University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Capture Team Title, Crown Four Individuals at Scuffle
12/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
The defending national champion Minnesota Golden Gopher wrestling team lived up to its billing Sunday at the 2007 Southern Scuffle in Greensboro, N.C. The Gophers ran away with the team title, topping runner-up Edinboro by over 50 points and crowning four individual champions Jayson Ness, Mack Reiter, Manuel Rivera and C.P. Schlatter all finished first in their respective weight classes.
The Gophers’ main highlights on the event’s second day easily belonged to third-ranked Ness (125 pounds) and Schlatter, currently ranked 10th at 157 pounds. Ness recorded pins in all six of his matches during the tournament, bumping his season total to 15. He appears on pace to shatter the Gophers’ single season pin record of 20, set by current head assistant coach Marty Morgan in 1989-90. Ness has pinned all 12 opponents he has faced in tournament competition so far this season.
C.P. Schlatter earned a form of family redemption in the 157-pound championship match on Sunday, defeating second-ranked Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro by a 5-2 decision. Gillespie was the national champion at 149 pounds last season and ended Dustin Schlatter’s 65-match winning streak in the NCAA semifinals.
Reiter cruised to a victory in the 133-pound bracket with a perfect 5-0 tournament record, including a hard-fought 5-4 win over Cornell’s Mike Grey in the final. The senior picked up bonus points in three of five matches and won his first-ever Southern Scuffle title. Reiter missed the 2006 tournament due to an injury and finished second in 2005.
Rivera, another Gopher senior enjoying a stellar season, entered the final 30 seconds of his championship match with third-ranked Charles Griffin of Hofstra down 3-2, but scored a reversal with just 10 seconds remaining to emerge with a dramatic 5-3 win. Rivera recorded three pins and a tech fall in six matches during the two-day tournament, improving his season record to 19-1 while picking up his second straight Southern Scuffle title.
Top-ranked 149-pounder Dustin Schlatter was upset in the championship match by unranked Mike Roberts of Boston University, who went on to win the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler award. Gophers Gabe Dretsch (fifth place at 174 pounds), Tyler Safratowich (fifth place at 165 pounds) and Yura Malamura (sixth at 197 pounds) also placed for the Gophers. Malamura won four straight matches after dropping down to the consolation bracket before losing to nationally-ranked Joseph Rovelli of Hofstra and Patrick Bradshaw of Edinboro to end his run.
The Southern Scuffle marks the end of Minnesota’s regular season tournament schedule, as the team enters the bulk of its dual meet slate with the 2008 NWCA National Duals Jan. 12-13. The Gophers won the event last year with a perfect 4-0 record, including a victory over then-No. 1 Missouri for the championship. The University of Northern Iowa will once again host the 2008 National Duals in Cedar Falls.
Final Southern Scuffle Team Standings
1. Minnesota 182
2. Edinboro 130.5
3. Hofstra 121
4. Cornell 94
5. Maryland 93.5
Minnesota’s Individual Placewinners
Jayson Ness (1st, 125 pounds)
Mack Reiter (1st, 133 pounds)
Manny Rivera (1st, 141 pounds)
C.P. Schlatter (1st, 157 pounds)
Dustin Schlatter (2nd, 149 pounds)
Tyler Safratowich (5th, 165 pounds)
Gabe Dretsch (5th, 174 pounds)
Yura Malamura (6th, 197 pounds)
Complete Minnesota Southern Scuffle Individual Results
Tournament seed precedes MN wrestler name
#1 Jayson Ness (125 pounds)
Ian Moser (Bloomsburg) Fall (1:37), First Round
Paul Sanford (Unattached/The Citadel) Fall (4:20), Second Round
Brian Wright (George Mason) Fall, 2:10, Third Round
Jeremy Adams (VMI) Fall, 0:41, Quarterfinals
James Nicholson (Old Dominion) Fall, 1:41, Semifinals
#13 Mike Sees (Bloomsburg) Fall, 5:58, Final
First Place (6-0 record, 6 pins)
#2 Mack Reiter (133 pounds)
Nick Bridge (Cornell) Fall, 6:29, Second Round
William Ashnault (Lock Haven) TF, 15-0, Third Round
Jeff Hedges (UNC-Greensboro) MD, 14-5, Quarterfinals
