University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Gophers Add Three At-Large Bids, Sending 10 to NCAAs
3/12/2024 4:21:00 PM | Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS - The NCAA Tuesday announced the 47 at-large selections for next week's 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Kansas City, Mo., including Minnesota's Michael Blockhus, Bennett Tabor and Tyler Wells.
The Gopher trio joins the seven members of the team who automatically qualified for the national tournament at last weekend's Big Ten Championships. Minnesota is one of seven programs in the country to have a representative at each weight class this season. It's the fifth time in program history the Gophers have accomplished the feat, and the first since 2013. They also did it in 2005, 2002 and 2001.
It'll be the fourth trip to the NCAA championships for Blockhus in his career, while Tabor and Wells will be going for the first time.
An All-American a year ago at 149 pounds, Blockhus got the call Tuesday after a standout season at 157 pounds. The sixth-year senior is 15-3 overall on the year, including a 12-1 dual record and perfect 8-0 mark in Big Ten duals. He went 0-2 at Big Tens, though he required medical attention in his opening match and that was followed by an injury default. Entering the weekend, Blockhus had won 10 straight matches, including six wins over ranked opponents, highlighted by wins over the then-No. 2 and 3 wrestlers in the country. This will be the fourth trip of his career to the NCAA championships.
A redshirt sophomore, Tabor joins the heavyweight field with a 20-7 record. He was 9-4 in duals and 5-3 against the Big Ten during the regular season. Tabor also took home heavyweight titles at the Soldier Salute and Bison Open. He is coming off a 1-2 weekend as he made his debut at the Big Ten championships.
Wells, a true freshman, is heading to the NCAAs in his first season in the Maroon and Gold. He is 13-6 on the season and was 6-3 in duals, including a 5-2 mark in Big Ten action. He had two wins over ranked opponents during the season, including a 5-2, overtime win over the eventual Big Ten champion, Dylan Shawver of Rutgers, in late January. Wells was 1-2 at the Big Tens, though his second loss was a medical forfeit.
Seedings and brackets for the 2024 NCAA Championships will be announced Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. CT, while the Championships take place March 21-23 inside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
The Gopher trio joins the seven members of the team who automatically qualified for the national tournament at last weekend's Big Ten Championships. Minnesota is one of seven programs in the country to have a representative at each weight class this season. It's the fifth time in program history the Gophers have accomplished the feat, and the first since 2013. They also did it in 2005, 2002 and 2001.
It'll be the fourth trip to the NCAA championships for Blockhus in his career, while Tabor and Wells will be going for the first time.
An All-American a year ago at 149 pounds, Blockhus got the call Tuesday after a standout season at 157 pounds. The sixth-year senior is 15-3 overall on the year, including a 12-1 dual record and perfect 8-0 mark in Big Ten duals. He went 0-2 at Big Tens, though he required medical attention in his opening match and that was followed by an injury default. Entering the weekend, Blockhus had won 10 straight matches, including six wins over ranked opponents, highlighted by wins over the then-No. 2 and 3 wrestlers in the country. This will be the fourth trip of his career to the NCAA championships.
A redshirt sophomore, Tabor joins the heavyweight field with a 20-7 record. He was 9-4 in duals and 5-3 against the Big Ten during the regular season. Tabor also took home heavyweight titles at the Soldier Salute and Bison Open. He is coming off a 1-2 weekend as he made his debut at the Big Ten championships.
Wells, a true freshman, is heading to the NCAAs in his first season in the Maroon and Gold. He is 13-6 on the season and was 6-3 in duals, including a 5-2 mark in Big Ten action. He had two wins over ranked opponents during the season, including a 5-2, overtime win over the eventual Big Ten champion, Dylan Shawver of Rutgers, in late January. Wells was 1-2 at the Big Tens, though his second loss was a medical forfeit.
Seedings and brackets for the 2024 NCAA Championships will be announced Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. CT, while the Championships take place March 21-23 inside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Highlights: Gophers 27, Illinois 9
Saturday, January 10
Coach's Corner with Brandon Eggum
Wednesday, January 07
Highlights: Hopke Wins Soldier Salute
Tuesday, January 06
Coach's Corner with Brandon Eggum
Tuesday, December 23