February 4, 2001
NO. 1 GOLDEN GOPHER WRESTLERS DROP NO. 6 ILLINOIS 22-12
By Kevin Kurtt
The top-ranked University of Minnesota wrestling team defeated No. 6 Illinois 22-12 Champaign, Ill., to win its 10th consecutive dual meet and improve to 15-1 on the season, including a 4-0 mark in Big Ten dual meets. The Golden Gophers won five straight matches from 197 to 141 pounds to roll to victory.
The meet started at 165 pounds with third ranked Brad Pike falling to Illinois1 No. 9 Matt Lackey 5-3. With the loss, Pike falls to 25-4 on the year, including a 14-2 mark in dual meets. Minnesota responded at 174 pounds, tying the team score at three, behind No. 16 Jacob Volkmann's 7-2 triumph over No. 15 Ben King. Following a King takedown in the first period, Volkmann scored six unanswered points to ensure the win.
In one of the featured matches of the day, second-ranked Nate Patrick of Illinois downed No. 4 Damion Hahn 5-3 to give the Fighting Illini a 6-3 lead. It was Hahn's second loss of the season to Patrick. The Illini grappler defeated the Golden Gopher 4-3 at the Midlands Tournament. Minnesota rebounded in a big way at 197 pounds as ninth-ranked Owen Elzen pinned eighth-ranked Pat Quirk at 5:49 to give the Maroon and Gold six team points and a 9-6 lead. Elzen, now 18-1 on the year, was leading 5-2 at the time of the pin.
At heavyweight, second-ranked Garrett Lowney remained undefeated on the season with his 3-1 overtime win over No. 6 John Lockhart. Lowney, 10-0 on the season, scored a takedown with five seconds remaining in sudden victory to clinch the win. Minnesota stayed in the win column as third-ranked Leroy Vega defeated Ryan Escobar 3-2 at 125 pounds. Vega won the match with 1:29 of advantage time. At 133 pounds, third-ranked Brett Lawrence took the lead in the second period and never looked back, defeating David Stoltz 5-4 to give Minnesota a commanding 18-6 lead.
At 141 pounds, Chad Erikson clinched the team victory with his 11-2 major decision triumph over Mike Castillo. Erikson ended with 2:01 of advantage time. In the other featured match of the meet, second-ranked Adam Tirapelle of Illinois defeated third-ranked Jared Lawrence 3-2. Lawrence nearly scored a last-second takedown to win, but he did not fully take Tirapelle down to get the needed two points. Lawrence drops to 23-4 on the year with an 11-4 mark in dual meets. An overtime match closed out the meet as Griff Powell downed fifth-ranked Luke Becker 3-1 in extra time in the 157-pound match. Powell scored a takedown with 18 seconds remaining in overtime to defeat Becker.
Minnesota hosts No. 7 Michigan State, Friday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Sports Pavilion and No. 20 Penn State, Sunday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. at Williams Arena to close out its home schedule. at Illinois