Joe Baker (Navy) D, 6-2, Semifinals
#14 Mike Grey (Cornell) D, 5-4, Final
First Place (5-0 record)
#2 Manuel Rivera (141 pounds)
John Delgado (George Mason) Fall, 5:50, First Round
Ben Thompson (Davidson) Fall, 2:29, Second Round
Marcus Cox (Appalation State) D, 7-6, Third Round
Christopher Bencivenga (UNC-Greensboro) Fall, 6:32, Quarterfinals
#7 Joe Caramanica (N.C. State) TF, 17-1, Semifinals
#3 Charles Griffin (Hofstra) D, 5-3, Finals
First Place (6-0 record, 3 pins)
Luke Mellmer (149 pounds)
Matt Reedy (Unattached/Ohio U) Fall (lost), 4:17, First Round
Vincent Ramirez (UNC-Greensboro) D, 0-5, Consolation
#1 Dustin Schlatter (149 pounds)
Dennis Bermudez (Bloomsburg) MD, 10-2, Second Round
Jeremy Doyle (Cal-Bakersfield) D, 6-2, Third Round
Bryce Saddoris (Navy) D, 9-2, Quarterfinals
#18 Adam Hall (Boise State) D, 7-3, Semifinals
Mike Roberts (Boston University) D, 2-3, Final
Second Place (4-1 record)
#4 C.P. Schlatter (157 pounds)
Tel Todd (Unattached/Old Dominion) TF, 17-1, First Round
Alex Conover (Unattached/Bloomsburg) MD, 13-5, Second Round
Joe Butcher (Navy) Fall, 2:48, Third Round
Nate Patterson (Binghamton) D, 8-3, Quarterfinals
Kody Hamrah (N.C. State) MD, 11-3, Semifinals
#2 Gregor Gillespie (Edinboro) D, 5-2, Final
First Place (6-0 record)
Tyler Safratowich (165 pounds)
Michael Metzger (Lock Haven) Fall, 1:03, First Round
Mike Sewell (Virginia) MD, 13-5, Second Round
Ryan Patrovich (Hofstra) Fall, 7:20, Third Round
#14 Mack Lewnes (Cornell) D, 5-10, Quarterfinals
Rickey Schmelyun (Bloomsburg) D, 8-5, Consolation
#17 Chris Brown (Old Dominion) Med. Forfeit, Consolation
Kurt Schwartz (Boise State) MD, 3-12, Consolation
Ryan Patrovich (Hofstra) D, 5-3, Fifth Place
Fifth Place (6-2 record)
#2 Scott Glasser (165 pounds)
Randall Herring (Garnder-Webb) Med. Forfeit (won), First Round
Joseph Son (Liberty) Fall, 1:26, Second Round
Tommy Weinkam (Unattached/Ohio U) MD, 12-2, Third Round
Michael Chaires (Virginia) D, 2-4, Quarterfinals
Ryan Patrovich (Hofstra) Med. Forfeit (lost), Conslation
#4 Gabriel Dretsch (174 pounds)
Derek Sickel (The Citadel) TF, 20-5, First Round
Chris Estep (Kent State) MD, 9-1, Second Round
#14 Alton Lucas (Hofstra) D, 3-4 TB, Quarterfinals
Justin Kerber (Cornell) D, 5-4, Consolation
#18 Eric Decker (Virginia Tech) D, 5-2, Consolation
#11 Steve Anceravage (Cornell) D, 4-7, Consolation
#12 Phil Moricone (Edinboro) D, 5-3, Fifth Place
Fifth Place (5-2 record)
Yura Malamura (197 pounds)
George Kocher (Unattached/N. Carolina) D, 8-4, First Round
Brent Jones (Virgina) D, 5-11, Second Round
Dustin Porter (Gardner-Webb) D, 4-2, Consolation
Garth Wara (Cal-Bakersfield) D, 4-3, Consolation
David Mendoza (Old Dominion) D, 8-5, Consolation
Cayle Byers (George Mason) D, 7-5, Consolation
#8 Joseph Rovelli (Hofstra) D, 6-8, Consolation
#15 Patrick Bradshaw (Edinboro) D, 3-5 OT, Fifth Place
Sixth Place (5-3 record)
Justin Bronson (197 pounds)
Kyle Byers (George Mason) D, 3-2, First Round
David Mendoza (Old Dominion) Fall (lost), Second Round
Robert Johnson (Navy) Med. Forfeit (won), Consolation
Johnny Buck (The Citadel) D, 5-4, Consolation
#15 Patrick Bradshaw (Edinboro) D, 0-1, Consolation
Joe Nord (heavyweight)
Calvin Cardillo (Virginia) D, 9-4, First Round
Tim Miller (Virginia Tech) Fall (lost), 2:35, Second Round
Justin Dobies (North Carolina) D, 2-7, Third Round
Terry Tate (Edinboro) Fall, 2:35, Consolation
Jason Marshall (Ohio University) Fall, 6:56, Consolation
Ryan Hsu (UNC-Greensboro) D, 3-9, Consolation
Ben Berhow (heavyweight)
#9 Zach Hammond (Cornell) D, 1-3, First Round
Jared Campbell (Appalation State) D, 3-2, Consolation
Ryan Bergman (Cal-Bakersfield) D, 2-3, Consolation
The Gophers’ main highlights on the event’s second day easily belonged to third-ranked Ness (125 pounds) and Schlatter, currently ranked 10th at 157 pounds. Ness recorded pins in all six of his matches during the tournament, bumping his season total to 15. He appears on pace to shatter the Gophers’ single season pin record of 20, set by current head assistant coach Marty Morgan in 1989-90. Ness has pinned all 12 opponents he has faced in tournament competition so far this season.
