University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Penn State
Players Mentioned
Minnesota Hosts Defending Champion Penn State
2/5/2020 9:34:00 AM | Wrestling
Minnesota is set to host the defending national champion Penn State Nittany Lions on Sunday afternoon at Maturi Pavilion in a Maroon-Out.Â
The match will feature over 15 ranked wrestlers including the Gophers top-ranked heavyweight Gable Steveson. Steveson is now 9-0 in duals this season and 26-0 across his two seasons for a 44-2 total career record.Â
The dual will feature a youth clinic beforehand as well as the opportunity for the first 500 fans to receive a Maroon hat.Â
The dual will be televised on Big Ten Network and commentated by the duo of Shane Sparks and JD Bergman.
ÂProjected Lineups (All rankings are FloWrestling)
Minnesota Lineup
125: No.10 Patrick McKee (17-6, 9-4)
133: Jake Gliva (6-8, 1-4) OR Boo Dryden (4-1, 1-1)
141: No.5 Mitch McKee (22-3, 11-2)Â
149: No.6 Brayton Lee (20-3, 9-3)
157: No.23 Ryan Thomas (10-6, 3-2) OR Carson Brolsma (10-9, 4-5)Â
165: Bailee O'Reilly (20-7, 11-3)
174: No.8 Devin Skatzka (24-6, 10-4)
184: No. 21 Owen Webster (19-7, 10-4)
197: Hunter Ritter (19-6, 3-3) OR Garrett Joles (9-10, 3-5)
HWT: No.1 Gable Steveson (9-0, 9-0)
ÂPenn State Lineup
125: Brandon Meredith (11-10, 1-7)
133: No.4 Roman Bravo Young (14-0, 9-0)
141: No.2 Nick Lee (14-0, 10-0)
149: Jarod Verkleeren (13-4, 4-2) OR Luke Gardner (6-1, 2-0)
157: Bo Pipher (9-10, 2-7) OR Brady Berge (1-0, 1-0)
165: No.1 Vincenzo Joseph (9-0, 9-0)
174: No.2 Mark Hall (16-1, 9-1)
184: No.8 Aaron Brooks (8-1, 5-1)
197: No.16 Shakur Rasheed (2-3, 2-3)
HWT: No.16 Seth Nevills (11-1, 5-1)
ÂSteveson Steamroll
Sophomore heavyweight Gable Steveson has won nine consecutive bouts this season and has 11 straight wins dating back to last season.
The Apple Valley product has eight bonus point victories this season with three pins, one technical fall, and four major decisions.
A 2019 All-American, Steveson already has victories over four ranked wrestlers and has opportunities the next two weekends to add two more to the list.Â
At 19 years old and already qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials, Steveson is looking to be one of the youngest wrestlers to ever represent USA Wrestling at the Olympic Games.Â
 ÂOwen Owning
Dating back to the end of January, Owen Webster has reeled of three straight wins including a victory over now-No.13 Rocky Jordan of Ohio State.
In that span Webster has scored 13 points as well as a second period fall his last time on the mat against Indiana. Now the senior from Shakopee is 19-7 with ten dual victories under his belt as well as four wins over ranked competitors.
Once an All-American for nearby Augsburg, Webster is looking to qualify for the NCAA Championships at the top-level right here in his home state.Â
Â
Don Parker Open
Several Gophers are headed to the Don Parker Open in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this weekend to compete unattached. Among those attending include Sebas Swiggum (149), Jake Bergeland (149), Cael Carlson (157), Jake Hageman (157), Kevin Meicher (157), Baylor Fernandes (165), Nathan Fuller (174), Caden Steffen (184), Dylan Anderson (184), and Rowan Morgan (197).Â
Boo Dryden's Debut
Since coming to the Twin Cities at the start of the semester, Boo Dryden has proven himself capable of competing in the toughest conference in wrestling. Dryden first took home the North Country Open title with three wins before entering the dual lineup.
Dryden began his Big Ten career with a victory over Purdue's Travis Ford-Melton and hung tight with Cayden Rooks the following Sunday against Indiana.
Â
Next Up
The Gophers have their final road dual of the season next week when they travel to Iowa City and take on the top-ranked Hawkeyes in Carver Hawkeye Arena.Â
Minnesota's final dual of the season comes at home against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on February 21 in a dual televised on ESPNU.
After the Big Ten Championships at Rutgers the Maroon and Gold finish the season across the river at US Bank Stadium for the 2020 NCAA Championships.Â
Â