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March 9, 2002

 

Gophers in first place after session one of Big Ten Championships

 

The top-ranked University of Minnesota wrestling team finished session one of the 2001 Big Ten Championships at the University of Illinois in first place with 71 points, sending eight of 10 Golden Gophers into the championship semifinals. Rounding out the top five in the session one standings are Iowa (70 points), Ohio State (57 pts.), Michigan (52 pts.) and Illinois (44 pts.). Two Minnesota wins came by fall and four others were by major decision. The semifinals begin tonight at 7 p.m. at Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill.

 

At 125 pounds, Leroy Vega, seeded first, posted two victories to advance to the semifinals where he will face No. 5 seed Twan Pham of Illinois. In the first round, Vega survived a near-upset loss to Tony Black of Wisconsin. Vega overcame 1:33 of UW advantage time with six points in the final period to down Black 10-9. He then posted a 13-7 win over eighth-seeded Jesse Leng of Ohio State to move on to the semis. Top-ranked and top-seeded Ryan Lewis opened his assault at Big Tens, pinning Indiana's Brian Smiley in 4:01. Lewis led 9-1 at the time of the fall and advances to face Iowa's Cliff Moore in the semifinals.

 

At 141 pounds, No. 4 seed Chad Erikson returned to action with a 7-5 win over No. 5 seed Coyte Cooper of Indiana. Erikson led throughout the match to advance to face top-seeded Scott Moore of Penn State. At 149 pounds, Jared Lawrence began his defense of his 2001 individual title with a dominating 18-6 major decision over No. 7 Nate Wachter of Penn State. Lawrence scored eight points in the second period and ended with 3:22 of advantage time. Lawrence takes on No. 3 Mike Kulczycki of Michigan State in the semis.

 

Top-seeded Luke Becker began his tournament with two impressive wins, pinning Adam Turner of Wisconsin in 1:29 and posting a 13-5 major decision on No. 8 Brad Harper of Purdue. Becker moves on to face Iowa's No. 5 Matt Anderson. Minnesota suffered its only losses of the session in the next two weight classes. No. 8 seed Nate Baker fell to top-seeded Matt Lackey of Illinois 13-3 at 165 pounds. Baker moves to the consolation bracket where he will face Jason Bader of Indiana. At 174 pounds, No. 6 seed Brady Reinke turned the tables on No. 3 Jacob Volkmann, pinning the Golden Gopher in 6:26. Volkmann led 6-1 at one point and held a one-point lead with advantage time at the time of the fall.

 

At 184 pounds, No. 3 Damion Hahn moved onto the semis, downing No. 6 Ralph DeNisco 5-3. Hahn led the entire match and will face No. 2 Viktor Sveda of Indiana in the next round. Owen Elzen started his quest for an individual title at 197 pounds, registering a 9-1 major decision on Penn State's Pete Mielnik. Elzen finished the bout with 4:05 of advantage time. He will battle No. 3 Kyle Smith of Michigan in the semifinals. Finally, at heavyweight, No. 3 Garrett Lowney dominated his match against No. 6 Matt Brink of Michigan, dropping the Wolverine 7-0. Lowney will take on No. 2 seed Tommy Rowlands of Ohio State in the next round.

 

The semifinals and consolation matches begin tonight at 7 p.m. at Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill. On Sunday, the consolation finals begin at 11 a.m. while the championship finals will start at 3 p.m.

 

2002 Big Ten Championships

Session 1

Assembly Hall; University of Illinois

Champaign, Illinois

March 9-10, 2002

 

 

Championship Bracket - Golden Gopher First Round Results

125 No. 1 seed Leroy Vega (MINN) dec. Tony Black (WIS), 10-9

133 No. 1 seed Ryan Lewis (MINN) - bye to quarterfinals

141 No. 4 seed Chad Erikson (MINN) - bye to quarterfinals

149 No. 2 seed Jared Lawrence (MINN) - bye to quarterfinals

157 No. 1 seed Luke Becker (MINN) pinned Adam Turner (WIS), 1:29

165 No. 8 seed Nate Baker (MINN) - bye to quarterfinals

174 No. 3 seed Jacob Volkmann (MINN) - bye to quarterfinals

184 No. 3 seed Damion Hahn (MINN) - bye to quarterfinals

197 No. 2 seed Owen Elzen (MINN) - bye to quarterfinals

HWT No. 3 seed Garrett Lowney (MINN) - bye to quarterfinals

 

First-Round Highlights:

125 - No. 1 seed Leroy Vega (MINN) vs. Tony Black (WIS)

First period: Vega takedown 0:15 (2-0); Black escape 0:40 (2-1); Black takedown 1:13 (2-3); Vega reversal 1:45 (4-3); Black escape 1:56 (4-4); Advantage time Vega 0:10

 

Second period: Vega starts down; Black stall warning; Vega stall warning; Advantage time Black 1:50

 

Third period: Black starts down; Black escape 0:01 (4-5); Vega takedown 0:10 (6-5); Black escape (6-6); Vega takedown (8-6); Black escape (8-7); Vega takedown 1:16 (10-7); Black escape 1:53 (10-8); Advantage time Black 1:33 (10-9)

