University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Open National Duals with 26-9 Win
1/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
The No. 5 Minnesota wrestling team opened the 2011 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals with a 26-9 win over Northern Illinois on Saturday morning, paving the way for a top-ten matchup against No. 6 Boise State at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
All-American Zach Sanders improved his season record to 15-2 on Saturday morning with a 16-8 major decision over NIU's Nick Smith in the opening match for the Gophers, who improved their record against the Huskies to 9-0 all-time. Sanders jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the first period when he tacked on four of his seven takedowns in the match. The 125 pounder scored bonus points from 1:42 of riding time to open the event with a 4-0 lead for the Gophers.
Redshirt freshman David Thorn followed up with a win in his collegiate dual debut against Israel Montemayor. Thorn edged his Huskies foe 10-7 before his brother, Mike Thorn, added an 8-1 decision over Tristen DeShazer to build a 10-0 lead for Minnesota. NIU would go on to pick up a pair of wins in its next two matches to climb back into the contest. Vince Castillo scored a 3-0 decision over Pat Smith at 149 lbs. and No. 17 Bryan Deutsch pinned Joe Grygelko in the 157 lbs. match to cut Minnesota's lead to 10-9.
But that would be all the Huskies would get the rest of the morning. No. 7 Cody Yohn topped Matt Mougin with a 9-2 decision at 165 lbs. before Scott Glasser, the No. 8 174 pounder in the nation, scored a 10-2 major decision over Zach Benzio to make it 17-9 Gophers. Minnesota went on to sweep the remaining three matches via decisions in favor of No. 7 Kevin Steinhaus at 184 lbs., Joe Nord at 197 lbs., and No. 9 Tony Nelson at heavyweight.
Minnesota returns to action Saturday afternoon against the Broncos of Boise State. Minnesota is 6-0 all-time against Boise State with the last meeting coming in 2001. Continue checking Gophersports.com for results from the 2011 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals.
2011 NWCA/Cliff Keen Results
Minnesota - 26
Northern Illinois - 9
125: No. 6 Zach Sanders (MINN) maj. Nick Smith (NIU) 16-8
133: David Thorn (MINN) dec. Israel Montemayor (NIU) 10-7
141: No. 2 Mike Thorn (MINN) dec. Tristen DeShazer (NIU) 8-1
149: Vince Castillo (NIU) dec. Patrick Smith (MINN) 3-0
157: No. 17 Bryan Deutsch (NIU) fall Joe Grygelko (MINN) 1:42
165: No. 7 Cody Yohn (MINN) dec. Matt Mougin (NIU) 9-2
174: No. 8 Scott Glasser (MINN) maj. Zach Benzio (NIU) 10-2
184: No. 7 Kevin Steinhaus (MINN) dec. Brad Dieckhaus (NIU) 7-0
197: Joe Nord (MINN) dec. Mike Lukowski (NIU) 2-0
285: No. 9 Tony Nelson (MINN) dec. Dakota Greenhaw (NIU) 3-1
Players Mentioned
