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STATEMENT OF MINNESOTA GOVERNOR JESSE VENTURA: "I'm proud to say that I will be attending the "Border Brawl" Friday night as the #1 ranked Minnesota Golden Gopher wrestling team hosts the #2 Iowa Hawkeyes. I am also looking forward to presenting the first-ever Governor's Belt to the winner. As Minnesota governor, I am honor-bound to support the Gophers . . . with an Iowa joke. In the tradition of Carnac the Magnificent - The answer is: Eight track tapes, rotary phones and the Iowa wrestling team. The question: Name three things that are past their prime."
DID U KNOW - that the inspiration for the Border Brawl came, in part, from a visit by the Golden Gopher coaching staff to a recent World Wrestling Federation(WWF) match? Former Minnesota heavyweights Brock Lesnar and Shelton Benjamin are currently involved in the developmental leagues of the WWF. J Robinson and the coaching staff attended a WWF event in St. Paul in which Lesnar was performing. Much like a WWF match, the Border Brawl will feature an in-arena host, highlight videos, instant replays, taped and live interviews with wrestlers, coaches and fans, pyrotechnics, and much more.
The Border Brawl, this Friday night's much-anticipated wrestling meet between No. 1 Minnesota and No. 2 Iowa, will undoubtedly be a one-of-a-kind college wrestling and college sports event. Set for 7 p.m. at downtown Minneapolis' Target Center, the Border Brawl will be more than a dual meet; the event will also be a record-breaking and tradition-challenging milestone in collegiate grappling. Below is a look at some of the unique and groundbreaking highlights that fans can expect at the Border Brawl.
The top-ranked and defending NCAA Champion Golden Gophers (13-0) host the second-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Target Center in Border Brawl I. The dual meet versus the archrival Hawkeyes is an attempt by Minnesota to break the NCAA wrestling dual meet attendance record of 15,291, set on Feb. 22, 1992, when Iowa defeated Iowa State 29-8 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Minnesota enters the meet versus Iowa with a 2-0 Big Ten record after defeating No. 6 Michigan, 22-10, and No. 13 Michigan State, 37-0, last weekend. Minnesota has not lost a Big Ten dual meet since February 20, 2000versus Iowa (20-13). Minnesota went a perfect 8-0 in the conference last year.
About the Hawkeyes: Iowa comes into the Border Brawl with a No. 2 ranking and a 12-2 overall mark (2-0 Big Ten). The Hawkeyes are led by top-ranked Mike Zadick at 149 pounds and Steve Mocco at heavyweight. Zadick is undefeated on the season with a 22-0 record. Mocco, a true freshman is 26-1 overall. Including Zadick and Mocco, Iowa has eight wrestlers ranked in the top 20 of their respective weight class, according to Amateur Wrestling News. They are Luke Eustice (6th, 125 pounds), Cliff Moore (5th, 133), Matt Anderson (7th, 157), Ben Shirk (20th, 165), Tyler Nixt (8th, 174) and Jessman Smith (4th, 184).
Iowa opened the Big Ten dual season with victories over Ohio State (21-16) Friday in Columbus and Northwestern (40-6) Sunday in Iowa City. Earlier in the season, the Hawkeyes took first place at Midlands and finished in third place at the 2002 National Duals. Iowa finished in third and second at last year's Big Ten and NCAA Championships, respectively. The Hawkeyes return three NCAA qualifiers from the team that scored 125.5 points last season.
The Series: Iowa holds a 53-20-1 advantage over Minnesota in a series dating to 1926. In the last meeting between the Golden Gophers and Hawkeyes, No. 1 Minnesota edged No. 4 Iowa 17-16 in an electrifying dual meet in front of10,048 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. The Maroon and Gold stormed out to a 14-0 lead and held on to hand the Hawkeyes their fourth loss of the season and snap their 15-dual meet home winning streak. Gold Country's last loss to the Hawkeyes came in 1999-2000 in front of a school-record crowd of 13,128 at Williams Arena as No. 1 Iowa downed No. 2Minnesota 20-13.
Ten 'U' Grapplers Listed in AWN Rankings: 100 percent of Minnesota's starting lineup is ranked in the top 15 in the nation, according to Amateur Wrestling News' individual rankings, released Jan. 29. Leading the list for the Maroon and Gold is Minnesota's lone top-ranked grappler, junior Ryan Lewis at 133 pounds. Following close behind with his No. 2 ranking is senior Leroy Vega at 125 pounds. The remaining Golden Gophers ranked in the top 15are: Chad Erikson (6th, 141), Jared Lawrence (3rd, 149), Luke Becker (3rd, 157), John Hardy (13th, 165), Jacob Volkmann (7th, 174), Damion Hahn (5th, 184), Owen Elzen (3rd, 197) and Garrett Lowney (5th, Hwt.).
Minnesota 2-0 in the Big Ten: The Golden Gophers opened the conference season with victories in the state of Michigan. Minnesota first downed No. 6 Michigan 22-10 on the strength of five-straight wins to open the meet. The Maroon and Gold then routed No. 13 Michigan State 37-0, winning four bouts with bonus points.
Atop the Polls: The Golden Gophers are ranked as the top team in the nation, according to several major wrestling polls. Gold Country is listed as the No. 1 squad by National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA),W.I.N. and The Wrestling Mall.com.
On a Record Streak: Minnesota (13-0) has now won a school-record 27consecutive dual meets, dating back to last season. The Maroon and Gold grapplers ended the 2000-01 regular season on a 14-meet winning streak and finished 19-1 overall and 8-0 in the Big Ten. Gold Country's last loss came to Oklahoma State on Jan. 7, 2001, by a score of 25-12 with the Golden Gophers employing a shorthanded lineup. The previous longest dual meet streak in Golden Gopher wrestling history was 23 duals from Jan 22, 1999 to Jan. 23, 2000. Following a 20-17 loss to OSU at the 1999 National Duals, Minnesota reeled off 11-straight dual triumphs to end the season. The U then opened the 1999-2000 season with a 12-meet streak before falling to Iowa State 17-16 at the 2000 National Duals. The 23-meet win streak topped Gold Country's previous two 18-dual meet winning streaks.