 

Final: Vega dec. Black, 10-9

 

 

157 - No. 1 seed Luke Becker (MINN) vs. Adam Turner (WIS) First period: Becker takedown 0:14 (2-0); Becker 3 pt near fall 0:55 (5-0); Turner escape 0:58 (5-1); Becker takedown (7-1); Becker pin 1:29

 

Final: Becker pinned Turner, 1:29

 

 

Championship Bracket - Golden Gopher Quarterfinal Results

125 No. 1 seed Leroy Vega (MINN) dec. No. 8 seed Jesse Leng (OSU), 13-7

133 No. 1 seed Ryan Lewis (MINN) pinned Brian Smiley (IND), 4:01

141 No. 4 seed Chad Erikson (MINN) dec. No. 5 seed Coyte Cooper (IND), 7-5

149 No. 2 seed Jared Lawrence (MINN) maj. dec. No. 7 seed Nate Wachter (PSU), 18-6

157 No. 1 seed Luke Becker (MINN) maj. dec. No. 8 seed Brad Harper (PUR), 13-5

165 No. 1 seed Matt Lackey (ILL) maj. dec. No. 8 seed Nate Baker (MINN), 13-3

174 No. 6 seed Brady Reinke (WIS) pinned No. 3 seed Jacob Volkmann (MINN), 6:26

184 No. 3 seed Damion Hahn (MINN) dec. No. 6 seed Ralph DeNisco (WIS), 5-3

197 No. 2 seed Owen Elzen (MINN) maj. dec. No. 7 seed Pete Mielnik (PSU), 9-1

HWT No. 3 seed Garrett Lowney (MINN) dec. No. 6 seed Matt Brink (MICH), 7-0

 

Quarterfinals Highlights:

125 - No. 1 seed Leroy Vega (MINN) vs. No. 8 seed Jesse Leng

First period: Leng takedown 0:48 (0-2); Vega escape 0:58 (1-2); Vega takedown 2:43 (3-2); Leng escape 2:54 (3-3); Advantage time Leng 0:01

 

Second period: Leng starts down; Leng escape 0:35 (3-4); Vega takedown 0:42 (5-4); Leng escape 1:25 (5-5); Vega takedown 1:41 (7-5); Advantage time Vega 1:32

 

Third period: Vega starts down; Vega escape 0:08 (8-5); Vega takedown 1:11 (10-5); Leng escape 1:13 (10-6) Vega takedown 1:28 (12-6); Leng escape 1:30 (12-7); Advantage time Vega 1:32 (13-7)

 

Final: Vega dec. Leng, 13-7

 

 

133 - No. 1 seed Ryan Lewis (MINN) vs. Brian Smiley (IND)

First period: Lewis takedown 0:43 (2-0); Smiley escape (2-1); Lewis takedown 2:28 (4-1); Lewis 3 pt near fall 3:00 (7-1); Advantage time Lewis 1:52

 

Second period: Lewis takedown 0:21 (9-1); Lewis pin 1:01

 

Final: Lewis pinned Smiley, 4:01

 

 

141 - No. 4 seed Chad Erikson (MINN) vs. No. 5 seed Coyte Cooper (IND)

First period: Erikson takedown 1:25 (2-0); Cooper reversal 2:29 (2-2); Erikson escape 3:00 (3-2); Advantage time Erikson 0:30

 

Second period: Erikson starts down; Erikson escape 0:02 (4-2); Cooper takedown 0:47 (4-4); Erikson escape 0:49 (5-4); Erikson stall warning 1:40; Advantage time Erikson 0:13

 

Third period: Erikson stall warning (5-5); Erikson takedown 1:50 (7-5); Advantage time Erikson 0:22

 

Final: Erikson dec. Cooper, 7-5

 

 

149 - No. 2 seed Jared Lawrence (MINN) vs. No.7 seed Nate Wachter (PSU)

First period: Lawrence takedown 0:58 (2-0); Advantage time Lawrence 2:01

 

Second period: Lawrence starts down; Lawrence escape 0:07 (3-0); Lawrence takedown (5-0); Wachter escape 0:27 (5-1); Lawrence takedown (7-1); Wachter escape (7-2); Lawrence takedown (9-2); Wachter escape (9-3); Lawrence takedown (11-3); Advantage time Lawrence 2:24

 

Third period: Wachter starts down; Wachter escape (11-4); Wachter stall warning (12-4); Lawrence takedown 0:48 (14-4); Wachter escape (14-5); Lawrence takedown (16-5); Wachter stall warning (17-5); Wachter escape (17-6); Advantage time Lawrence 3:22 (18-6)

 

Final: Lawrence maj. dec. Wachter, 18-6

 

 

157 - No. 1 seed Luke Becker (MINN) vs. No. 8 seed Brad Harper (PUR)

First period: Becker takedown 0:15 (2-0); Harper escape 1:04 (2-1); Becker takedown 2:29 (4-1); Advantage time Becker 1:21

 

Second period: Harper starts down; Harper escape 0:02 (4-2); Becker takedown 0:43 (6-2); Harper escape (6-3); Advantage time Becker 1:48

