Gophers capture third consecutive Big Ten Championship
March 9, 2003
Madison, Wis. -- The University of Minnesota wrestling team captured its third consecutive Big Ten title today at the 2002 Big Ten Championships at the UW Fieldhouse in Madison, Wis., edging second- place Iowa 126.5-121. Three Golden Gophers - Jared Lawrence (149 pounds), Luke Becker (157) and Damion Hahn (197) - captured individual conference titles and eight Minnesota wrestlers overall - Bobbe Lowe (125), Ryan Lewis (133), Derek Phillips (141), Lawrence, Becker, Jacob Volkmann (165), Hahn and Garrett Lowney (Hwt.) - qualified for the 2003 NCAA Championships.
In addition to its three champions, Minnesota had two-runners up (Lewis, Volkmann), one fourth-place finisher (Lowney) and two fifth-place finishers (Lowe, Phillips).
With the team win, Minnesota became the first Golden Gopher wrestling team to capture three consecutive titles and the first Big Ten team to three-peat since Iowa in 1996-98. Becker and Hahn each repeated as conference champions and Lawrence grabbed his second career crown after winning first in 2001. The team championship was Minnesota's 10th in school history and fourth under Head Coach J Robinson.
After Minnesota with 126.5 points was Iowa (121), Penn State (111.5), Michigan State (92.5), Illinois (92), Michigan (90.5), Purdue (84.5), Ohio State (84), Wisconsin (71.5), Indiana (36) and Northwestern (12). Minnesota's margin of victory of 5.5 was the smallest since 1993 when Iowa edged Penn State, 128-123.5.
At 133 pounds, Iowa's No 2 seeded Cliff Moore posted his second career win over Lewis, downing the Golden Gopher, 3-1, in sudden victory overtime. After the two grapplers traded escapes during regulation, Moore took Lewis down 11 seconds into the extra frame to capture his first Big Ten title. Lewis suffered his first loss since the National Duals and failed to defend his 2002 conference crown. Moore also defeated Lewis in the season-opener in St. Paul, Minn. Lewis moves to his second NCAA tournament.
The Golden Gophers captured their first individual title of the day as Lawerence shut out No. 2 Ty Eustice, 4-0, at 149 pounds. Lawrence posted a takedown early in the first period and racked up 2:25 advantage time to stay unbeaten over the Hawkeye. With the win, Lawrence won his second Big Ten individual title of his career (2001). Lawrence has now won 18 consecutive matches since a loss to top-ranked Eric Larkin of Arizona State in January. Lawrence advances to the NCAA Championships as the defending 149-pound champion.
Becker succesfully defended his 2002 Big Ten crown, defeating No. 4 Gray Maynard of Michigan State, 6-3, at 157 pounds. After a scoreless first period, Becker took a 3-0 lead in the second period with an escape and takedown. Maynard came back to tie the bout at three before Becker scored via an escape and takedown in the match's final minute. Becker moves on to his fourth NCAA Championships as the defending 157-pound champion.
At 165 pounds, top-ranked Matt Lackey won his second consecutive Big Ten title, defeating Volkmann, 5-3. Lackey tallied a takedown midway through the first period and didn't allow a UM takedown. Volkmann's runner-up finish was his best performance at the conference tournament after placing fourth in 2001 and third in 2002. Volkmann also qualified for his third NCAA Championships.
The Maroon and Gold won their third Big Ten championship of the day as No. 2 seed Hahn downed No. 1 Nik Fekete of Michigan State, 8-3. Hahn scored three takedowns in the first two periods to take a 7-1 lead and repeat as conference champion. Hahn took home the 184-pound crown in 2002.
In the consolation bracket, Minnesota went 1-2 in the semifinals, advancing heavyweight Garrett Lowney to the third-place match, while Bobbe Lowe (125 pounds) and Derek Phillips (141) lost to move on to the fifth-place matches. Lowney, the No. 3 seed, posted two takedowns and allowed none to down No. 5 Greg Wagner of Michigan. No. 8 seed Lowe was pinned by No. 6 Tony Black of Wisconsin in 4:03 and No. 3 Phillips fell to Tyler Laudon of Wisconsin, 11-8.
In the fifth-place match at 125 pounds, Lowe lost to Iowa's Luke Eustice, 3-1, to take sixth place. Lowe qualified for the NCAA Championships with his top-seven finish. At 141 pounds, Phillips used a reversal and two-point near fall to down No. 5 Ryan L'Amoreaux of Michigan State, 5-2. Finally, at heavyweight, Lowney lost 3-1 to No. 4 Pat Cummins of Penn State to finish in fourth place.
For full brackets, go to www.bigten.org or www.uwbadgers.com.
The top seven athletes at each weight, along with two wild cards, advance to the 2003 NCAA Division I National Championships held March 20 in Kansas City. Those earning wildcards to the tournament include Ed Gutnik of Wisconsin at a149 and Clovis Crane of Purdue at 157.