College News - Gophers in first after Big Ten day one

March 3, 2001

GOPHERS IN FIRST PLACE AFTER DAY ONE OF BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

The top-ranked University of Minnesota wrestling team finished the first day of competiton at the 2001 Big Ten Championships at Northwestern University in first place with 124.5 points, sending five Golden Gophers into the championship finals. Rounding out the top five in the day one standings are Illinois (110.5 points), Iowa (101.5 pts.) Michigan (87.5 pts.) and Ohio State (86 pts.).

See below for highlights from Minnesota's championship bracket semifinal matches.

"It was a good day for us," Head Coach J Robinson said. "We wrestled hard. True, some of the matches got away from us in the semifinals, but overall, we wrestled well. Our balance is the key. We still have 10 guys that can score points for us. That's really important for our team. It's in our hands; that's for sure. That's what we like. We come in tomorrow and look to score some points."

The consolation finals begin at noon while the championship finals will start at approximately 3 p.m. Sunday, March 3 at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill.

2001 Big Ten Championships

Session 2

Welsh-Ryan Arena; Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

March 3, 2001

Championship Bracket - Golden Gopher Semifinal Results

125 No. 2 seed Leroy Vega (MINN) dec. No. 6 seed Chris Williams (MSU), 8-3

141 No. 2 seed Chad Erikson (MINN) dec. No. 6 seed Grant Hoerr (WIS), 7-2

149 No. 2 seed Jared Lawrence (MINN) dec. No. 3 seed Keaton Anderson (OSU), 12-5

157 No. 2 seed Luke Becker (MINN) maj. dec. No. 3 seed Gray Maynard (MSU), 12-3

165 No. 2 seed Matt Lackey (ILL) dec. No. 3 seed Brad Pike (MINN), 3-1

174 No. 1 seed Otto Olson (MICH) dec. No. 4 seed Jacob Volkmann (MINN), 3-2

184 No. 2 seed Viktor Sveda (IND) dec. No. 3 seed Damion Hahn (MINN), 8-8, SVO, TB

197 No. 5 seed Pat Quirk (ILL) dec. No. 1 seed Owen Elzen (MINN), 3-2

HWT No. 2 seed Garrett Lowney (MINN) dec. No. 3 seed Matt Brink (MICH), 4-2

Golden Gopher Semifinal Highlights:

125 - No. 2 seed Leroy Vega (MINN) dec. No. 6 seed Chris Williams (MSU), 8-3 Second-seeded Leroy Vega advanced to the championship match at 125 pounds behind his 8-3 win over No. 6 seed Chris Williams of Michigan State. With the score tied at two after two periods, Vega registered a takedown and a three-point near-fall to cruise to the final where he will face top-seeded Jody Strittmatter of Iowa. With his semifinal win, Vega has improved upon his past two third-place finishes in the Big Ten Championships in 1999 and 2000.

141 - No. 2 seed Chad Erikson (MINN) dec. No. 6 seed Grant Hoerr (WIS), 7-2 Second-seeded Chad Erikson became Minnesota's second wrestler to reach the title match with his hard-fought 7-2 win over No. 6 seed Grant Hoerr of Wisconsin. Erikson led throughout and clinched the triumph by riding Hoerr out for the entire third period. Erikson advances to the championship match where he will face top-seeded Doug Schwab of Iowa. Erikson is assured of his best finish ever at the Big Ten Championships as he has never placed.

149 - No. 2 seed Jared Lawrence (MINN) dec. No. 3 seed Keaton Anderson (OSU), 12-5 Second-seeded Jared Lawrence downed No. 3 seed Keaton Anderson of Ohio State 12-5 to advance to the 149-pound title match where he will battle top-seeded Adam Tirapelle of Illinois. Lawrence posted four takedowns and a three-point near-fall to ensure the win. He will be looking to avenge his loss to Tirapelle in last year's Big Ten Championships title match.

157 - No. 2 seed Luke Becker (MINN) maj. dec. No. 3 seed Gray Maynard (MSU), 12-3 No. 2 seed Luke Becker became the fourth Golden Gopher to advance to the finals with his 12-3 major decision victory over No. 3 seed Gray Maynard. Becker used two two-point near falls and three takedowns to gain the major decision. He moves on to face archrival T.J. Williams of Iowa, the top seed at 157 pounds. Becker lost 10-4 to Williams in last year's Big Ten title match.

