University of Minnesota Athletics
Tuesday, November 25
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
14
vs
18
South Dakota State
Players Mentioned
133 lbs.
/ Wrestling
285 lbs.
/ Wrestling
184 lbs.
/ Wrestling
157 lbs.
/ Wrestling
197 lbs.
/ Wrestling
174 lbs.
/ Wrestling
149 lbs.
/ Wrestling
165 lbs.
/ Wrestling
125 lbs.
/ Wrestling
141 lbs.
/ Wrestling
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Down to the Wire, No. 7 Minnesota Topped by No. 18 South Dakota State
11/25/2025 10:22:00 PM | Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS – No. 7 Minnesota (4-2) opened its home slate Tuesday night with an 18-14 setback against No. 17 South Dakota State (2-0) at Williams Arena.
The teams alternated wins over the first eight matchups before the Jackrabbits closed out the night with wins at 197 and heavyweight to claim the victory. In a close-fought dual, seven of the 10 matchups were decided by three points or less.
The dual started at 125 pounds in the first of six ranked matchups as No. 4 Jore Volk faced No. 21 Brady Roark. A first-period takedown helped give Volk a 4-2 lead late in the third period, but Roark caught him late for a takedown in the closing seconds and a 5-4 win.
Minnesota got on the board at 133 thanks to Chris Cannon earning his first dual win of the season. A first-period takedown followed by four nearfall points was all Cannon needed in an 8-1 decision over Cale Seaton.
South Dakota State pulled back in front after No. 12 Julian Tagg defeated No. 9 Vance VomBaur at 141 pounds, 5-1.
Competing for the first time since the season-opening Southeast Open, Drew Roberts evened the match back up behind a 4-2 win over Avery Allen. Tied at 1-1 in the third period, Roberts circled behind Allen for the winning takedown with just under 90 seconds remaining.
The Jackrabbits went into intermission on top 9-6 as No. 21 Cael Swensen topped No. 15 Charlie Millard. It was a 3-0 lead for Millard through one period but Swensen got a go-ahead takedown in the closing seconds of the second period and added three more points in the third to win 7-5.
Sixth-year senior Andrew Sparks pulled the Gophers back even at 9-9 thanks to a 2-0 win over Marcus Espinoza-Owens at 165 pounds. Ranked ninth in the country, Sparks led 1-0 after two periods then rode Espinoza-Owens for the entire third period to grab the decision.
South Dakota State reclaimed the lead 12-9 when No. 27 Moses Espinoza-Owens defeated No. 20 Ethan Riddle, 4-1, on a takedown with 30 seconds to go.
The lone bonus-point victory of the night belonged to No. 3 Max McEnelly at 184 pounds. He posted a 20-5 (5:42) tech fall over Brock Fettig that included six takedowns, giving Minnesota a 14-12 edge with two matches to go.
The final ranked matchup came at 197 as No. 7 Bennett Berge squeaked past No. 19 Gavin Nelson. Both logged escapes in regulation, but the riding time point gave Berge the 2-1 decision.
The dual came down to heavyweight as No. 13 Koy Hopke faced No. 20 Luke Rasmussen. Hopke jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first period, but starting on bottom in the second, Hopke was turned for three nearfall points for Rasmussen. A locked hands call on Rasmussen gave Hopke a 4-3 lead going to the final period. Hopke rode out Rasmussen for nearly the entire third period, but with 10 seconds to go, Rasmussen scored a reversal and back points to claim a 7-5 decision and give the dual to the Jackrabbits.
Minnesota is back in action next Thursday with a neutral-site matchup against No. 25 Little Rock at Homestead High School in Mequon, Wis. The dual is slated to start at 7 p.m. and will be streamed by FloWrestling.
Match Results
#18 South Dakota State 18, #7 Minnesota 14
Nov. 25, 2025 | Minneapolis | Williams Arena | Attendance: 2,808
125: #21 Brady Roark (SDSU) dec. #4 Jore Volk, 6-4 | MINN 0, SDSU 3
133: Chris Cannon dec. Cale Seaton (SDSU), 8-1 | MINN 3, SDSU 3
141: #12 Julian Tagg (SDSU) dec. #9 Vance VomBaur, 5-1 | MINN 3, SDSU 6
149: Drew Roberts dec. Avery Allen (SDSU), 4-2 | MINN 6, SDSU 6
157: #21 Cael Swensen (SDSU) dec. #15 Charlie Millard, 7-5 | MINN 6, SDSU 9
165: #9 Andrew Sparks dec. Marcus Espinoza-Owens (SDSU), 2-0 | MINN 9, SDSU 9
174: #27 Moses Espinoza-Owens (SDSU) dec. #20 Ethan Riddle, 4-1 | MINN 9, SDSU 12
184: #3 Max McEnelly TF Brock Fettig (SDSU), 20-5 (5:42) | MINN 14, SDSU 12
197: #7 Bennett Berge (SDSU) dec. #19 Gavin Nelson, 2-1 | MINN 14, SDSU 15
285: #20 Luke Rasmussen (SDSU) dec. #13 Koy Hopke, 7-5 | MINN 14, SDSU 18
The teams alternated wins over the first eight matchups before the Jackrabbits closed out the night with wins at 197 and heavyweight to claim the victory. In a close-fought dual, seven of the 10 matchups were decided by three points or less.
