2001-02 College News - Gophers on the road this weekend

Gophers on the road this weekend

2/7/02

The top-ranked and defending NCAA Champion Golden Gophers (14-0) take on Northwestern and No. 15 Purdue this weekend on the road. Minnesota wrestles the Wildcats in Evanston, Ill., Friday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. Then, on Sunday, the Maroon and Gold battle the Boilermakers at 2 p.m. at Portage (Ind.) High School, senior 125-pounder Leroy Vega's alma mater.

Minnesota enters the weekend with a 3-0 Big Ten record after defeating No. 2 Iowa, 22-15, last Friday in the Border Brawl. Minnesota has not lost a Big Ten dual meet since February 20, 2000 versus Iowa (20-13). Minnesota went a perfect 8-0 in the conference last year.

About the Wildcats: Northwestern enters its meet with Minnesota with a 7-9 overall record and an 0-4 mark in the Big Ten. The Wildcats opened the conference season with losses to Purdue, Illinois, Iowa and Penn State. NU does not have any wrestlers ranked in the nation's top 20. The Wildcats are led by 141-pounder John Giacche (24-5 overall) and 165-pound Ryan Kane (24-9 overall).

Northwestern finished in 11th place at last season's Big Ten Championships, scoring six points. The Wildcats did not have a wrestler qualify for the NCAA Championships.

The Series: Minnesota holds a 33-17-1 advantage over Northwestern in a series dating to 1929. In the last meeting between the Golden Gophers and Wildcats, on Feb. 18, 2000, No. 2 Minnesota crushed NU 35-6 in Fairmont, Minn.

Gold Country's last loss to the Wildcats came on Jan. 20, 1996 when the Golden Gophers fell 25-9 in Evanston, Ill.

About the Boilermakers: Purdue enters the weekend as a surprise performer on both the conference and national stages. The Boilermakers began the season unranked, but have risen to the tune of a No. 18 ranking with their 12-3 overall record. Purdue's lone losses on the season have come to No. 9 Missouri (18-16), No. 4 Michigan (27-9) and No. 3 Ohio State (27-8). The Boilers have posted wins in the conference over Northwestern (24-9) and No. 19 Michigan State (24-10). Purdue is led by third-ranked Chris Fleeger at 125 pounds (21-1 overall), No. 9 Ryan Lange at 165 (22-4 overall). and No. 6 Jake Vercelli heavyweight (20-1 overall).

The Boilermakers finished in ninth place at last season's Big Ten Championships, scoring 50 points. Purdue tallied 15.5 points at NCAAs to place 25th. Vercelli returns from his 2001 All-American season. He finished eighth at heavyweight in 2001.

The Series: Minnesota holds a 39-16-2 advantage over Purdue in a series dating to 1926. In the last meeting between the Golden Gophers and Boilers, No. 1 Minnesota routed PU 31-6 at Williams Arena. Gold Country's last loss to Purdue came on Feb. 23, 1992 when the Golden Gophers lost 21-16 in West Lafayette, Ind.

Border Brawl I at the Target Center proved to be a success for all parties but the Iowa Hawkeyes as top-ranked Minnesota (14-0) defeated Iowa 22-15 in front of 15,646 fans at Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. The meet set a NCAA attendance record for a collegiate wrestling dual meet. The previous record of 15,291 was set on Feb. 22, 1992 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City in a meet between Iowa and Iowa State.

Minnesota stormed out to a quick 6-0 lead on decisions by Leroy Vega and Ryan Lewis. At 125 pounds, Vega, ranked second in the nation, scored a takedown 50 seconds into overtime to defeat sixth-ranked Luke Eustice 7-5. Lewis dominated fifth-ranked Cliff Moore at 133 pounds, scoring two near fall points and a takedown in a 6-0 decision.

Iowa quickly tied the match at 141 pounds when unranked Luke Moffitt pinned fourth-ranked Chad Erikson at 4:19. The upset tied the score at 6-6. Iowa took its only lead of the meet at 9-6 when top ranked Mike Zadick decisioned third-ranked Jared Lawrence 3-1. Zadick used a takedown with 14 seconds remaining in the match to steal the win.

Minnesota got back on the board with a major decision by Luke Becker at 157 pounds. Becker scored three takedowns en route to the 10-2 major decision over Matt Anderson. John Hardy put the Golden Gophers on top 14-9 with a 14-5 major decision over Cory Connell at 165 pounds. Hardy scored six takedowns in the match.

Iowa closed to 14-12 when eighth-ranked Tyler Nixt decisioned seventh-ranked Jacob Volkmann at 174 pounds, but Minnesota quickly recovered when Damion Hahn dominated fourth-ranked Jessman Smith at 184 pounds. Hahn had three takedowns and three near fall points in the 13-2 major decision. Hahn's victory put Minnesota ahead 18-12.

At 197 pounds, third-ranked Owen Elzen sealed the meet with an 11-0 major decision over Trey Clark to take a 22-12 lead. Iowa's Steve Mocco, ranked number one at heavyweight, defeated fifthra n ked Garrett Low n ey 2-1 in a tiebrea ke r. Mo c co escaped Lowney's grasp with 16 seconds left in the period.