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Golden Gophers ranked #1 in the Country by W.I.N. Magazine
Jan. 16, 2006
Fresh off its National Duals Championship, the unbeaten Golden Gopher wrestling team (12-0-0) is ranked number one in the latest W.I.N. national rankings. It is the first time since the 2002-03 preseason poll that Minnesota has been ranked number one. In addition, nine Golden Gophers are ranked individually including top-ranked heavyweight Cole Konrad and second-ranked Dustin Schlatter at 149 pounds.
The Golden Gophers moved up ahead of three-time defending NCAA Champion Oklahoma State after Sunday's thrilling 21-14 victory in the finals at the National Duals. Minnesota ended the Cowboys' 30-match winning streak.
Konrad solidified his hold on the top spot at heavyweight with a dramatic pin of two-time NCAA Champion Steve Mocco. The win ended Mocco's 85-match winning streak and was his first loss since being defeated as a freshman in the finals at the NCAA Championships. Konrad is currently 24-0 and has won 53 of his last 54 matches. He was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the National Duals.
A true freshman from Massillon, Ohio, Schlatter improved to 26-1 on the year with four impressive victories. At the National Duals, he defeated second-ranked Jon Masa of Hofstra, fifth-ranked Mark DiSalvo of Central Michigan and defending NCAA Champion Zack Esposito of Oklahoma State. Schlatter is scheduled to face top-ranked Ty Eustice of Iowa on Sunday afternoon at Williams Arena.
Other Golden Gophers ranked include: No. 4 Mack Reiter at 133 pounds, No. 20 Manuel Rivera at 141, No. 7 C.P. Schlatter at 157, No. 9 Matt Nagel at 165, No. 8 Gabriel Dretsch at 174 and No. 10 Roger Kish at 184,
A sophomore from El Monte, Calif., Rivera entered this week's rankings after posting his second victory of the season against sixth-ranked Daniel Frishkorn of Oklahoma State.
The Golden Gophers will look to keep their momentum going as they open the Big Ten season this weekend. Minnesota hosts Northwestern on Friday night at the Sports Pavilion. The Golden Gophers host Iowa in the annual Border Brawl at Williams Arena on Sunday afternoon.
WRESTLING INTERNATIONAL NEWSMAGAZINE (W.I.N.)
2005-06 NCAA DIV. I TEAM RANKINGS (Previous Rankings from Jan. 9, 2005)
1. Minnesota (2nd)
2. Oklahoma State (1st)
3. Nebraska (15th)
4. Michigan (4th)
5. Central Michigan (7th)
6. Iowa (6th)
7. Illinois (5th)
8. Oklahoma (3rd)
9. Penn State (9th)
10. Arizona State (17th)