Ness Earns Top Spot, All Ten Gophers Pre-Seeded For Big Ten Championships
March 3, 2008
All 10 starters for the defending Big Ten and national champion
Minnesota Golden Gopher wrestling team were pre-seeded in the top eight
for the 2008 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, to be held this weekend (Saturday and Sunday) at the University of Minnesota’s Williams Arena.
Undefeated (33-0) and top-ranked sophomore Jayson Ness earned the
number one at 125 pounds, the only Golden Gopher to do so. Ness won his
first career Big Ten championship last season as the number one seed.
Minnesota had four top seeds last year en route to their second
consecutive conference championship.
Four other Minnesota wrestlers were pre-seeded in the top three for
this year’s event – junior Dustin Schlatter (No. 3 at 149 pounds),
junior Tyler Safratowich (No. 3 at 165 pounds) and senior Gabriel
Dretsch (No. 3 at 174 pounds).
Also pre-seeded for Minnesota were seniors Mack Reiter (fifth at 133
pounds), Manuel Rivera (sixth at 141 pounds), C.P. Schlatter (No. 4 at
157), Roger Kish (fourth at 184), Justin Bronson (No. 6 at 197) and
redshirt freshman Ben Berhow (No. 8 at heavyweight).
The two-time defending conference champion Gophers boast one of the
most experienced starting lineups in the Big Ten. Minnesota’s starters
have participated in a combined 17 Big Ten Wrestling Championships and
won seven individual conference titles.
The Big Ten pre-seeds are determined by a vote amongst the conference’s
head wrestling coaches after consideration of regular season results.
The official Big Ten Championships bracket will be set on Friday, March
7.
Tickets are still available for this weekend’s tournament, which will
be held at Williams Arena for the first time since 1997, and may be
purchased via www.gophersports.com or by calling 1-800-UGOPHER or 612-624-8080.
Minnesota’s Big Ten Championships Preliminary Seeds
1. Jayson Ness (125)
3. Dustin Schlatter (149)
3. Tyler Safratowich (165)
3. Gabriel Dretsch (174)
4. C.P. Schlatter (157)
4. Roger Kish (184)
5. Mack Reiter (133)
6. Manuel Rivera (141)
6. Justin Bronson (197)
8. Ben Berhow (Hwt.)
2008 Big Ten Wrestling Championships Preliminary Seeds
125 lbs.
1. Jayson Ness, Minnesota
2. Charlie Falck, Iowa
3. Angel Escobedo, Indiana
4. Brandon Precin, Northwestern
5. Gabriel Flores, Illinois
6. Mark McKnight, Penn State
7. Nikko Triggas, Ohio State
8. Collin Cudd, Wisconsin 133 lbs.
1. James Kennedy, Illinois
2. Joe Slaton, Iowa
3. Franklin Gomez, Michigan State
4. Szach Tanelli, Wisconsin
5. Mack Reiter, Minnesota
6. Andrae Hernandez, Indiana
7. Reece Humphrey, Ohio State
8. Tim Haas, Penn State 141 lbs.
1. Kellen Russell, Michigan
2. Kyle Ruschell, Wisconsin
3. J Jaggers, Ohio State
4. Dan LeClere, Iowa
5. Garrett Scott, Penn State
6. Manuel Rivera, Minnesota
7. Keith Sulzer, Northwestern
8. Ryan Prater, Illinois 149 lbs.
1. Brent Metcalf, Iowa
2. Joshua Churella, Michigan
3. Dustin Schlatter, Minnesota
4. Bubba Jenkins, Penn State
5. Lance Palmer, Ohio State
6. Jake Patascil, Purdue
7. Ryan Lang, Northwestern
8. Grant Paswell, Illinois 157 lbs.
1. Michael Poeta, Illinois
2. Dan Vallimont, Penn State
3. Brandon Becker, Indiana
4. C.P. Schlatter, Minnesota
5. Craig Henning, Wisconsin
6. Jeff Marsh, Michigan
7. Ryan Morningstar, Iowa
8. John Fulger, Michigan State 165 lbs.
1. Mark Perry, Iowa
2. Eric Tannenbaum, Michigan
3. Tyler Safratowich, Minnesota
4. Colt Sponseller, Ohio State
5. Roger Smith-Bergsrud, Illinois
6. Matt Coughlin, Indiana
7. Dave Rella, Penn State
8. Rex Kendle, Michigan State 174 lbs.
1. Steve Luke, Michigan
2. Jay Borschel, Iowa
3. Gabriel Drestch, Minnesota
4. Nick Hayes, Northwestern
5. John Dergo, Illinois
6. David Erwin, Penn State
7. Nick Corpe, Purdue
8. Dan Clum, Wisconsin 184 lbs.
1. Mike Pucillo, Ohio State
2. Tyrel Todd, Michigan
3. Phil Keddy, Iowa
4. Roger Kish, Minnesota
5. Phil Bomberger, Penn State
6. Marc Bennett, Indiana
7. Ben Friedl, Illinois
8. A.J. Kissel, Purdue 197 lbs.
1. Mike Tamillow, Northwestern
2. Phil Davis, Penn State
3. Patrick Bond, Illinois
4. Dallas Herbst, Wisconsin
5. Joe Williams, Michigan State
6. Justin Bronson, Minnesota
T7. Chad Beatty, Iowa
T7. Anthony Biondo, Michigan Hwt
1. J.D. Bergman, Ohio State
2. Dustin Fox, Northwestern
3. Kyle Massey, Wisconsin
4. Matt Fields, Iowa
5. John Wise, Illinois
6. Chris Kasten, Purdue
7. John Laboranti, Penn State
8. Ben Berhow, Minnesota