University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
157 lbs.
/ Wrestling
174 lbs.
/ Wrestling
Devin Skatzka Reflects On Great First Year as a Gopher
7/15/2019 10:39:00 AM | Wrestling
It was a moment Devin Skatzka doesn't think he'll ever forget.
It's March 9,2019, the 2019 Big Ten Championships are at Williams Arena. Skatzka is on mat one in sudden victory against Nebraska's Mikey Labriola in the quarterfinals round. On the mat in the opposite corner was 157-pound Steve Bleise against Northwestern's Ryan Deakin.
First, Skatzka heard the sold-out arena explode when Bleise was victorious. There was no doubt the crowd was loud enough to get through his headgear.
Just moments later, Skatzka turned Labriola to his back for the sudden victory. Not just any victory, a pin.
Once again, Williams Arena, packed to the brim with Gophers, exploded.
"The whole building was rocking, it was an incredible moment I won't forget," Skatzka said. "The whole experience of hosting Big Tens was incredible but that one stands out."
In his first season with the Gophers Skatzka won over 30 matches before becoming an All-American for the first time in his college career. He led the team with 13 major decisions while also adding five technical falls.
After falling in the second round of the NCAA Championships Skatzka reeled off three straight wins on the backside, including an 11-7 decision in the "Bloodround", to earn his spot on the podium alongside the nation's best at 174-pounds.
With a smile across his face, Skatzka looked up at the Gophers fan sections and admired the view of his family, friends, and fiancee.
"It's been a goal and dream of mine since I was a little wrestler," Skatzka said. "A lot of great wrestlers don't get the chance to be an All-American, so it's an honor I won't forget."
Just a few months later, Skatzka had another great tournament. Despite never training fully focused on freestyle wrestling, Skatzka entered the U23 Nationals at 86kg (~189-pounds). With his right hand wrapped as if it was in a mitten, Skatzka ran through the challenge bracket towards the finals with three falls. None of his matches lasted the full six minutes.
Though he was disappointed with his two losses to Cornell's NCAA Finalist Max Dean which ended the run, Skatzka is happy with gaining more freestyle experience and confidence going forward.
"I was proud how well I performed when I wasn't at 100 percent, I'm confident in my abilities on my feet and it worked out," Skatzka said. "Max is someone who made the NCAA Finals, he's really good. I think it showed I can really compete with great guys the weight class above me."
Skatzka's freestyle success represented yet another for him on the mat after a season in which he had his most success at the NCAA level. Skatzka, known on the team as one of the team's strongest grapplers, found success through his ability get a takedown and, from there, turn his opponents using that strength. One of his largest strides has been staying out of danger and pro
From the first time he stepped on campus last summer to now, his teammates and the coaching staff have seen Skatzka ramp up the intensity and focus on the key areas where he felt like he needed improvement. So, it was obivous why he was named the team's most improved wrestler at the annual awards banquet after his first year in Maroon and Gold.
"This was a pretty easy award for us to hand out this season," assistant coach Trevor Brandvold said. "The most improved award can go a lot of directions but the year Devin had showed the way he improved as a man, as a leader, and the way he improved as a wrestler."
"I can't wait for us to build on what we built last season, inidividually and also as a team," Skatzka said. "We've got a great group of freshman stepping up and we've all been here all summer getting better each day."
It's March 9,2019, the 2019 Big Ten Championships are at Williams Arena. Skatzka is on mat one in sudden victory against Nebraska's Mikey Labriola in the quarterfinals round. On the mat in the opposite corner was 157-pound Steve Bleise against Northwestern's Ryan Deakin.
First, Skatzka heard the sold-out arena explode when Bleise was victorious. There was no doubt the crowd was loud enough to get through his headgear.
Just moments later, Skatzka turned Labriola to his back for the sudden victory. Not just any victory, a pin.
Once again, Williams Arena, packed to the brim with Gophers, exploded.
"The whole building was rocking, it was an incredible moment I won't forget," Skatzka said. "The whole experience of hosting Big Tens was incredible but that one stands out."
In his first season with the Gophers Skatzka won over 30 matches before becoming an All-American for the first time in his college career. He led the team with 13 major decisions while also adding five technical falls.
After falling in the second round of the NCAA Championships Skatzka reeled off three straight wins on the backside, including an 11-7 decision in the "Bloodround", to earn his spot on the podium alongside the nation's best at 174-pounds.
With a smile across his face, Skatzka looked up at the Gophers fan sections and admired the view of his family, friends, and fiancee.
"It's been a goal and dream of mine since I was a little wrestler," Skatzka said. "A lot of great wrestlers don't get the chance to be an All-American, so it's an honor I won't forget."
Just a few months later, Skatzka had another great tournament. Despite never training fully focused on freestyle wrestling, Skatzka entered the U23 Nationals at 86kg (~189-pounds). With his right hand wrapped as if it was in a mitten, Skatzka ran through the challenge bracket towards the finals with three falls. None of his matches lasted the full six minutes.
Though he was disappointed with his two losses to Cornell's NCAA Finalist Max Dean which ended the run, Skatzka is happy with gaining more freestyle experience and confidence going forward.
"I was proud how well I performed when I wasn't at 100 percent, I'm confident in my abilities on my feet and it worked out," Skatzka said. "Max is someone who made the NCAA Finals, he's really good. I think it showed I can really compete with great guys the weight class above me."
Skatzka's freestyle success represented yet another for him on the mat after a season in which he had his most success at the NCAA level. Skatzka, known on the team as one of the team's strongest grapplers, found success through his ability get a takedown and, from there, turn his opponents using that strength. One of his largest strides has been staying out of danger and pro
From the first time he stepped on campus last summer to now, his teammates and the coaching staff have seen Skatzka ramp up the intensity and focus on the key areas where he felt like he needed improvement. So, it was obivous why he was named the team's most improved wrestler at the annual awards banquet after his first year in Maroon and Gold.
"This was a pretty easy award for us to hand out this season," assistant coach Trevor Brandvold said. "The most improved award can go a lot of directions but the year Devin had showed the way he improved as a man, as a leader, and the way he improved as a wrestler."
Now Skatzka has one more season left in Maroon and Gold to perfect his skills and strive for an even better senior season.When he showed up to Minnesota this past year, @DSkatzka put in the work to become the best version of himself.
— Minnesota Wrestling (@GopherWrestling) June 3, 2019
His reward? Big Ten Placer and NCAA All-American. pic.twitter.com/FWWjcckan1
"I can't wait for us to build on what we built last season, inidividually and also as a team," Skatzka said. "We've got a great group of freshman stepping up and we've all been here all summer getting better each day."
Gopher Round Table: Wrestling
Wednesday, March 11
Highlights: Big Ten Wrestling Session II
Saturday, March 07
Highlights: Big Ten Wrestling Session I
Saturday, March 07
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Smash the Spartans on Senior Day
Thursday, February 19