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Photo by: Claudia Staut
Team Awards Handed Out at Wrestling Banquet
5/16/2025 1:05:00 PM | Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota wrestling team honored its 2024-25 squad, which finished fifth at the NCAA Championships, at its end-of-season awards banquet Thursday night.
Returning to Minnesota after three years, Gable Steveson was named winner of the J Robinson Outstanding Wrestler Award. He was also one of three to be recognized with the All-American Award after a second-place finish at NCAAs, becoming the first five-time All-American in Gophers history.
Steveson went 18-1 on the year, including a perfect 11-0 mark in duals and 8-0 record in Big Ten action. With his second-place finish at the NCAAs, he became the only wrestler in program history to produce four top-3 finishes at the event. He also won his fourth career Big Ten title, the second Gopher to accomplish the feat overall and the first in conference history at heavyweight. For his performance, he was dubbed the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Big Ten Championships, the only Gopher to win the award twice and just the third in Big Ten history to do so.
He finished his career with the best winning percentage in Gopher history with an 103-3 career record (.972). He was a perfect 59-0 in dual competition, with a 44-0 mark against Big Ten opponents. He also embarked on a 70-match win streak, the second longest in program history. Steveson finished 16th in Gopher history with 59 career dual wins and tied for 43rd in program history with 103 career wins.
Max McEnelly was recognized as the Minnesota Freshman of the Year, in addition to taking home an All-American Award after a third-place finish at 184 pounds. It was the best by a Gopher at the weight since 2007. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year, McEnelly went 25-2 on the season with a 12-0 mark in duals and 8-0 record in the Big Ten. His only losses were to a five-time national champion in the Big Ten championship match, as well as in the national semifinals to the defending champion at 184.
Redshirt junior Vance VomBaur was presented with both the Verne Gagne "Leadership Award" and the All-American Award, as he placed eighth at 141 pounds for the second year in a row at NCAAs. VomBaur was 26-7 on the season with a 10-2 record in duals and 6-2 mark in the Big Ten. A Big Ten Championship finalist, he is one of 59 multi-time All-American in Gophers history and the fourth to do so at 141 pounds.
Fifth-year senior Andrew Sparks earned the Most Improved Award. A year ago at 174 pounds, he finished 14-10 overall and sixth at Big Tens, while this year he dropped back down to 165 and posted a 23-7 record with a career best fourth-place finish at the conference tournament. He also improved his dual record from 3-4 to 9-3 and upped his tech fall total from two last year to 11 this season.
Fellow fifth-year Tommy Askey was touted as the Most Dedicated. A transfer from Appalachian State, Askey reached the Blood Round at NCAAs at 157 pounds. He went 26-7 on the season overall, 9-2 in duals and 6-2 in the Big Ten. A fifth-place finisher at Big Tens, Askey tied for the team lead in both overall wins (26) and matches wrestled (33).
Two honors went to fifth-year senior Isaiah Salazar as he was presented with the Fraser Dean "Most Courageous" Award and the Upperclassmen Academic Award. After four years at 184 pounds, Salazar moved up to 197 for his final year in the Maroon and Gold and became a four-time national qualifier at the NCAA Championships. He went 19-8 on the year, 9-2 in duals and 5-2 in the Big Ten. He also picked up NWCA Scholar All-American honors for the second time in his career and Academic All-Big Ten recognition for the fourth time.
Joining Salazar as winners of the Upperclassmen Academic Award were redshirt senior Tim Stapleton and redshirt freshman Ethan Riddle, all of whom recorded 4.0 GPAs. Stapleton, who also won the award last year, became a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree this season. He competed in three events at 157 pounds this year, highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the Bison Open. Riddle, who was an NWCA Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten selection this year, went 16-6 at 174 pounds. He went undefeated at the Daktronics Open and finished second at the Cougar Clash.
In addition to his academic honor, Stapleton was also co-winner of Teammate of the Year with fellow redshirt senior Theo Cha. Competing at 149 pounds, Cha took part in four events, including a major decision in a home exhibition match against Rutgers in February. He was also an Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
The Most Falls Award was shared by redshirt junior Bennett Tabor and true freshman Charlie Millard as both registered four victories by pin this season.
With a 4.0 GPA, Koy Hopke took home the Freshman Academic Award.
In addition, Askey, McEnelly, Quincy Hulverson, Brandon Morvari and Clayton Whiting all received recognition as first-year letterwinners.
A full list of all the honorees can be found below.
J Robinson Outstanding Wrestler
Gable Steveson
Freshman of the Year
Max McEnelly
All-American Award
Max McEnelly, Gable Steveson and Vance VomBaur
Verne Gagne Leadership Award
Vance VomBaur
Most Improved
Andrew Sparks
Most Dedicated
Tommy Askey
Fraser Dean Most Courageous
Isaiah Salazar
Most Falls
Charlie Millard and Bennett Tabor
Teammate of the Year
Theo Cha and Tim Stapleton
Upperclassmen Academic Award
Ethan Riddle, Isaiah Salazar and Tim Stapleton
Freshman Academic Award
Koy Hopke
First-Year Letterwinners
Tommy Askey, Quincy Hulverson, Max McEnelly, Brandon Morvari and Clayton Whiting
Returning to Minnesota after three years, Gable Steveson was named winner of the J Robinson Outstanding Wrestler Award. He was also one of three to be recognized with the All-American Award after a second-place finish at NCAAs, becoming the first five-time All-American in Gophers history.
