University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Begin Duals with 25-14 win over Missouri
1/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Cedar Falls, Iowa - An 18-0 run to start the match gave the Minnesota wrestling team a lead that was too much for Missouri to overcome as the Gophers beat the Tigers 25-14 this morning (Jan. 9) in each team's first round match at the Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals.
Ranked sixth in the country, Minnesota (4-2) gets their first dual meet win since beating Northern Colorado 41-3 on Dec. 13. Missouri (1-3), ranked 17th, falls for the third straight time after winning their opener.
The Gophers move on in the winner's bracket, and will face fourth seeded and No. 5 ranked Central Michigan at 1:00 p.m. today. Central Michigan beat Northwestern and is now 8-0 on the season.
Zach Sanders (Wabasha, Minn.) was given a free pass at 125 with a forfeit as Missouri spotted Minnesota the first six points. At 133, Jayson Ness made quick work of Nathan McCormick earning his 14th fall of the season, and his first in his last four matches, ending his longest drought of the season.
With a commanding lead at 12-0 after just two bouts, Mike Thorn (St. Michael, Minn.) battled with Todd Schavrein on the first match-up of ranked opponents. The No. 7 ranked Thorn earned a 5-3 decision over Missouri's No. 20 ranked Todd Scravrien.
Mario Mason (Moorestown, N.J.), at 149, capped the Gophers run to open the meet with the decision that made the score 18-0. Mason controlled the entire match before winning 8-3.
At 157, Joe Grygelko (Greenfield, Minn.) suffered the Gopher's first loss, dropping a tough decision to No. 17 Patrick Wright. Grygelko allowed just an escape and one final point for riding time. After scoring their first points and with the score 18-3, Missouri then made it two in a row, as Nick Marable won 22-7 over Nate Matousek (Glencoe, Minn.). With four matches to go the team score was now at 18-7.
Scott Glasser (Bismarck, N.D.) got the Gophers back on track with his 10th straight win in the next match. No. 13 ranked Glasser matched up with No. 9 ranked Dorian Henderson, and dominated the match-up on his way to a 10-1 major decision win.
Kaleb Young (Tenstrike, Minn.) lost at 184 falling 13-4 to No. 3 ranked Max Askren, his second straight top-12 opponent.
With two matches to go, the Gophers were up just 11 at 22-11, leaving Missouri in striking distance. The clincher, though, came at 197 with a win from Sonny Yohn (Alamosa, Colo.). In another match-up of ranked opponents, No. 15 ranked Yohn used a second period nearfall to work past No. 11 ranked Brent Haynes 4-0.
Yohn put the Gophers up 25-11 with just one match left and a loss at heavyweight by Ben Berhow (Hayward, Minn.) set the 25-14 final.
A win against Central Michigan will send the Gophers into the semifinals tomorrow morning. A loss will send them to the losers bracket for a match this evening.
125: #6 Zach Sanders (MINN) For / 0-6
133: #2 Jayson Ness (MINN) fall Nathan McCormick (MU), 1:44 / 0-12
141: #7 Mike Thorn (MINN) dec. #20 Todd Schavrein (MU), 5-3 / 0-15
149: #18 Mario Mason (MINN) dec. Brandon Weist (MU), 8-3 / 0-18
157: #17 Patrick Wright (MU) dec. Joe Gruygelko (MU), 2-0 / 3-18
165: #6 Nick Marable (MU) tech. Nate Matousek (MINN), 22-7 / 7-18
174: #13 Scott Glasser (MINN) maj. #9 Dorian Henderson (MU), 10-1 / 7-22
184: #3 Max Askren (MU) maj. Kaleb Young (MINN), 13-4 / 11-22
197: #15 Sonny Yohn (MINN) dec. #11 Brent Haynes (MU), 4-0 / 11-25
HWT: #8 Mark Ellis (MU) dec. Ben Berhow (MINN), 6-1 / 14-25
Players Mentioned