The dual started at 125 pounds in the first of six ranked matchups as No. 4 Jore Volk faced No. 21 Brady Roark. A first-period takedown helped give Volk a 4-2 lead late in the third period, but Roark caught him late for a takedown in the closing seconds and a 5-4 win.
Minnesota got on the board at 133 thanks to Chris Cannon earning his first dual win of the season. A first-period takedown followed by four nearfall points was all Cannon needed in an 8-1 decision over Cale Seaton.
South Dakota State pulled back in front after No. 12 Julian Tagg defeated No. 9 Vance VomBaur at 141 pounds, 5-1.
Competing for the first time since the season-opening Southeast Open, Drew Roberts evened the match back up behind a 4-2 win over Avery Allen. Tied at 1-1 in the third period, Roberts circled behind Allen for the winning takedown with just under 90 seconds remaining.
The Jackrabbits went into intermission on top 9-6 as No. 21 Cael Swensen topped No. 15 Charlie Millard. It was a 3-0 lead for Millard through one period but Swensen got a go-ahead takedown in the closing seconds of the second period and added three more points in the third to win 7-5.
Sixth-year senior Andrew Sparks pulled the Gophers back even at 9-9 thanks to a 2-0 win over Marcus Espinoza-Owens at 165 pounds. Ranked ninth in the country, Sparks led 1-0 after two periods then rode Espinoza-Owens for the entire third period to grab the decision.
South Dakota State reclaimed the lead 12-9 when No. 27 Moses Espinoza-Owens defeated No. 20 Ethan Riddle, 4-1, on a takedown with 30 seconds to go.
The lone bonus-point victory of the night belonged to No. 3 Max McEnelly at 184 pounds. He posted a 20-5 (5:42) tech fall over Brock Fettig that included six takedowns, giving Minnesota a 14-12 edge with two matches to go.
The final ranked matchup came at 197 as No. 7 Bennett Berge squeaked past No. 19 Gavin Nelson. Both logged escapes in regulation, but the riding time point gave Berge the 2-1 decision.
The dual came down to heavyweight as No. 13 Koy Hopke faced No. 20 Luke Rasmussen. Hopke jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first period, but starting on bottom in the second, Hopke was turned for three nearfall points for Rasmussen. A locked hands call on Rasmussen gave Hopke a 4-3 lead going to the final period. Hopke rode out Rasmussen for nearly the entire third period, but with 10 seconds to go, Rasmussen scored a reversal and back points to claim a 7-5 decision and give the dual to the Jackrabbits.
Minnesota is back in action next Thursday with a neutral-site matchup against No. 25 Little Rock at Homestead High School in Mequon, Wis. The dual is slated to start at 7 p.m. and will be streamed by FloWrestling.
Match Results
#18 South Dakota State 18, #7 Minnesota 14
Nov. 25, 2025 | Minneapolis | Williams Arena | Attendance: 2,808
125: #21 Brady Roark (SDSU) dec. #4 Jore Volk, 6-4 | MINN 0, SDSU 3
133: Chris Cannon dec. Cale Seaton (SDSU), 8-1 | MINN 3, SDSU 3
141: #12 Julian Tagg (SDSU) dec. #9 Vance VomBaur, 5-1 | MINN 3, SDSU 6
149: Drew Roberts dec. Avery Allen (SDSU), 4-2 | MINN 6, SDSU 6
157: #21 Cael Swensen (SDSU) dec. #15 Charlie Millard, 7-5 | MINN 6, SDSU 9
165: #9 Andrew Sparks dec. Marcus Espinoza-Owens (SDSU), 2-0 | MINN 9, SDSU 9
174: #27 Moses Espinoza-Owens (SDSU) dec. #20 Ethan Riddle, 4-1 | MINN 9, SDSU 12
184: #3 Max McEnelly TF Brock Fettig (SDSU), 20-5 (5:42) | MINN 14, SDSU 12
197: #7 Bennett Berge (SDSU) dec. #19 Gavin Nelson, 2-1 | MINN 14, SDSU 15
285: #20 Luke Rasmussen (SDSU) dec. #13 Koy Hopke, 7-5 | MINN 14, SDSU 18
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