Steveson went 18-1 on the year, including a perfect 11-0 mark in duals and 8-0 record in Big Ten action. With his second-place finish at the NCAAs, he became the only wrestler in program history to produce four top-3 finishes at the event. He also won his fourth career Big Ten title, the second Gopher to accomplish the feat overall and the first in conference history at heavyweight. For his performance, he was dubbed the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Big Ten Championships, the only Gopher to win the award twice and just the third in Big Ten history to do so.
He finished his career with the best winning percentage in Gopher history with an 103-3 career record (.972). He was a perfect 59-0 in dual competition, with a 44-0 mark against Big Ten opponents. He also embarked on a 70-match win streak, the second longest in program history. Steveson finished 16th in Gopher history with 59 career dual wins and tied for 43rd in program history with 103 career wins.
Max McEnelly was recognized as the Minnesota Freshman of the Year, in addition to taking home an All-American Award after a third-place finish at 184 pounds. It was the best by a Gopher at the weight since 2007. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year, McEnelly went 25-2 on the season with a 12-0 mark in duals and 8-0 record in the Big Ten. His only losses were to a five-time national champion in the Big Ten championship match, as well as in the national semifinals to the defending champion at 184.
Redshirt junior Vance VomBaur was presented with both the Verne Gagne "Leadership Award" and the All-American Award, as he placed eighth at 141 pounds for the second year in a row at NCAAs. VomBaur was 26-7 on the season with a 10-2 record in duals and 6-2 mark in the Big Ten. A Big Ten Championship finalist, he is one of 59 multi-time All-American in Gophers history and the fourth to do so at 141 pounds.
Fifth-year senior Andrew Sparks earned the Most Improved Award. A year ago at 174 pounds, he finished 14-10 overall and sixth at Big Tens, while this year he dropped back down to 165 and posted a 23-7 record with a career best fourth-place finish at the conference tournament. He also improved his dual record from 3-4 to 9-3 and upped his tech fall total from two last year to 11 this season.
Fellow fifth-year Tommy Askey was touted as the Most Dedicated. A transfer from Appalachian State, Askey reached the Blood Round at NCAAs at 157 pounds. He went 26-7 on the season overall, 9-2 in duals and 6-2 in the Big Ten. A fifth-place finisher at Big Tens, Askey tied for the team lead in both overall wins (26) and matches wrestled (33).
Two honors went to fifth-year senior Isaiah Salazar as he was presented with the Fraser Dean "Most Courageous" Award and the Upperclassmen Academic Award. After four years at 184 pounds, Salazar moved up to 197 for his final year in the Maroon and Gold and became a four-time national qualifier at the NCAA Championships. He went 19-8 on the year, 9-2 in duals and 5-2 in the Big Ten. He also picked up NWCA Scholar All-American honors for the second time in his career and Academic All-Big Ten recognition for the fourth time.
Joining Salazar as winners of the Upperclassmen Academic Award were redshirt senior Tim Stapleton and redshirt freshman Ethan Riddle, all of whom recorded 4.0 GPAs. Stapleton, who also won the award last year, became a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree this season. He competed in three events at 157 pounds this year, highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the Bison Open. Riddle, who was an NWCA Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten selection this year, went 16-6 at 174 pounds. He went undefeated at the Daktronics Open and finished second at the Cougar Clash.
In addition to his academic honor, Stapleton was also co-winner of Teammate of the Year with fellow redshirt senior Theo Cha. Competing at 149 pounds, Cha took part in four events, including a major decision in a home exhibition match against Rutgers in February. He was also an Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
The Most Falls Award was shared by redshirt junior Bennett Tabor and true freshman Charlie Millard as both registered four victories by pin this season.
With a 4.0 GPA, Koy Hopke took home the Freshman Academic Award.
In addition, Askey, McEnelly, Quincy Hulverson, Brandon Morvari and Clayton Whiting all received recognition as first-year letterwinners.
A full list of all the honorees can be found below.
J Robinson Outstanding Wrestler
Gable Steveson
Freshman of the Year
Max McEnelly
All-American Award
Max McEnelly, Gable Steveson and Vance VomBaur
Verne Gagne Leadership Award
Vance VomBaur
Most Improved
Andrew Sparks
Most Dedicated
Tommy Askey
Fraser Dean Most Courageous
Isaiah Salazar
Most Falls
Charlie Millard and Bennett Tabor
Teammate of the Year
Theo Cha and Tim Stapleton
Upperclassmen Academic Award
Ethan Riddle, Isaiah Salazar and Tim Stapleton
Freshman Academic Award
Koy Hopke
First-Year Letterwinners
Tommy Askey, Quincy Hulverson, Max McEnelly, Brandon Morvari and Clayton Whiting
Gopher Wrestling Tries Gymnastics
Thursday, May 29
Steveson Advances to NCAA Title Match
Friday, March 21
Gable Steveson: NCAA Quarterfinals
Friday, March 21
Gable Steveson: NCAA Pin
Thursday, March 20