 

Third period: Becker starts down; Becker reversal 0:38 (8-3); Harper escape 0:51 (8-4); Becker takedown 1:40 (10-4); Harper escape (10-5); Becker takedown 2:00 (12-5); Advantage time Becker 1:25 (13-5)

 

Final: Becker maj. dec. Harper, 13-5

 

 

165 - No. 8 seed Nate Baker (MINN) vs. No. 1 seed Matt Lackey (ILL)

First period: Lackey takedown 1:48 (0-2); Baker escape 2:51 (1-2); Advantage time Lackey 1:13

 

Second period: Lackey starts down; Lackey escape 0:21 (1-3); Lackey takedown 1:54 (1-5); Advantage time Lackey 0:54

 

Third period: Baker starts down; Baker escape 0:23 (2-5); Lackey takedown 0:59 (2-7); Lackey 3 pt near fall 1:32 (2-10); Baker escape 1:32 (3-10); Lackey takedown 1:44 (3-12); Advantage time Lackey 2:08 (13-3)

 

Final: Lackey maj. dec. Baker, 13-3

 

 

174 - No. 3 seed Jacob Volkmann (MINN) vs. No. 6 seed Brady Reinke (WIS)

First period: Volkmann takedown 0:30 (2-0); Advantage time Volkmann 2:29

 

Second period: Volkmann takedown 0:37 (4-0); Reinke escape 1:00 (4-1); Volkmann takedown 1:39 (6-1); Advantage time Volkmann 3:16

 

Third period: Reinke takedown 0:30 (6-3); Volkmann escape 0:40 (7-3); Reinke takedown 0:54 (7-5); Volkmann escape (8-5); Reinke takedown (8-7); Reinke pin 1:26

 

Final: Reinke pinned Volkmann 6:26

 

 

184 - No. 3 seed Damion Hahn (MINN) vs. No. 6 seed Ralph DeNisco (WIS)

First period: Hahn stall warning 1:52; Hahn takedown 2:48 (2-0); Advantage time Hahn 0:12

 

Second period: DeNisco starts down; DeNisco escape 0:32 (2-1); Advantage time Hahn 0:46

 

Third period: Hahn starts down; Hahn escape 0:03 (3-1); Hahn takedown 0:43 (5-1); DeNisco reversal 1:26 (5-3); Advantage time Hahn 0:52

 

Final: Hahn dec. DeNisco, 5-3

 

 

197 - No. 2 seed Owen Elzen (MINN) vs. No. 7 seed Pete Mielnik (PSU)

First period: Elzen takedown 0:28 (2-0); Elzen 2 pt near fall 1:21 (4-0); Advantage time Elzen 2:31

 

Second period: Elzen starts down; Elzen reversal 0:39 (6-0); Advantage time Elzen 3:11

 

Third period: Elzen starts down; Elzen reversal 0:32 (8-0); Technical violation Elzen 1:15 (8-1); Advantage time Elzen 4:05 (9-1)

 

Final: Elzen maj. dec. Mielnik, 9-1

 

 

HWT - No. 3 seed Garrett Lowney (MINN) vs. No. 6 seed Matt Brink (MICH)

First period: Lowney takedown 0:38 (2-0); Brink stall warning (3-0); Advantage time Lowney 2:19

 

Second period: Lowney starts down; Lowney escape 0:07 (4-0); Lowney takedown 1:56 (6-0); Advantage time Lowney 2:14

 

Third period: No scoring; Advantage time Lowney 2:14 (7-0)

 

Final: Lowney dec. Brink, 7-0

 

 

Team Results - At Conclusion of Championship Quarterfinals

1. Minnesota 71.0

2. Iowa 70.0

3. Ohio State 57.0

4. Michigan 52.0

5. Illinois 44.0

6. Penn State 29.0

7. Indiana 21.0

8. Michigan State 19.0

8. Purdue 19.0

10. Wisconsin 18.0

11. Northwestern 4.0

 

Championship Bracket - Golden Gopher Semifinal Match-ups

125 No. 1 Leroy Vega (MINN) vs. No. 5 Twan Pham (ILL)

133 No. 1 Ryan Lewis (MINN) vs. No. 4 Cliff Moore (IOWA)

141 No. 4 Chad Erikson (MINN) vs. No. 1 Scott Moore (PSU)

149 No. 2 Jared Lawrence (MINN) vs. No. 3 Mike Kulczycki (MSU)

157 No. 1 Luke Becker (MINN) vs. No. 5 Matt Anderson (IOWA)

184 No. 3 Damion Hahn (MINN) vs. No. 2 seed Viktor Sveda (IND)

197 No. 2 Owen Elzen (MINN) vs. No. 3 Kyle Smith (MICH)

HWT No. 3 Garrett Lowney (MINN) vs. No. 2 Tommy Rowlands (OSU)

 

Consolation Bracket - Golden Gopher Match-ups

165 No. 8 Nate Baker (MINN) vs. Jason Bader (IND)

174 No. 3 Jacob Volkmann (MINN) vs. Todd Brennan (PSU)