantage time Hahn 0:59 3rd period: Hahn starts down; Hahn escape 0:10 (5-3); Hahn stall warning 0:50; Hahn takedown 0:53 (7-3); Hrovat escape 1:30 (7-4); Advantage time Hahn 1:25 (8-4) Final: Hahn dec. Hrovat, 8-4 Third-seed 184-pounder Damion Hahn won the first Big Ten title of his career, downing top-seeded Andy Hrovat of Michigan 8-4 in the championship bout. Hahn posted an early takedown and never looked back, building a four-point lead in the third period and ending the match with 1:25 of advantage time. Hahn finished in third place at last year's Big Tens. The Lakewood, N.J., native qualified for his second NCAA meet. Hahn finished in fifth place at the 2001 national tournament. 197 - No. 2 Owen Elzen (MINN) vs. No. 1 Nick Preston (OSU) 1ST period: Elzen takedown 0:20 (2-0); Elzen 3 pt near fall 0:53 (5-0); Preston escape 1:04 (5-1); Advantage time Elzen 0:44 2nd period: Elzen starts down; Elzen escape 0:07 (6-1); Preston takedown 0:47 (6-3); Elzen escape 0:53 (7-3); Preston takedown 1:53 (7- 5); Advantage time Elzen 0:23 3rd period: Preston starts down; Preston escape 0:08 (7-6); Elzen stall warning 0:42; Elzen takedown 1:00 (9-6); Preston escape 1:14 (9-7); Elzen stall warning (9-8); Advantage time Elzen 0:45 Final: Elzen dec. Preston, 9-8 In one of the most exciting matches of the day, No. 2 seed Owen Elzen defeated the conference's top-seed at 197 pounds, Nick Preston, in a 9- 8 thriller. Elzen jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first minute with a takedown and a three-point near-fall, but Preston fought his way back to make the score 7-6 at the beginning of the final period. Elzen tallied a takedown with one minute remaining to clinch the title. It was Elzen's first Big Ten crown of his career. An All-American in 2001 with a third-place finish at NCAAs, he advances to the national tournament with a likely No. 2 or 3 seed with the opportunity to meet the phenomenal Cael Sanderson of Iowa State in the national championship match. Consolation Bracket Semifinals - Golden Gopher Results 165 - No. 3 Doc Vecchio (PSU) dec. No. 8 Nate Baker (MINN), 7-3 174 - No. 3 Jacob Volkmann (MINN) dec. No. 4 Ryan Lange (PUR), 6-4 HWT - No. 3 Garrett Lowney (MINN) dec. No. 4 Jake Vercelli (PUR), 3-1 Golden Gopher Consolation Bracket Semifinals Play-by-Play/Highlights: 165 - No. 8 Nate Baker (MINN) vs. No. 3 Doc Vecchio (PSU) 1ST period: Vecchio takedown 0:21 (0-2); Baker escape 0:35 (1-2); Vecchio takedown 2:00 (1-4); Baker escape 2:20 (2-4); Vecchio takedown 2:50 (2-6); Advantage time Vecchio 0:46 2nd period: Baker starts down; Baker escape 0:10 (3-6); Advantage time Vecchio 0:56 3rd period: Vecchio starts down; Vecchio escape 0:36 (3-7); Advantage time Vecchio 0:20 Final: Vecchio dec. Baker, 7-3 174 - No. 3 Jacob Volkmann (MINN) vs. No. 4 Ryan Lange (PUR) 1ST period: Volkmann takedown 1:27 (2-0); Lange escape 2:21 (2-1); Advantage time Volkmann 0:54 2nd period: Lange starts down; Lange stall warning 1:20; Lange escape 1:47 (2-2); Advantage time Volkmann 2:42 3rd period: Volkmann starts down; Volkmann escape 0:01 (3-2); Volkmann takedown 0:11 (5-2); Volkmann technical violation 0:12 (5-3); Lange escape 0:31 (5-4); Volkmann stall warning 1:49; Advantage time Volkmann 3:02 (6-4) Final: Volkmann dec. Lange, 6-4 HWT - No. 3 Garrett Lowney (MINN) vs. No. 4 Jake Vercelli (PUR) 1ST period: Lowney takedown 2:40 (2-0); Advantage time Lowney 0:19 2nd period: Lowney starts down; Lowney escape 0:06 (3-0); Vercelli stall warning 1:40; Advantage time Lowney 0:13 3rd period: Vercelli