University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Claims Third Straight Border Battle Cup
5/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The University of Minnesota earned its third straight "Border Battle" Cup and its fourth overall in the seven-year history of the competition with the Wisconsin Badgers. The Golden Gophers claimed a 455-425 point advantage in the annual all-sports rivalry which tracks head-to-head results in 22 sports.
Minnesota rallied in the standings with strong winter and spring performances. The Badgers led the competition, 240-100, following a Wisconsin women's hockey victory in Madison on Jan. 29. The following day, the fourth-ranked Gopher wrestling team downed the third-ranked Badgers at the Sports Pavilion to claim that sport's 40 points. Minnesota would follow that effort with 40 points in the sports of men's tennis, men's swimming & diving, women's swimming & diving, men's indoor track & field and women's indoor track & field. The Gopher men's hockey team also contributed with a win and a tie in Madison in mid-February.
The competition would ultimately come down to this past weekend's three Big Ten Championships as the Golden Gophers held a 415-345 advantage with 120 points up for grabs. Minnesota clinched its third straight "Border Battle" title as the men's track & field team finished three spots higher than the Badgers at the outdoor championships in Iowa City.
Beginning in 2004-05, the "Border Battle" Cup was claimed by Wisconsin in three of the first four years of competition. In addition to winning in 2005-06, Minnesota took the lead in the overall series with victories in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11.
