2001-02 College News -

2/13/02

Gophers hos Badgers, Fighting Illini this weekend

The top-ranked and defending NCAA Champion Golden Gophers (16-0) host the 16th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers and the 13th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini this weekend at Williams Arena in Big Ten dual meet action. Minnesota battles UWFriday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m., and UI Sunday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. The meet versus Illinois will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Net.

#1 Minnesota vs. #16 Wisconsin (10-8, 2-3 Big Ten) Friday, Feb. 15 • 7:30 pm
#1 Minnesota vs. #13 Illinois (11-2, 4-1 Big Ten) • Sunday, Feb. 17 • 7:30 pm
Both meets at Williams Arena • Sunday live on Fox Sports Net

Probable Minnesota (16-0, 5-0 Big Ten) starters 01-02 overall, dual, Big Ten record (pins)
125 - No. 2/2 Leroy Vega (Sr., Portage, Ind.) 25-2, 15-1, 5-0 (0)
133 - 1/1 Ryan Lewis (Jr., Vernal, Utah) 22-0, 11-0, 5-0 (6)
141 - 7/7 Chad Erikson (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.) 14-3, 7-3, 1-1 (5)
or Trent Hatlevig (So., Caledonia, Minn.) 12-8, 4-3, 2-1 (1)
149 - 3/2 Jared Lawrence (Jr., Sandpoint, Idaho) 24-2, 14-1, 4-1 (7)
157 - 3/3 Luke Becker (Jr., Cambridge, Minn.) 25-3, 13-2, 5-0 (9)
165 - 12/NR John Hardy (Jr., Princeton, Ind.) 16-7, 4-4, 2-1 (3)
or Nate Baker (Fr., Lakefield, Minn.) 23-10, 2-4, 0-2 (6)
174 - 8/8 Jacob Volkmann (So., Henning, Minn.) 20-6, 11-4, 3-2 (6)
184 - 4/4 Damion Hahn (So., Lakewood, N.J.) 22-7, 12-3, 3-1 (1)
197 - 3/3 Owen Elzen (Sr., Eyota, Minn.) 26-2, 16-0, 5-0 (8)
HWT - 5/5 Garrett Lowney (So., Freedom, Wis.) 20-4, 13-3, 4-1 (6)

Probable Wisconsin (10-8, 2-3 Big Ten) starters 01-02 overall record
125 - No. 14/20 Tony Black (Jr., River Falls, Wis.) 13-6
133 - 4/4 Kevin Black (Jr., River Falls, Wis.) 18-4
141 - 17/17 Grant Hoerr (Sr., Morton, Ill.) 21-9
149 - Tyler Laudon (Fr., Tomah, Wis.) 14-16
157 - Chris Borchardt (Fr., Hartland, Wis.) 1-3
165 - Ryan Lewis (So., Waukesha, Wis.) 9-17
174 - Brady Reinke (Fr., Phillips, Wis.) 20-11
184 - 13/13 Ralph DeNisco (So., Woodcliffe Lake, N.J.) 20-8
197 - Jareck Horton (So., Apple Valley, Minn.) 6-12
HWT - Justin Staebler (Jr., Perham, Minn.) 11-7

Probable Illinois (11-2, 4-1 Big Ten) starters 01-02 overall record
125 - No. 13/14 Twan Pham (Sr., Palatine, Ill.) 21-6
133 - Chad Hay (Sr., Sandwich, Ill.) 13-8
141 - Eric Novak (Fr., Tinley Park, Ill.) 13-13
149 - 17/15 Ryan Berger (Jr., Mahomet, Ill.) 19-7
157 - 18/NR Griff Powell (Sr., Morton Grove, Ill.) 16-4
165 - 3/2 Matt Lackey (Jr., Moline, Ill.) 27-1
174 - Brian Glynn (Fr., Tinley Park, Ill.) 15-10
184 - 15/12 Jason Potter (So., St. Charles, Ill.) 18-7
197 - Tyrone Byrd (Fr., Clinton, Ill.) 15-7
Hwt - 3/4 John Lockhart (Sr., Mahomet, Ill.) 25-2

* Rankings from the Feb. 12 Amateur Wrestling News/TheWrestlingMall.com rankings

Minnesota enters the weekend with a 5-0 Big Ten re cord after defeating Northwestern, 38-6, and No. 18 Purdue, 35-3, on the road. Minnesota has not lost a Big Ten dual meet since February 20, 2000 versus Iowa (20-13). The Maroon and Gold went a perfect 8-0 in the conference last year.

About the Badgers: Wisconsin enters the meet versus Minnesota with a 10-8 overall record and a 2-3 mark in the Big Ten. The Badgers are currently ranked 16th in the nation in the WrestlingMall.com poll. UW's led by junior 133-pounder Kevin Black, a two- time NCAA qualifier, and senior 141-pounder Grant Hoerr, an All-American in 2001. Black and Hoerr are ranked fourth and 18th, respectively.

In 2001, Wisconsin finished in sixth place at Big Tens and in a tie for 10th at the NCAA Championships. UW's Don Pritzalff won the 165-pound conference and national titles. Hoerr, the fourth-place NCAA finisher at 141 pounds in 2001, is Wisconsin's lone returning All-American.

The Series: Minnesota holds a 50-28-1 advantage over Wisconsin in a series dating to 1926. In the last meeting between the Golden Gophers and Badgers, No. 1 Minnesota thrashed No. 21 Wisconsin 33-6, winning eight of 10 matches. The Golden Gophers have not lost to the Badgers since the 1995-96 sea son, a stretch of five dual meets.

About the Fighting Illini: Illinois comes into the meet versus the Golden Gophers with an 11-2 overall record and a 4-1 mark in the Big Ten. The Fighting Illini posted a banner year in 2000-01, finishing second at the Big Ten Championships and fifth at the NCAA Championships. Adam Tirapelle (149) and John Lockhart (Hwt) picked up individual national titles as well. This season, Illinois returns two All-Americans in junior Matt Lackey (165) and senior Lockhart. Five Illini wrestlers are ranked in the top 20 of their respective weight class - Ryan Berger (17th, 149), Griff Powell (18th, 15 7), Matt Lackey (3rd, 165), Jason Potter (20th, 184) and Lockhart (3rd, Hwt).

The Series: Minnesota holds a 24-19-2 advantage over Wisconsin in a series dating to 1926. In the last meeting between the Golden Gophers and Illini, No. 1 Minnesota downed No. 6 Illinois 22-12, winning five- straight matches from 197 to 141 pounds to roll to victory. Th e Golden Gophers have not lost to the Fighting Illini since the 1984-85 sea son, a stretch of nine dual meets .