2001-02 College News - Minnesota in first place after day one of Big Ten Championships


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March 9, 2002

Minnesota in first place after day one of Big Ten Championships

The top-ranked University of Minnesota wrestling team finished the first day of competiton at the 2002 Big Ten Championships at the University of Illinois in first place with 144 points, sending an impressive seven Golden Gophers into the championship finals. Rounding out the top five in the day one standings are Iowa (107 pts.), Ohio State (105.5 pts.), Michigan (91.5 pts.) and Illinois (77 pts.). With the day one performance, Minnesota once again qualifies all 10 of its wrestlers as no Golden Gopher can finish worse than sixth place. The Big Ten sends the top seven from each weight class to the NCAAs plus two wildcards.

Minnesota sent seven of its eight semifinalists into the championship bouts with several dominating and clutch performances. Top-seeded Leroy Vega opened up Gold Country's invasion of the title matches, downing No. 5 Twan Pham of Illinois 4-3. With the match tied at three in the third period, Vega tallied an escape and held on to advance to the finals for the second consecutive year. He finished second to Iowa's Jody Strittmatter in 2001.

At 133 pounds, top-ranked Ryan Lewis once again performed brilliantly, pinning Iowa's Cliff Moore in 2:49. Lewis also pinned his quarterfinal opponent, Brian Smiley of Indiana, in 4:01. Lewis takes on No. 7 seed Jeff Ratliff of Ohio State in the title bout. Lewis has defeated Ratliff twice this season by an average of 8.5 points. At 141 pounds, No. 4 seed Chad Erikson continued his stellar return to action, downing top-seeded Scott Moore of Penn State with a fall at 5:47. Erikson led the entire match and moved on to battle Iowa's Luke Moffitt in the championship match.

Second-seeded Jared Lawrence continued his defense of his 2001 individual conference title, advancing to the finals with an 8-3 win over No. 3 Mike Kulczycki of Michigan. Lawrence faces archrival Mike Zadick of Iowa in the title match. Lawrence's lone two losses on the season came to Zadick. Minnesota sent its fifth wrestlers to the finals at 157 pounds as top-seeded Luke Becker posted a 9-1 major decision on Matt Anderson of Iowa. Becker led throughout and did not allow an Iowa point until midway through the final period. He moves on to wrestle No. 2 Ryan Bertin of Michigan. Becker is 2-0 versus Bertin this season.

Third-seeded 184-pounder Damion Hahn reached his first Big Ten final match, downing No. 2 Viktor Sveda 4-3 in a nailbiting match. Hahn trailed 3-2 entering the third period, but tallied points via an escape and 2:06 of advantage time to move on to the finals to face No. 1 Andy Hrovat of Michigan. Second-seeded Owen Elzen closed out Minnesota's rush to the finals, dropping No. 3 Kyle Smith of Michigan, 6-1. Elzen ended with 2:19 of advantage time and did not allow a Michigan point until 14 seconds remaining in the match.

Heavyweight Garrett Lowney was Gold Country's lone wrestler to fall in the semis, losing 5-3 to No. 2 Tommy Rowlands of Ohio State. Lowney is 0-3 versus Rowlands in his career. Lowney faces No. 4 Jake Vercelli of Purdue in the consolation semis. In the other consolation matches, No. 8 seed Nate Baker rebounded from his opening loss, winning two matches to ensure an NCAA bid. Baker won by medical forfeit over Jason Bader of Indiana before downing No. 4 seed Ryan Kane 7-4 to advance to the consolation semifinals. He faces No. 3 Doc Vecchio of Penn State. At 174 pounds, No. 3 seed Jacob Volkmann responded from his opening loss in a big way, posting a 13-3 major decision over Todd Brennan of Penn State and a fall at 2:43 of No. 7 Brian Glynn of Illinois. Volkmann takes on No. 4 Ryan Lange of Purdue in the consolation semis.

The consolation semifinals and placing matches begin at 11 a.m. while the championship finals will start at approximately 3 p.m. Sunday, March 10 at Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill.


