University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Steveson Wins; Gopher Wrestling Club Places Sixth at RTC Cup
12/5/2020 4:05:00 PM | Wrestling
CINCINNATI - Minnesota junior Gable Steveson followed up Friday's win against the No. 1 ranked United States heavyweight with a 10-0 victory against Jordan Wood of Spartan Combat RTC at the 2020 RTC Cup. The Gopher Wrestling Club (GWC) finished in sixth place following a loss by criteria in the quarterfinals against Spartan Combat and a 5-1 defeat against Ohio RTC in the fifth-place match.
Steveson needed just 3:26 to finish off a 10-0 win against Wood, a former two-time All-American at Lehigh. On Friday, Steveson earned a 4-1 decision against Nick Gwiazdowski from Wolfpack RTC. A two-time World bronze medalist, Gwiazdowski will be the top seed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in University Park, Pa., in April when the pair are likely to meet again.
Â
After going 1-1 in pool play, the GWC faced Spartan Combat in the quarterfinals. Evan Wick (74kg), Hayden Zillmer (97kg) and Steveson (125kg) collected wins, but with the dual tied at three apiece, Spartan Combat advanced based on a 14-10 edge in classification points.
Â
The GWC got off to a strong start against Ohio RTC in the fifth-place match. Former four-time All-American and current Gopher volunteer assistant coach Zach Sanders began the dual with an 8-6 win at 57kg. Ohio RTC rebounded to claim the next five matches, including a pair of one-point decisions at 97kg and 125kg.
Â
The RTC Cup is a dual-team tournament featuring six of the nation's top regional training centers. Steveson, along with sophomore Brayton Lee, were joined by several Minnesota alums as part of the Gopher Wrestling Club.
Quarterfinals
NJRTC/SERTC 3, Gopher Wrestling Club 3 (14-10 classification points)
57kg: Nahshon Garrett (NJ/SE RTC) VSU Zach Sanders (GWC), 10-0 0:26
65kg: James Green (NJ/SE RTC) VSU Brayton Lee (GWC), 11-0 3:44
74kg: Evan Wick (GWC) VP01 Mekhi Lewis (NJ/SE RTC), 11-5
86kg: Nate Jackson (NJ/SE RTC) VSU Brett Pfarr (GWC), 10-0 0:32
97kg: Hayden Zillmer (GWC) VP01 Ty Walz (NJ/SE RTC), 6-1
125kg: Gable Steveson (GWC) VSU Jordan Wood (NJ/SE RTC), 10-0 3:26
Â
Fifth Place Match
Ohio RTC 5, Gopher Wrestling Club 1
57kg: Zach Sanders (GWC) VP01 Jack Mueller (Ohio RTC), 8-6
65kg: Sammy Sasso (Ohio RTC) VSU1 Mitch McKee (GWC), 14-4 5:45
74kg: Carson Kharchla (Ohio RTC) VSU Elroy Perkin (GWC), 11-0 1:02
86kg: Sammy Brooks (Ohio RTC) VP01 Brett Pfarr (GWC), 2-1
97kg: Kollin Moore (Ohio RTC) VP01 Hayden Zillmer (GWC), 2-1
125kg: Amar Dhesi (Ohio RTC) VP01 Tony Nelson (GWC), 3-2
Â
Steveson needed just 3:26 to finish off a 10-0 win against Wood, a former two-time All-American at Lehigh. On Friday, Steveson earned a 4-1 decision against Nick Gwiazdowski from Wolfpack RTC. A two-time World bronze medalist, Gwiazdowski will be the top seed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in University Park, Pa., in April when the pair are likely to meet again.
Â
After going 1-1 in pool play, the GWC faced Spartan Combat in the quarterfinals. Evan Wick (74kg), Hayden Zillmer (97kg) and Steveson (125kg) collected wins, but with the dual tied at three apiece, Spartan Combat advanced based on a 14-10 edge in classification points.
Â
The GWC got off to a strong start against Ohio RTC in the fifth-place match. Former four-time All-American and current Gopher volunteer assistant coach Zach Sanders began the dual with an 8-6 win at 57kg. Ohio RTC rebounded to claim the next five matches, including a pair of one-point decisions at 97kg and 125kg.
Â
The RTC Cup is a dual-team tournament featuring six of the nation's top regional training centers. Steveson, along with sophomore Brayton Lee, were joined by several Minnesota alums as part of the Gopher Wrestling Club.
Quarterfinals
NJRTC/SERTC 3, Gopher Wrestling Club 3 (14-10 classification points)
57kg: Nahshon Garrett (NJ/SE RTC) VSU Zach Sanders (GWC), 10-0 0:26
65kg: James Green (NJ/SE RTC) VSU Brayton Lee (GWC), 11-0 3:44
74kg: Evan Wick (GWC) VP01 Mekhi Lewis (NJ/SE RTC), 11-5
86kg: Nate Jackson (NJ/SE RTC) VSU Brett Pfarr (GWC), 10-0 0:32
97kg: Hayden Zillmer (GWC) VP01 Ty Walz (NJ/SE RTC), 6-1
125kg: Gable Steveson (GWC) VSU Jordan Wood (NJ/SE RTC), 10-0 3:26
Â
Fifth Place Match
Ohio RTC 5, Gopher Wrestling Club 1
57kg: Zach Sanders (GWC) VP01 Jack Mueller (Ohio RTC), 8-6
65kg: Sammy Sasso (Ohio RTC) VSU1 Mitch McKee (GWC), 14-4 5:45
74kg: Carson Kharchla (Ohio RTC) VSU Elroy Perkin (GWC), 11-0 1:02
86kg: Sammy Brooks (Ohio RTC) VP01 Brett Pfarr (GWC), 2-1
97kg: Kollin Moore (Ohio RTC) VP01 Hayden Zillmer (GWC), 2-1
125kg: Amar Dhesi (Ohio RTC) VP01 Tony Nelson (GWC), 3-2
Â
Highlights: Gophers 14, SDSU 18
Tuesday, November 25
Coach's Corner with Brandon Eggum
Sunday, November 23
Highlights: Gophers 25, Virginia Tech 10
Sunday, November 16
Highlights: Gophers 15, Missouri 14
Sunday, November 16