January 12, 2001
No. 2 Golden Gopher wrestlers drop No. 11 Boise State 22-14
Boise, Idaho - The second-ranked University of Minnesota wrestling team defeated No. 11 Boise 22-14 in Boise, Idaho, winning six of ten matches to roll to victory. The Broncos won their four matches in the first six to take the team lead, but the Golden Gophers captured the final four bouts to push their record to 7-1 on the season.
The meet opened at 157 pounds with fifth-ranked Luke Becker losing to third-ranked Kirk White by a 2-1 decision. The loss was Becker1s first in a dual meet this season. Minnesota rebounded at 165 pounds as No. 3 Brad Pike posted a 19-4 technical fall on BSU's Casey Eager. Pike moved his overall record to 19-2, including a 7-0 mark in dual meets.
At 174 pounds, the Broncos retook the team lead with Pat Owens 6-3 decision victory over No. 16 Matt Kraft. Damion Hahn responded at 184 pounds, however, dropping Cash Edwards with a 12-4 major decision. Once again, Boise State recaptured the lead with consecutive victories at 197 pounds and heavyweight. Eighth-ranked Rusty Cook posted a 22-7 technical fall on Minnesota freshman Eli Ross at 197 pounds and No. 8 Bart Johnson followed with a 3-1 decision win over Mike Flanagan at heavyweight.
Minnesota, trailing 14-9, reeled off four-straight victories to avoid the upset in Boise, Idaho. At 125 pounds, No. 4 Leroy Vega broke his three-match losing streak, defeating No. 18 Ben Vombauer 7-2. With the win, Vega improved to 16-3 on the season. Brett Lawrence continued his domination at 133 pounds, notching a 15-6 major decision triumph over Charlie Griggs. Lawrence gave the Golden Gophers the team lead for good and moved his overall record to 15-1. His lone loss on the year came in the title match at the Midlands Wrestling Championships to Cody Sanderson, formerly of Iowa State.
At 141 pounds, No. 7 Chad Erikson remained unbeaten in dual meets at 8-0 with his 6-1 victory over Gabe Vigil. Third-ranked Jared Lawrence clinched the win for Minnesota in the 149-pound match, defeating Collin Robertson 12-5. Lawrence improved to 18-1 on the year, including a 6-1 dual meet mark. The Golden Gophers head to the Cliff Keen/NWCA National Wrestling Duals on Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 20-21, in State College, Pa. The National Duals will serve as the debut for Olympic bronze medal-winner Garrett Lowney. Lowney, a native of Freedom, Wis., will wrestle at heavyweight for the second-ranked Minnesota grapplers.