2002 Big Ten Championships
Session 2
Assembly Hall; University of Illinois
Champaign, Illinois
March 9, 2002

Championship Bracket - Golden Gopher Semifinal Results
125 No. 1 Leroy Vega (MINN) dec. No. 5 Twan Pham (ILL), 4-3
133 No. 1 Ryan Lewis (MINN) pinned No. 4 Cliff Moore (IOWA), 2:49
141 No. 4 Chad Erikson (MINN) pinned No. 1 Scott Moore (PSU), 5:47
149 No. 2 Jared Lawrence (MINN) dec. No. 3 Mike Kulczycki (MICH), 8-3
157 No. 1 Luke Becker (MINN) maj. dec. No. 5 Matt Anderson (IOWA), 9-1
184 No. 3 Damion Hahn (MINN) dec. No. 2 seed Viktor Sveda (IND), 4-3
197 No. 2 Owen Elzen (MINN) dec. No. 3 Kyle Smith (MICH), 6-2
HWT No. 2 Tommy Rowlands (OSU) dec. No. 3 Garrett Lowney (MINN), 5-3

Golden Gopher Semifinal Highlights:
125 - No. 1 Leroy Vega (MINN) vs. No. 5 Twan Pham (ILL)
First period: Pham takedown 1:18 (0-2); Vega escape 1:25 (1-2); Pham stall warning 2:49; Advantage time Pham 0:05

Second period: Pham starts down; Pham escape 0:03 (1-3); Vega takedown 0:58 (3-3); Advantage time Vega 0:59

Third period: Vega starts down; Vega escape 0:04 (4-3); Advantage time Vega 0:55

Final: Vega dec. Pham, 4-3


133 - No. 1 Ryan Lewis (MINN) vs. No. 4 Cliff Moore (IOWA)
First period: Lewis takedown 2:25 (2-0); Lewis pin 2:49

Final: Lewis pinned Moore, 2:49


141 - No. 4 Chad Erikson (MINN) vs. No. 1 Scott Moore (PSU)
First period: Erikson takedown (2-0); Moore escape 0:50 (2-1); Erikson takedown 1:02 (4-1); Erikson 2 pt near fall 1:15 (6-1); Moore reversal 2:50 (6-3); Advantage time Erikson 1:57

Second period: Erikson starts down; Erikson reversal 0:18 (8-3); Erikson 3 pt near fall 0:40 (11-3); Moore escape 1:32 (11-4); Moore takedown (11-6); Advantage time Erikson 2:27

Third period: Moore starts down; Erikson pin 0:47

Final: Erikson pinned Moore, 5:47


149 - No. 2 Jared Lawrence (MINN) vs. No. 3 Mike Kulczycki (MICH)
First period: Lawrence takedown 1:56 (2-0); Lawrence 2 pt near fall 2:07 (4-0); Kulczycki escape 2:30 (4-1); Advantage time Lawrence 0:34

Second period: Kulczycki starts down; Kulczycki escape 0:56 (4-2); Advantage time Lawrence 1:28

Third period: Lawrence starts down; Lawrence escape 0:05 (5-2); Lawrence takedown 1:16 (7-2); Kulczycki escape 1:25 (7-3); Advantage time Lawrence 1:33 (8-3)

Final: Lawrence dec. Kulczycki, 8-3


157 - No. 1 Luke Becker (MINN) vs. No. 5 Matt Anderson (IOWA)
First period: Becker takedown 1:29 (2-0); Advantage time Becker 1:31

Second period: Becker starts down; Becker reversal 1:17 (4-0); Advantage time Becker 0:57

Third period: Becker stall warning 0:20; Becker takedown 0:38 (6-0); Anderson escape 0:50 (6-1); Becker takedown 1:23 (8-1); Advantage time Becker 1:42 (9-1)

Final: Becker maj. dec. Anderson, 9-1


184 - No. 3 Damion Hahn (MINN) vs. No. 2 seed Viktor Sveda (IND)
First period: Hahn takedown 0:22 (2-0); Hahn locked hands 0:29 (2-1); Sveda escape 1:43 (2-2); Advantage time Hahn 1:19

Second period: Sveda starts down; Sveda escape 0:53 (2-3); Advantage time Hahn 2:11

Third period: Hahn starts down; Hahn escape 0:05 (3-3); Advantage time Hahn 2:06 (4-3)

Final: Hahn dec. Sveda, 4-3


197 - No. 2 Owen Elzen (MINN) vs. No. 3 Kyle Smith (MICH)
First period: Elzen takedown 1:50 (2-0); Advantage time Elzen 1:09

Second period: Elzen starts down; Elzen escape 0:37 (3-0); Advantage time Elzen 0:32

Third period: Smith starts down; Elzen 2 pt near fall 0:49 (5-0); Smith stall warning; Smith escape 1:46 (5-1); Advantage time Elzen 2:19 (6-1)

