2008-09 College Results
Gophers 3-1 on First Day of National Duals
January 10, 2009
Zach Sanders went 4-0 and the No. 11 Golden Gopher wrestling team
went 3-1 Saturday at the National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. After
dropping a quarterfinal dual to No. 1 Iowa, the Gophers (9-3) rallied
for victories over No. 9 Wisconsin and No. 14 Penn State in the
consolation rounds. On the strength of their come-from-behind victory
over Penn State in the consolation semifinals, the Gophers will wrestle
No. 6 Ohio State for fifth place at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow.
With his four wins on Saturday, Sanders improves his season record to
24-1. His pins over Wisconsin’s Drew Hammen (4:15) and Penn State’s
Brad Patasky (6:42) were his fifth and sixth of the season. Joe Nord
(Hwt.) was also undefeated on the day, posting a 2-0 record. Jayson
Ness (133 pounds) and Tyler Safratowich (157 pounds) were both 3-1.
The Gophers dispatched Buffalo by a 27-13 score in their first dual of
the day. Eighth-seeded Minnesota recorded major decision wins by
Sanders, Ness and Thorn in each of the first three matches to vault to
a 12-0 lead. After Buffalo recorded the first of their four victories
at 149 pounds, No. 16 Tyler Safratowich notched the Gophers’ first pin
of the day, sticking the Bulls’ John-Martin Cannon in 4:56 in the
157-pound match. A decision victory by Kaleb Young at 174 pounds over
Buffalo’s Nate Rock and a pin by Joe Nord at heavyweight secured the
Gophers’ final 27-13 edge.
Minnesota waged a handful of closely-fought matches in their dual with
No. 1 Iowa in the quarterfinals, but the Hawkeyes’ depth proved too
much to handle. Only Sanders and Safratowich were victorious for the
Gophers in their second dual of the day. After Sanders gave Minnesota
an early 3-0 lead with a 10-5 decision win over J.J. Krutsinger, the
Hawkeyes bounced back with close victories in the next two bouts. No. 5
Daniel Dennis edged No. 4 Jayson Ness with a 6-4 decision at 133 pounds
and No. 1 Alex Tsirtsis defeated No. 8 Mike Thorn with a narrow 2-1
victory at 141 pounds. Safratowich captured an 11-3 major decision over
Mett Bellweg at 157 pounds. The senior’s second win of the day closed
the gap to 10-7, but Iowa’s four ranked wrestlers in each of the last
four matches gained wins to push the final tally to 27-7.
Sanders and Ness recorded pins in the first two matches of the Gophers’
22-15 win over No. 9 Wisconsin in the consolation quarterfinals to give
their team an early 12-0 lead. Minnesota also got wins from Safratowich
(157 pounds) and No. 20 Sonny Yohn (184 pounds) before Ben Berhow upset
the Badgers’ sixth-ranked Kyle Massey with a 5-4 overtime decision
victory in the heavyweight bout to secure the team victory.
The Gophers required another comeback effort in the heaviest weight
classes to gain a narrow 21-18 victory over No. 14 Penn State. With
Penn State holding an 18-15 edge heading into the 197-pound match,
Chris McPhail delivered a 2-0 decision win over the Nittany Lions’ Clay
Steadman to tie the score. Nord then shut out Penn State’s Stefan Tighe
with a 5-0 win to give the Gophers their final 21-18 edge.
Following the National Duals, Minnesota will enjoy more than a week
off. The team will travel to Tempe, Ariz. to take on Arizona State on
Jan. 23 Minnesota’s next home dual is set from Jan. 25 against Michigan
State at the Sports Pavilion. Tickets can be purchased by calling
1-800-U-GOPHER or by contacting the Gopher Ticket Office at
612-624-8080.
