University of Minnesota Athletics
2022-23 Wrestling Roster
Aaron Nagao
- Class:
- Redshirt Freshman
- Hometown:
- La Habra, Calif.
- High School:
- Esperanza HS
- Position:
- 133 lbs.
2022-23 • REDSHIRT FRESHMAN
- Impressed with a 23-6 record in his first season as Minnesota's 133-pound starter
- Became an All-American as a freshman with a 5th-place finish in first NCAA Championships
- Placed 2nd at the Big Ten Championships to punch ticket to first career NCAA tournament.
- Earned three-straight top-20 wins to reach Big Ten finals at 133 pounds
- Defeated a team-best 12 ranked opponents during his freshman campaign.
- Finished regular season with 8-2 dual record, including 3-1 B1G record.
- Returned from injury against Wisconsin, defeating #30 Taylor LaMont by 5-1 decision (2/11)
- Defeated No. 11 Rayvon Foley by 9-4 decision in his highest-ranked victory of his young career (1/15)
- Earned a comeback overtime victory over Kyle Burwick in road contest vs. Nebraska (1/13)
- Placed third at the Southern Scuffle with a 4-1 record, including two wins over ranked opponents
- Secured two-bonus point victories over Ben Lindley (Lindenwood) and Ethan Rotundo (Cal Poly) on December 11.
- Earned a 6-2 decision over Derrick Cardinal to help lead Minnesota back to comeback win vs. South Dakota State
- Rolled to an 8-2 decision over Ivan Garcia (Binghamton) in first career start for the Maroon & Gold.
- Opened season by winning Bison Open with 3-0 record, including two bonus-point victories
- InterMat preseason rankings slotted Nagao at #27 at 133 pounds
- Placed 5th at the U23 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain
- Made the U23 World Team at 61-kilograms in the offseason
- Went 7-0 at U23 World Team Trials, defeating teammate Jake Gliva in straight matches in the best-of-3 finals
- Academic All-B1G Selection
2021-22 • FRESHMAN
- Went 8-3 in his redshirt season with the Maroon & Gold
- Won the ISU Last Chance Open, going 3-0 with all bonus-point victories
- Made the Southern Scuffle finals at 133 pounds, earning two ranked wins over #26 Kellyn March (NDSU) and #21 Codi Russell (Appalachian State)
- Went 1-2 at the Daktronics Open at 141 pounds
BEFORE MINNESOTA:
- Two- time CIF State Champion for Esperanza High School
- Won the 132-pound title as a senior after defeating Hunter Leake of Buchanan by an 8-2 decision
- Defeated Christian Nunez (Bishop Amat) by a score of 8-2 to win the 126-pound title in 2019
- Four-time California state placewinner under Esperanza head coach Christian Holiday
- Greyshirted in 2021 prior to his arrival at the University of Minnesota
| YEAR | OVERALL W-L | DUAL W-L | BIG TEN W-L | PINS | TFs | MDs | B1G FINISH | NCAA FINISH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 8-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | --- | --- |
| 2022-23* | 23-6 | 8-2 | 3-1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2nd | 5th |
| CAREER | 23-6 | 8-2 | 3-1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | --- | 1x NCAA AA |
Italics - Redshirt Season (not counted in career totals)
Highlights: Gophers 19, Virginia Tech 17
Saturday, November 15
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
