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Back on top, Gophers host Big Ten opener Sunday

January 18, 2007

Following its 20-16 victory over Missouri in the National Duals final, the Golden Gopher wrestling team moved back into the top spot in the polls this week. Minnesota opens the Big Ten season by hosting No. 10 Penn State at the Sports Pavilion this Sunday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m.

Gopher Wrestling Notebook

The Series vs. Penn State
Minnesota leads the all-time series against PSU, 9-6, including winning each of the last five meetings between the two schools. The Gophers defeated the ninth-ranked Nittany Lions, 25-16, last year in State College, Pa.

Back on Top
Minnesota received all 12 first-place votes in the USA Today/InterMat/NWCA coaches’ poll released yesterday and also jumped ahead of the Tigers in the W.I.N. Magazine and RevWrestling.com rankings. After entering the season as the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation, the Gophers dropped from the top spot after a season-opening loss to Hofstra at the Northeast Duals.

Gophers in the Polls
Seven of Minnesota’s probable starters this weekend are currently ranked individually in the polls. Defending national champions Cole Konrad (Hwt) and Dustin Schlatter (149) both hold the top spot in their weight class across the board, while Manuel Rivera (141) and Roger Kish (184) are both ranked second. Rivera moved up from No. 4 in last week’s polls. C.P. Schlatter (157), who returned from a knee injury last weekend, re-entered the rankings at No. 3 this week. Jayson Ness (125) is also ranked in the top five, while Gabriel Dretsch (174) is ranked 12th.

Big Ten in the Rankings
The Big Ten season will not be a cakewalk for the Gophers, as nine of the 11 conference schools are currently ranked in the top 25. Iowa (No. 5) is the highest-ranked Big Ten team behind Minnesota, while Northwestern and Penn State are also among the top 10. Indiana (No. 14), Michigan (No. 15), Illinois (No. 16), Wisconsin (No. 17), and Michigan State (No. 23) round out the Big Ten schools in the top 25. Ohio State is also receiving votes.

Still Perfect
Three Minnesota wrestlers enter this weekend still with undefeated records on the season. Manuel Rivera, now ranked No. at 141 pounds, is 26-0 with six pins, six major decisions and one tech fall. Top-ranked Dustin Schlatter is 21-0 with two pins, one major and seven tech falls at 149, while heavyweight Cole Konrad is 17-0 with seven pins and two major decisions.

Looking for a Record
Top-ranked heavyweight Cole Konrad is riding a 58-match winning streak dating back to the start of last season, currently tied for the longest streak in school history along with Tim Hartung. Konrad will look to take sole possession of the record with a victory against Penn State this weekend.
  Most Consecutive Wins:
   1. 58, Cole Konrad (2005-pres.)
      58, Tim Hartung (1998-99)
   3. 51, Dustin Schlatter (2005-pres.)
   4. 39, Marty Morgan (1990-91)
   5. 36, Willy Short (1993-94)
   6. 32, Marty Morgan (1989-90)
      32, Ryan Lewis (2001-02)
   8. 29, Cole Konrad (2004-05)
The Closer
Senior Cole Konrad did what he does last weekend in the finals of the National Duals: clinch a Minnesota victory. The Golden Gophers trailed the Tigers, 16-14, heading into the final match. Konrad delivered a pin of Tyler Perry, mirroring the heroics he provided last year against Oklahoma State’s Steve Mocco, to give Minnesota its second straight National Duals title. It was the 16th time that a dual meet has come down to Konrad’s match and the 16th time he has delivered the win.

Pack the Pavilion
All tickets for the PSU meet are just $1, and all fans who attend the dual will also receive a voucher for free admission to any other Gopher home meet for the remainder of the season. For tickets, click here or call 1-800-UGOPHER.

The Sunday, Jan. 21 meet against Penn State is also Frazee Community Day, with Frazee, Minn., native Gabriel Dretsch to be honored during intermission.

Just around the corner is High School Wrestling Day on Sunday, Jan. 28 against Purdue. All high school teams who submit their rosters will receive free admission to the meet against the Boilermakers, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Teams wishing to participate in High School Wrestling Day must submit their rosters to the Gopher Sports Marketing Office via fax at 612-626-8379 by Friday, Jan. 26.

CSTV to Air National Duals Final
College Sports Television (CSTV) will air the championship dual between Minnesota and Missouri next Sunday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. The Golden Gophers knocked off the top-ranked Tigers, 20-16, to capture their second straight National Duals title on Sunday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

CSTV will also air the Jan. 26 Minnesota-Michigan dual on tape delay on Monday, Jan. 29 at 9 p.m.