2008-09 College Results
Gopher Wrestlers Open Season With Eight Titles at Bison Open
November 15, 2008
The No. 12 ranked Minnesota Golden Gopher wrestling team
enjoyed a successful opening to their 2008-09 season Saturday, winning
eight of 10 weight classes at the 39th annual Bison Open in Fargo, N.D.
Six Gophers captured individual crowns while four more Minnesota
wrestlers shared co-champion status at the all-day event, held at the
Fargo Sports Arena.
“There were a lot of guys who had dominant performances and we love to
see that early on,” Head Assistant Coach Joe Russell. “You can see the
hard work they put in and it paid off. This is the first step in a
journey. To get the guy’s back competing on the mat is fun for them and
a good gauge to see where the team is at. It’s early, but we feel good
about the effort we put in today.”
Two-time All-American Jayson Ness took home his third straight
first-place finish at the Bison Open, but his first at 133 pounds.
After competing in his previous two seasons at 125 pounds, Ness opened
the day with a bye before winning each of his decisions by fall (1:50,
3:48, 3:57 and 4:03).
At 125 pounds, Zach Sanders successfully defended his 2007 Bison Open
crown Saturday. Sanders went a perfect 5-0 with two pins, two major
decisions and one technical fall.
Junior Mike Thorn picked up his first Bison Open title at 141 pounds,
after winning at 133 pounds in 2007. Thorn cruised to a perfect 5-0
record with four falls (1:13, 2:31, 4:04 and 2:22) and one major
decision. On his way towards the title, Thorn defeated fellow Gopher
Matt Mincey, who claimed third place.
Freshman Mario Mason and redshirt freshman Brian Peterson were declared
co-champions at 149 pounds, with Mason and Peterson taking home their
first Bison Open crowns. Mason started the day with a bye before
recording a 3-0 record by two major decisions and one decision.
Peterson recorded a 4-0 record by two decisions, one major decision and
one fall.
Three-time All-American Dustin Schlatter took home his fourth straight
first-place mention as a co-champion with Senior Tyler Safratowich at
157 pounds. Both Gopher wrestlers started the day with byes before
posting perfect 3-0 records. Schlatter recorded his decisions from one
technical fall and two falls (3:59 and 1:12), while Safratowich won his
decisions from two technical falls and one fall.
At 165 pounds, Scott Glasser successfully defended his Bison Open title
for a third straight year with a perfect 5-0 record, with three major
decisions and two falls.
Freshman Ryland Geiger won his first Bison Open crown at 197 pounds,
defeating fellow Gopher Gordon Bierschink in a 3-2 decision in the
championship match. Fellow Gopher Chris McPhail also placed third at
197 pounds.
In heavyweight competition, Ben Berhow earned his first Bison Open
first-place mention, defeating fellow Minnesota wrestler Atticus Disney
in a 4-2 decision in the championship match. On his way to his first
Bison Open title, Berhow went 4-0 with one fall, two major decisions
and one decision, while Disney went 4-1 with 3 fall wins and one major
decision victory.
Minnesota has now accumulated 167 individual champions over the course of the Bison Open’s 39-year history.
The Gophers will compete in another tournament on Saturday, Nov. 22, traveling to Omaha, Neb. for the Nebraska-Omaha Open.
