December 10, 2000 at Lakewood High School, Lakewood, N.J.
TOP-RANKED MINNESOTA WRESTLERS FLATTEN PRINCETON AND SETON HALL
The top-ranked University of Minnesota wrestling team pummeled Princeton and Seton Hall to sweep the team1s three dual meets on the day on the East Coast. The Golden Gophers shutout Princeton 45-0 and destroyed Seton Hall 37-2 at Lakewood (N.J.) High School, Golden Gopher grappler Damion Hahn's alma mater. Earlier in the day, the Maroon and Gold routed No. 19 Hofstra 33-3 in Hempstead, N.Y. With the wins, Minnesota improved to 5-0 on the season.
Against Princeton, the Golden Gophers notched pins in four matches as Leroy Vega (125 pounds), Brett Lawrence (133 pounds), Jared Lawrence (149 pounds) and Jacob Volkmann (165 pounds) each won their matches by falls. Luke Becker won by major decision at 157 pounds, defeating Princeton1s Jon Bunt 21-9.
Owen Elzen notched a 17-1 technical fall win over Chris McLaughlin at 197 pounds. Chad Erikson at 141 pounds, Brad Pike at 174 pounds, Hahn at 184 pounds and Mike Flanagan at heavyweight each won by decision to ensure the Minnesota victory.
Versus Seton Hall, Minnesota won nine of ten matches to remain undefeated on the season in dual meets. Elzen pinned Fikret Darzanoff in 4:02 at 197 pounds and Flanagan pinned Carlso Panfili in 6:25 to give the Golden Gophers 12 team points. At 125 pounds, Vega defeated SHU's Tom Becker with a 17-2 technical fall.
Minnesota's lone loss to the Pirates came at 133 pounds where Ryan Lewis, filling in for Brett Lawrence, lost to David Ilaria 7-6 in the closest match of the day. Erikson, at 141 pounds, and Becker, at 157, each won by major decisions. Trent Hatlevig (149 pounds), Brad Pike (165 pounds), Matt Kraft (174 pounds) and Damion Hahn (184 pounds) all won their matches by decision. Seton Hall had a team point taken away for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Minnesota next competes in the Midlands Tournament on Dec. 29-30, in Evanston, Ill. before hosting No. 2 Oklahoma State on Jan. 7, 2001, at Williams Arena at 3 p.m.