C.P. Schlatter earned a form of family redemption in the 157-pound championship match on Sunday, defeating second-ranked Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro by a 5-2 decision. Gillespie was the national champion at 149 pounds last season and ended Dustin Schlatter’s 65-match winning streak in the NCAA semifinals.
Reiter cruised to a victory in the 133-pound bracket with a perfect 5-0 tournament record, including a hard-fought 5-4 win over Cornell’s Mike Grey in the final. The senior picked up bonus points in three of five matches and won his first-ever Southern Scuffle title. Reiter missed the 2006 tournament due to an injury and finished second in 2005.
Rivera, another Gopher senior enjoying a stellar season, entered the final 30 seconds of his championship match with third-ranked Charles Griffin of Hofstra down 3-2, but scored a reversal with just 10 seconds remaining to emerge with a dramatic 5-3 win. Rivera recorded three pins and a tech fall in six matches during the two-day tournament, improving his season record to 19-1 while picking up his second straight Southern Scuffle title.
Top-ranked 149-pounder Dustin Schlatter was upset in the championship match by unranked Mike Roberts of Boston University, who went on to win the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler award. Gophers Gabe Dretsch (fifth place at 174 pounds), Tyler Safratowich (fifth place at 165 pounds) and Yura Malamura (sixth at 197 pounds) also placed for the Gophers. Malamura won four straight matches after dropping down to the consolation bracket before losing to nationally-ranked Joseph Rovelli of Hofstra and Patrick Bradshaw of Edinboro to end his run.
The Southern Scuffle marks the end of Minnesota’s regular season tournament schedule, as the team enters the bulk of its dual meet slate with the 2008 NWCA National Duals Jan. 12-13. The Gophers won the event last year with a perfect 4-0 record, including a victory over then-No. 1 Missouri for the championship. The University of Northern Iowa will once again host the 2008 National Duals in Cedar Falls.
Final Southern Scuffle Team Standings
1. Minnesota 182
2. Edinboro 130.5
3. Hofstra 121
4. Cornell 94
5. Maryland 93.5
Minnesota’s Individual Placewinners
Jayson Ness (1st, 125 pounds)
Mack Reiter (1st, 133 pounds)
Manny Rivera (1st, 141 pounds)
C.P. Schlatter (1st, 157 pounds)
Dustin Schlatter (2nd, 149 pounds)
Tyler Safratowich (5th, 165 pounds)
Gabe Dretsch (5th, 174 pounds)
Yura Malamura (6th, 197 pounds)
Complete Minnesota Southern Scuffle Individual Results
Tournament seed precedes MN wrestler name
#1 Jayson Ness (125 pounds)
Ian Moser (Bloomsburg) Fall (1:37), First Round
Paul Sanford (Unattached/The Citadel) Fall (4:20), Second Round
Brian Wright (George Mason) Fall, 2:10, Third Round
Jeremy Adams (VMI) Fall, 0:41, Quarterfinals
James Nicholson (Old Dominion) Fall, 1:41, Semifinals
#13 Mike Sees (Bloomsburg) Fall, 5:58, Final
First Place (6-0 record, 6 pins)
#2 Mack Reiter (133 pounds)
Nick Bridge (Cornell) Fall, 6:29, Second Round
William Ashnault (Lock Haven) TF, 15-0, Third Round
Jeff Hedges (UNC-Greensboro) MD, 14-5, Quarterfinals
Joe Baker (Navy) D, 6-2, Semifinals
#14 Mike Grey (Cornell) D, 5-4, Final
First Place (5-0 record)
#2 Manuel Rivera (141 pounds)
John Delgado (George Mason) Fall, 5:50, First Round
Ben Thompson (Davidson) Fall, 2:29, Second Round
Marcus Cox (Appalation State) D, 7-6, Third Round
Christopher Bencivenga (UNC-Greensboro) Fall, 6:32, Quarterfinals
#7 Joe Caramanica (N.C. State) TF, 17-1, Semifinals
#3 Charles Griffin (Hofstra) D, 5-3, Finals