Final: Elzen dec. Smith, 6-1


HWT - No. 3 Garrett Lowney (MINN) vs. No. 2 Tommy Rowlands (OSU)
First period: Rowlands takedown 0:54 (0-2); Lowney escape (1-2); Rowlands takedown (1-4); Lowney escape (2-4); Advantage time Rowlands 0:43

Second period: Lowney starts down; Lowney escape (3-4); Lowney stall warning; Advantage time Rowlands 0:37

Third period: Rowlands starts down; Rowlands escape 0:03 (3-5); Advantage time Rowlands 0:34

Final: Rowlands dec. Lowney, 5-3


Consolation Bracket First Round - Golden Gopher Results
165 No. 8 Nate Baker (MINN) won by medical forfeit over Jason Bader (IND), MED FOR.
174 No. 3 Jacob Volkmann (MINN) maj. dec. Todd Brennan (PSU), 13-3

Golden Gopher Consolation Bracket Highlights:
165 - No. 8 Nate Baker (MINN) won by medical forfeit over Jason Bader (IND), MED FOR.

Final: Baker MED FOR. Bader


174 - No. 3 Jacob Volkmann (MINN) vs. Todd Brennan (PSU)
First period: Volkmann takedown 0:17 (2-0); Advantage time Volkmann 2:43

Second period: Brennan starts down; Brennan stall warning (3-0); Advantage time Volkmann 4:43

Third period: Volkmann takedown 0:17 (5-0); Brennan escape 0:24 (5-1); Volkmann takedown 0:42 (7-1); Brennan escape 0:43 (7-2); Volkmann takedown (9-2); Brennan escape (9-3); Volkmann takedown (11-3); Brennan stall warning (12-3); Advantage time Volkmann 5:49 (13-3)

Final: Volkmann maj. dec. Brennan, 13-3


Consolation Bracket Quarterfinals - Golden Gopher Results
165 - No. 8 Nate Baker (MINN) dec. No. 4 Ryan Kane (NU), 7-4
174 - No. 3 Jacob Volkmann (MINN) pinned No. 7 Brian Glynn (ILL), 2:43


165 - No. 8 Nate Baker (MINN) vs. No. 4 Ryan Kane (NU)
First period: Baker takedown 1:21 (2-0); Kane escape (2-1); Advantage time Baker 1:35

Second period: Baker starts down; Baker escape 0:24 (3-1); Kane takedown 0:47 (3-3); Baker takedown 1:21 (4-3); Advantage time Baker 0:35

Third period: Kane starts down; Baker stall warning 0:12; Kane escape 0:41 (4-4); Baker takedown 1:28 (6-4); Advantage time Baker 1:47 (7-4)

Final: Baker dec. Kane, 7-4

174 - No. 3 Jacob Volkmann (MINN) vs. No. 7 Brian Glynn (ILL)
First period: Volkmann takedown (2-0); Volkmann pin 2:43

Final: Volkmann pinned Glynn, 2:43


Team Results - At Conclusion of Championship Semifinals
1. Minnesota 144.0
2. Iowa 107.0
3. Ohio State 105.5
4. Michigan 91.5
5. Illinois 77.0
6. Penn State 55.5
7. Michigan State 46.5
8. Wisconsin 43.5
9. Purdue 39.5
10. Indiana 33.5
11. Northwestern 12.0


Championship Bracket - Golden Gopher Finals Match-Ups
125 - No. 1 Leroy Vega (MINN) vs. No. 7 Luke Eustice (IOWA)
133 - No. 1 Ryan Lewis (MINN) vs. No. 7 Jeff Ratliff (OSU)
141 - No. 3 Chad Erikson (MINN) vs. No. 6 Luke Moffitt (IOWA)
149 - No. 2 Jared Lawrence (MINN) vs. No. 1 Mike Zadick (IOWA)
157 - No. 1 Luke Becker (MINN) vs. No. 2 Ryan Bertin (MICH)
184 - No. 3 Damion Hahn (MINN) vs. No. 1 Andy Hrovat (MICH)
197 - No. 2 Owen Elzen (MINN) vs. No. 1 Nick Preston (OSU)


Consolation Bracket Semifinals - Golden Gopher Match-ups
165 - No. 8 Nate Baker (MINN) vs. No. 3 Doc Vecchio (PSU)
174 - No. 3 Jacob Volkmann (MINN) vs. No. 4 Ryan Lange (PUR)
HWT - No. 3 Garrett Lowney (MINN) vs. No. 4 Jake Vercelli (PUR)