165 - No. 2 seed Matt Lackey (ILL) dec. No. 3 seed Brad Pike (MINN), 3-1 Minnesota's streak of sending Golden Gophers came to a close at 165 pounds as third-seeded Brad Pike fell to No. 2 seed Matt Lackey of Illinois 3-1. Pike led 1-0 after two periods but gave up a Lackey escape and takedown for the eventual match-winning points. Pike now moves to the consolation bracket in search of his second-straight NCAA qualifying place finish.

174 - No. 1 seed Otto Olson (MICH) dec. No. 4 seed Jacob Volkmann (MINN), 3-2 Fourth-seeded Jacob Volkmann put up a valiant effort against top-seeded Otto Olson of Michigan at 174 pounds, but fell just short with his 3-2 loss. Volkmann led 1-0 after the second period, but surrendered an escape and takedown in the final stanza for the loss. Nevertheless, Volkmann moves on to the consolation bracket where he looks to qualify for his first NCAA Championships

184 - No. 2 seed Viktor Sveda (IND) dec. No. 3 seed Damion Hahn (MINN), 8-8 SVO TB In perhaps the most thrilling match of the championships thus far, second-seeded Viktor Sveda of Indiana downed third-seeded Damion Hahn via tiebreaker in the 184-pound semifinal match. With the score tied 8-8 after regulation, the grapplers went to sudden victory overtime and attempted countless shots, but neither could score. The match went to the tiebreaker where Sveda rode Hahn out for the 30-second period to gain the electrifying win. Hahn moves to the consolation bracket where he looks to qualify for his first NCAA Championships.

197 - No. 5 seed Pat Quirk (ILL) dec. No. 1 seed Owen Elzen (MINN), 3-2 Minnesota's drought of sending Maroon and Gold wrestlers to the championship finals continued at 197 pounds as top-seeded Owen Elzen fell to No. 5 seed Pat Quirk of Illinois 3-2. With the score tied at one after two periods, Quirk tallied a takedown in the final stanza and Elzen could only manage an escape. Elzen moves to the consolation bracket in hopes of improving upon his fifth-place finish at last year's Big Ten Championships.

HWT - No. 2 seed Garrett Lowney (MINN) dec. No. 3 seed Matt Brink (MICH), 4-2 Second-seeded heavyweight Garrett Loweny dropped No. 3 seed Matt Brink of Michigan to advance to the championship match. With the score tied at two after two periods, Lowney tallied an escape and added a point with 1:33 advantage time. He battles No. 4 seed John Lockhart of Illinois in the title match in search of his first Big Ten title.

Consolation Bracket - Golden Gopher Results

133 No. 3 seed Brett Lawrence (MINN) dec. Jeff Ratliff (OSU), 4-3

Team Results - At Conclusion of Championship Semifinals

1. Minnesota 124.5

2. Illinois 110.5

3. Iowa 101.5

4. Michigan 87.5

5. Ohio State 86.0

6. Wisconsin 62.5

7. Indiana 54.0

8. Michigan State 47.5

9. Purdue 45.5

10. Penn State 29.0

11. Northwestern 6.0

Championship Bracket - Golden Gopher Finals Match-Ups

125 - No. 2 seed Leroy Vega (MINN) vs. No. 1 seed Jody Strittmatter (IOWA)

141 - No. 2 seed Chad Erikson (MINN) vs. No. 1 seed Doug Schwab (IOWA)

149 - No. 2 seed Jared Lawrence (MINN) vs. No. 1 seed Adam Tirapelle (ILL)

157 - No. 2 seed Luke Becker (MINN) vs. No. 1 seed T.J. Williams (IOWA)

HWT - No. 2 seed Garrett Lowney (MINN) vs. No. 4 seed John Lockhart (ILL)

Consolation Bracket - Golden Gopher Match-ups

133 - No. 3 seed Brett Lawrence (MINN) vs. No. 4 seed Evan Robinson (PUR)

165 - No. 3 seed Brad Pike (MINN) vs. No. 5 seed Charles Martelli (MSU)

174 - No. 4 seed Jacob Volkmann (MINN) vs. No. 7 seed Mark Becks (PSU)

184 - No. 3 seed Damion Hahn (MINN) vs. No. 8 Anton Talamantes (OSU)

197 - No. 1 seed Owen Elzen (MINN) vs. No. 2 Nick Preston (OSU)