starts down; Vercelli escape 0:06 (3-1); Lowney stall warning 1:45; Advantage time Lowney 0:119 Final: Lowney dec. Vercelli, 3-1 Consolation Bracket Finals - Golden Gopher Results 165 Fifth-place match - No. 8 Nate Baker (MINN) dec. No. 7 Charles Martelli (MICH), 3-3 TB 174 Third-place match - No. 3 Jacob Volkmann (MINN) maj. dec. No. 5 Rashad Evans (MSU), 13-1 HWT Third-place match - No. 3 Garrett Lowney (MINN) dec. No. 6 Matt Brink (MICH), 3-1 SVO Golden Gopher Consolation Bracket Finals Highlights 165 Fifth-place match - No. 8 Nate Baker (MINN) vs. No. 7 Charles Martelli (MICH) 1st period: Martelli takedown 0:42 (0-2); Advantage time Martelli 2:18 2nd period: Martelli starts down; No scoring; Advantage time Martelli 0:18 3rd period: Baker starts down; Baker escape 0:52 (1-2); Baker takedown 1:05 (3-2); Advantage time Martelli 1:10 (3-3) Overtime: No scoring Tiebreaker: No scoring Final: Baker dec. Martelli, 3-3 TB In a hard-fought and nerve-wracking match, No. 8 seed Nate Baker downed No. 7 Charles Martelli of Michigan in the 165-pound fifth-place match via tiebreaker. Baker trailed early, but rode out Martelli in the second period before tallying an escape and takedown in the final stanza to tie the match at three. After a scoreless overtime, the wrestlers moved to the tiebreaker with Martelli choosing the down position. Baker successfully rode out Martelli to capture fifth place in his first Big Ten tournament. Baker, a redshirt freshman from Lakefield, Minn., qualifies for his first NCAA Championships. 174 Third-place match - No. 3 Jacob Volkmann (MINN) vs. No. 5 Rashad Evans (MSU) 1st period: Evans stall warning 1:10; Volkmann takedown 2:34 (2-0); Volkmann 2 pt near fall 3:00 (4-0); Advantage time 0:26 2nd period: Volkmann starts down; Volkmann reversal 0:06 (6-0); Evans stall warning 1:00 (7-0); Evans stall warning 1:21 (8-0); Advantage time Volkmann 2:16 3rd period: Volkmann takedown 0:52 (10-0); Evans stall warning 1:20 (12-0); Evans escape 1:32 (12-1); Advantage time Volkmann 2:55 (13-1) Final: Volkmann maj. dec. Evans, 13-1 Sophomore 174-pounder Jacob Volkmann lived up to his No. 3 seed, capturing third place with his suffocating 13-1 major decision over No. 5 Rashad Evans of Michigan State. Volkmann led throughout the match and did not allow a MSU point until late in the third period. The native of Henning, Minn., responded beautifully to his disappointing quarterfinal loss, winning two matches by major decision and one by fall in the consolation bracket. Volkmann advances to his second NCAA Championships with hopes on improving upon his fourth-place All-American finish at last year's national tournament. HWT Third-place match - No. 3 Garrett Lowney (MINN) vs. No. 6 Matt Brink (MICH) 1st period: Brink stall warning 2:40; No scoring 2nd period: Lowney starts down; Lowney escape 0:07 (1-0); Advantage time Brink 0:07 3rd period: Brink starts down; Brink escape 0:03 (1-1); Advantage time Brink 0:04 Overtime: Lowney takedown 0:19 (3-1) Final: Lowney dec. Brink, 3-1 SVO Sophomore heavyweight also held true to his seed, taking third place with a 3-1 win over No. 6 Matt Brink of Michigan in sudden victory overtime. In a typically low-scoring heavyweight match, Lowney and Brink moved into overtime tied at one. Lowney, the 2001 Big Ten heavyweight champ, took the Wolverine down in 19 seconds to take third. The native of Freedom, Wis., advances to his second NCAA Championships. He finished in third place at last year's national meet to gain his first All-America citation.
