University of Minnesota Athletics

2023-24 Wrestling Roster

Sam Skillings
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Skillings Sam
Skillings Sam

Sam Skillings

  • Class:
    Redshirt Junior
  • Hometown:
    Menomonie, Wis.
  • High School:
    Menomonie HS
  • Position:
    174 lbs.
CAREER HONORS AND AWARDS
  • 2024 NWCA Scholar All-American
  • 2x Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
  • 3x Academic All-Big Ten honoree
  • Named Teammate of the Year at 2024 team banquet
  • Winner of Upperclassmen Academic Award at 2023 team banquet
2023-24 • REDSHIRT JUNIOR
  • Went 2-1 to finish second at the Patriots Last Chance Open; lone loss was to teammate Andrew Sparks and wins were by pin and major decision
  • Finished as runner-up at the Edinboro Open with a 4-1 record, won two matches by tech fall and two by pin
  • Reached the finals of the Cougar Clash before medically forfeiting the championship
  • Perfect 3-0 on East Coast road trip against Bucknell, Morgan State and George Mason with one tech fall and one major decision
  • Went 3-0, including a tech-fall victory, at the Bison Open to win the 174-pound title
  • Tied for fourth on the team in wins by pin (3) and by tech fall (5)
  • NWCA Scholar All-American
  • Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
  • Academic All-Big Ten honoree
  • Named Teammate of the Year at annual team banquet
2022-23 • REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE
  • Filled in at 184 pounds against Wisconsin, defeating Tyler Dow by 11-4 decision
  • Made first start of the season against Augustana, defeating Cade Mueller by 6-1 decision.
  • Placed 5th at the Daktronics Open with a 2-2 record
  • Took 3rd at Bison Open with a 3-1 record, including two major-decisions
  • Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
  • Academic All-B1G Selection
  • Winner of Upperclassmen Academic Award at annual team banquet
2021-22 • REDSHIRT FRESHMAN
  • Went 5-3 on the season, including three appearances in starting lineup
  • Won the Last Chance Open at 184 pounds with a pair of falls
  • Started in the Michigan dual on Jan. 28, where we wrestled Olympic bronze medalist Myles Amine
  • Earned first career dual win with a 4-2 decision win over Jon Halvorsen (Northwestern)
  • Made first career start at Iowa vs. #18 Abe Assad on Jan. 7
  • Went 2-1 at the Bison Open to start the season
  • Academic All-Big Ten pick
2020-21 • FRESHMAN
  • Went 1-1 in "extra" matches during his redshirt season
HIGH SCHOOL: 
  • A graduate of Menomonie High School, coached by Ray Paul, Coltin Brehm and Kurt Mueller
  • Finished third at state as a senior after recovering from broken leg suffered during football season 
  • 2019 Wisconsin state runner-up 
  • Big Rivers Conference all-league honoree 
  • Finished second at 2018 Cadet Nationals in freestyle
  • Placed fourth at 2018 USA Wrestling Folkstyle Cadet Nationals 
  • Was 2018 Northern Plains Cadet Regionals champion in Greco-Roman and runner-up in freestyle 
  • Four-year letterwinner and team captain • two-time letterwinner on the football team
  • National Honor Society member
  • First-team academic all-state selection
  • Part of the Mustang Leadership Club
  • Member of Crass Trained Wrestling Club in Eau Claire, Wis.
PERSONAL: 
  • Son of Randy and Angie Skillings
  • Has one sister, Macy 
  • Born January 21, 2002.
YEAR OVERALL W-L DUAL W-L BIG TEN W-L PINS TFs MDs B1G FINISH NCAA FINISH
2020-21 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 --- ---
2021-22 5-3 1-2 1-2 3 0 0 --- ---
2022-23 9-8 2-0 1-0 2 0 2 --- ---
2023-24 14-6 3-3 0-2 3 5 3 --- ---
CAREER 28-17 6-5 2-4 8 5 5 --- ---
Italics - Redshirt Season (not counted in career totals)
Coach's Corner with Brandon Eggum
Friday, November 14
Coach's Corner with Brandon Eggum
Friday, November 07
Coach's Corner with Brandon Eggum
Thursday, October 30
Behind the Scenes: Media Day
Thursday, October 16