National Duals Coverage
FIRST ROUND
#11 Minnesota 27, Buffalo 13
125: #5 Zach Sanders (MN) maj. dec. Dan Bishop (UB), 14-5 4-0
133: #4 Jayson Ness (MN) maj. dec. Kevin Smith (UB), 15-1 8-0
141: #8 Mike Thorn (MN) maj. dec. Andrew Stella (UB), 14-3 12-0
149: Desmond Green (UB) dec. Joe Grygelko (MN), 9-2 12-3
157: #16 Tyler Safratowich (MN) pinned John-Martin Cannon (UB), 4:56 18-3
165: Ron Majerus (UB) maj. dec. Matt Everson (MN), 13-2 18-7
174: Kaleb Young (MN) dec. Nate Rock (UB), 5-3 21-7
184: Mickey Moran (UB) dec. Brent Eidenschink (MN), 5-3 21-10
197: James Hamel (UB) dec. Gordon Bierschenk (MN), 9-4 21-13
Hwt: Joe Nord (MN) pinned Robert Ryhal (UB), 4:43 27-13
QUARTERFINAL ROUND
#1 Iowa 27, #11 Minnesota 7
125: #5 Zach Sanders (MN) dec JJ Krutsinger (IA), 10-5 3-0
133: #5 Daniel Dennis (IA) dec. #4Jayson Ness (MN), 6-4 3-3
141: #1 Alex Tsirtsis (IA) dec. #8 Mike Thorn (MN), 2-1 3-6
149: #1 Brent Metcalf (IA) tech. fall Brian Peterson (MN), 24-8 3-10
157: #16 Tyler Safratowich (MN) maj. dec. Matt Ballweg (IA), 11-3 7-10
165: #3 Ryan Morningstar (IA) dec. #16 Scott Glasser (MN), 6-3 7-13
174: #5 Jay Borschel (IA) maj. dec. Kaleb Young (MN), 12-3 7-17
184: #3 Phil Keddy (IA) maj. dec. #20 Sonny Yohn (MN), 11-3 7-21
197: #20 Chad Beatty (IA) dec. Chris McPhail (MN), 9-4 7-24
Hwt: #12 Daniel Erekson (IA) dec. Ben Berhow (MN), 3-2 7-27
CONSOLATION QUARTERFINAL ROUND
#11 Minnesota 22, #9 Wisconsin 15
125: #5 Zach Sanders (MN) pinned Drew Hammen (UW), 4:15 6-0
133: #4Jayson Ness (MN) pinned Kyle Reeve (UW), 3:53 12-0
141: #5 Zach Tanelli (UW) dec. #8 Mike Thorn (MN), 3-2 12-3
149: #6 Kyle Ruschell (UW) dec. Joe Grygelko (MN), 3-0 12-6
157: #16 Tyler Safratowich (MN) maj. dec. Ben Jordan (UW), 12-4 16-6
165: #14 Andrew Howe (UW) dec. #16 Scott Glasser (MN), 6-3 16-9
174: Travis Rutt (UW) dec. Kaleb Young (MN), 9-2 16-12
184: #20 Sonny Yohn (MN) dec. Eric Bugenhagen (UW), 3-2 19-12
197: #2 Dallas Herbst (UW) dec. Chris McPhail (MN), 6-1 19-15
Hwt: Ben Berhow (MN) dec. #6 Kyle Massey (UW), 5-4;SV1 22-15
CONSOLATION SEMIFINAL ROUND
#11 Minnesota 21, #14 Penn State 18
125: #5 Zach Sanders (MN) pinned Brad Pataky (PSU), 6:42 6-0
133: #4Jayson Ness (MN) dec. #12 Jake Strayer (PSU), 9-5 9-0
141: #8 Mike Thorn (MN) pinned Frank Molinaro (PSU), 6:02 15-0
149: #2 Bubba Jenkins (PSU) dec. Joe Grygelko (UW), 11-6 15-3
157: #8 Dan Vallimont (PSU) dec. #16 Tyler Safratowich (MN), 6-5 15-6
165: Mark Friend (PSU) dec. #16 Scott Glasser (MN), 4-3 15-9
174: #14 Quentin Wright (PSU) pinned Kaleb Young (MN), 0:45 15-15
184: Jack Decker (PSU) dec. #20 Sonny Yohn (MN) , 4-1 15-18
197: Chris McPhail (MN) dec. Clay Steadman (PSU), 2-0 18-18
Hwt: Joe Nord (MN) dec. Stefan Tighe (PSU), 5-0 21-18
