University of Minnesota Athletics
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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Hopke Sweeps Weekly Big Ten Awards
11/6/2025 2:30:00 PM | Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota's Koy Hopke swept the weekly Big Ten awards Thursday, taking home honors for Wrestler of the Week and Freshman of the Week, the conference announced.
The Golden Gophers opened the 2025-26 season Sunday with four individual titles at the Southeast Open in Salem, Va. Arguably the most impressive performance belonged to Hopke, a redshirt freshman from Amery, Wis., who knocked off three ranked opponents to win the heavyweight title.
After missing all of last season due to injury, Hopke made his collegiate debut by pinning Presbyterian's George Hopkins at the 1:39 mark. He then shut out No. 30 Stephan Monchery of Appalachian State, 8-0, before another major decision in the semifinals, this time over No. 14 Jimmy Mullen of Virginia Tech, 12-1.Â
In the finals, Hopke had to go up against Gophers teammate and 25th-ranked Bennett Tabor. Both could only register escapes in regulation, but Hopke got the winning takedown in overtime for the 4-1 victory and tournament title.
With the addition of Freshman of the Week honors prior to last season, Hopke joins Minnesota teammate Max McEnelly as two of the three wrestlers in league history to sweep the awards.
The Golden Gophers opened the 2025-26 season Sunday with four individual titles at the Southeast Open in Salem, Va. Arguably the most impressive performance belonged to Hopke, a redshirt freshman from Amery, Wis., who knocked off three ranked opponents to win the heavyweight title.
After missing all of last season due to injury, Hopke made his collegiate debut by pinning Presbyterian's George Hopkins at the 1:39 mark. He then shut out No. 30 Stephan Monchery of Appalachian State, 8-0, before another major decision in the semifinals, this time over No. 14 Jimmy Mullen of Virginia Tech, 12-1.Â
In the finals, Hopke had to go up against Gophers teammate and 25th-ranked Bennett Tabor. Both could only register escapes in regulation, but Hopke got the winning takedown in overtime for the 4-1 victory and tournament title.
With the addition of Freshman of the Week honors prior to last season, Hopke joins Minnesota teammate Max McEnelly as two of the three wrestlers in league history to sweep the awards.
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