University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Advance with Win Over Chippewas
1/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Cedar Falls, Iowa - The Minnesota wrestling team will move on to the semifinals of the 2010 Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals with their convincing 25-9 win over Central Michigan this afternoon (Jan. 9).
The fifth seeded Gophers (5-2) and fourth seeded Chippewas (8-1) each won their opening round match to meet in the quarterfinals. Central Michigan entered the match unbeaten on the season at 8-0, before Minnesota handed them their first loss.
Much like their previous match of the day, the Gophers opened very strong in the lighter weights, winning the first five matches before the Chippewas scored a victory. Entering the match ranked No. 5 in the country, Central Michigan won just three matches against the No. 6 Golden Gophers.
Zach Sanders (Wabasha, Minn.), Jayson Ness (Bloomington, Minn.), Mike Thorn (St. Michael, Minn.) and Mario Mason (Moorestown, N.J.) all won to start the first match of the day, and did so again against Central Michigan.
The added bonus this time, was Joe Grygelko (Greenfield, Minn.) winning at 157 to make five straight for the Gophers to open the match. Grygelko evened his season record to 6-6 after a narrow 3-2 win. With the match tied 2-2 late, and escape by Grygelko gave him the lead he needed. In the final minute, he was able to avoid giving up any points for win, extending the Gophers lead in the match to 16-0.
The first 13 of those points came on decisions from Sanders, Ness and Thorn and a major by Mason. Sixth ranked Sanders notched a 5-2 win at 125, while second Ness won 14-7 at 133 over ninth ranked Scotti Sentes. Ness improves to 19-0 on the season and has now won 21 straight matches.
No. 7 Thorn scored a 10-5 win at 141, and at 149, No. 18 Mason notched his first major decision since the Bison open with a 19-8 tally
After Central Michigan got their first win at 165, red hot Scott Glasser (Bismarck, N.D.) continued his tear through opponents. Faced with his third straight foe in the top-11, Glasser used a pair of takedowns to earn a 4-3 win over No. 5 Ben Bennett. The highest ranked opponent he has beaten this season, Glasser won his 20th match, and his 11th straight.
Leading 19-3 with three matches to go, an injury at 184 sealed the win for the Gophers. Kaleb Young (Tenstrike, Minn.) was tied 2-2 with the Chippewas Mike Miller, who entered the match ranked No. 12. A hard fall near the edge of the mat left both wrestlers slow to get up, but Young was able to move around after a short time. Miller, however, could not, and the match ended as an injury forfeit in the second period.
Into the last two matches, the Gophers led 25-3, but the Chippewas tabbed the final two decisions for the 25-9 final.
125: #6 Zach Sanders (MINN) dec. Matt Steintrager (CMU), 5-2 / 3-0
133: #2 Jayson Ness (MINN) dec. #9 Scotti Sentes (CMU), 14-7 / 6-0
141: #7 Mike Thorn (MINN) dec. Conor Beebe (CMU), 10-5 / 9-0
149: #18 Mario Mason (MINN) maj. Justin McDermitt (CMU), 19-8 / 13-0
157: Joe Grygelko (MINN) dec. Donnie Corby (CMU), 3-2 / 16-0
165: #19 Tyler Grayson (CMU) dec. Nate Matousek (MINN), 8-1 / 16-3
174: #13 Scott Glasser (MINN) dec. #5 Ben Bennett (CMU), 4-3 / 19-3
184: Kaleb Young (MINN) MFor #12 Mike Miller (CMU), DEF / 25-3
197: Eric Simaz (CMU) dec. #15 Sonny Yohn (MINN), 3-2 / 25-6
HWT: #4 Jarod Trice (CMU) dec. Ben Berhow (MINN), 3-2 / 25-9
Players Mentioned