First Place (6-0 record, 3 pins)
Luke Mellmer (149 pounds)
Matt Reedy (Unattached/Ohio U) Fall (lost), 4:17, First Round
Vincent Ramirez (UNC-Greensboro) D, 0-5, Consolation
#1 Dustin Schlatter (149 pounds)
Dennis Bermudez (Bloomsburg) MD, 10-2, Second Round
Jeremy Doyle (Cal-Bakersfield) D, 6-2, Third Round
Bryce Saddoris (Navy) D, 9-2, Quarterfinals
#18 Adam Hall (Boise State) D, 7-3, Semifinals
Mike Roberts (Boston University) D, 2-3, Final
Second Place (4-1 record)
#4 C.P. Schlatter (157 pounds)
Tel Todd (Unattached/Old Dominion) TF, 17-1, First Round
Alex Conover (Unattached/Bloomsburg) MD, 13-5, Second Round
Joe Butcher (Navy) Fall, 2:48, Third Round
Nate Patterson (Binghamton) D, 8-3, Quarterfinals
Kody Hamrah (N.C. State) MD, 11-3, Semifinals
#2 Gregor Gillespie (Edinboro) D, 5-2, Final
First Place (6-0 record)
Tyler Safratowich (165 pounds)
Michael Metzger (Lock Haven) Fall, 1:03, First Round
Mike Sewell (Virginia) MD, 13-5, Second Round
Ryan Patrovich (Hofstra) Fall, 7:20, Third Round
#14 Mack Lewnes (Cornell) D, 5-10, Quarterfinals
Rickey Schmelyun (Bloomsburg) D, 8-5, Consolation
#17 Chris Brown (Old Dominion) Med. Forfeit, Consolation
Kurt Schwartz (Boise State) MD, 3-12, Consolation
Ryan Patrovich (Hofstra) D, 5-3, Fifth Place
Fifth Place (6-2 record)
#2 Scott Glasser (165 pounds)
Randall Herring (Garnder-Webb) Med. Forfeit (won), First Round
Joseph Son (Liberty) Fall, 1:26, Second Round
Tommy Weinkam (Unattached/Ohio U) MD, 12-2, Third Round
Michael Chaires (Virginia) D, 2-4, Quarterfinals
Ryan Patrovich (Hofstra) Med. Forfeit (lost), Conslation
#4 Gabriel Dretsch (174 pounds)
Derek Sickel (The Citadel) TF, 20-5, First Round
Chris Estep (Kent State) MD, 9-1, Second Round
#14 Alton Lucas (Hofstra) D, 3-4 TB, Quarterfinals
Justin Kerber (Cornell) D, 5-4, Consolation
#18 Eric Decker (Virginia Tech) D, 5-2, Consolation
#11 Steve Anceravage (Cornell) D, 4-7, Consolation
#12 Phil Moricone (Edinboro) D, 5-3, Fifth Place
Fifth Place (5-2 record)
Yura Malamura (197 pounds)
George Kocher (Unattached/N. Carolina) D, 8-4, First Round
Brent Jones (Virgina) D, 5-11, Second Round
Dustin Porter (Gardner-Webb) D, 4-2, Consolation
Garth Wara (Cal-Bakersfield) D, 4-3, Consolation
David Mendoza (Old Dominion) D, 8-5, Consolation
Cayle Byers (George Mason) D, 7-5, Consolation
#8 Joseph Rovelli (Hofstra) D, 6-8, Consolation
#15 Patrick Bradshaw (Edinboro) D, 3-5 OT, Fifth Place
Sixth Place (5-3 record)
Justin Bronson (197 pounds)
Kyle Byers (George Mason) D, 3-2, First Round
David Mendoza (Old Dominion) Fall (lost), Second Round
Robert Johnson (Navy) Med. Forfeit (won), Consolation
Johnny Buck (The Citadel) D, 5-4, Consolation
#15 Patrick Bradshaw (Edinboro) D, 0-1, Consolation
Joe Nord (heavyweight)
Calvin Cardillo (Virginia) D, 9-4, First Round
Tim Miller (Virginia Tech) Fall (lost), 2:35, Second Round
Justin Dobies (North Carolina) D, 2-7, Third Round
Terry Tate (Edinboro) Fall, 2:35, Consolation
Jason Marshall (Ohio University) Fall, 6:56, Consolation
Ryan Hsu (UNC-Greensboro) D, 3-9, Consolation
Ben Berhow (heavyweight)
#9 Zach Hammond (Cornell) D, 1-3, First Round
Jared Campbell (Appalation State) D, 3-2, Consolation
Ryan Bergman (Cal-Bakersfield) D, 2-3, Consolation
Players Mentioned
HWT
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197
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
149
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
HWT
/ Wrestling
133
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
157
/ Wrestling
149
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