2008-09 College Results
Grapplers Finish Sixth at National Duals
January 11, 2009
Zach Sanders completed a perfect 5-0 weekend performance, but sixth-ranked Ohio State upended No. 11 Minnesota by a 25-12 margin on Sunday in the fifth place match at the National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Sanders capped off a perfect weekend and improved his season record to
an impressive 25-1 with his decision win over the Buckeyes’ Nikko
Triggas in the 125-pound match. Sophomore heavyweight Joe Nord also
completed a perfect weekend, finishing 3-0 following a 4-3 win in the
final match of the day over No. 16 Cory Morrison.
Gopher senior Tyler Safratowich finished a solid weekend performance
Sunday with a 6-4 win over No. 15 Jason Johnstone at 157 pounds. The
win for Safratowich capped off a 4-1 weekend performance and improved
his 2008-09 record to 19-8.
After Sanders’ 8-3 decision over the Triggas gave the Gophers an early
3-0 lead, the Buckeyes bounced back with a pair of big victories in the
next two matches. First, Ohio State’s eighth-ranked Reece Humphrey
gained a 5-4 decision win over the Gophers’ Jayson Ness at 133 pounds
to tie the score. Then, the Buckeyes’ J Jaggers exacted some revenge on
Minnesota’s eighth-ranked Mike Thorn in the 141-pound bout with a 7-2
decision win. Thorn had beaten the defending national champion Jaggers
earlier this season at the Las Vegas Invitational.
Ohio State took a 6-3 after the Jaggers win at 141 pounds that it would
not relinquish. After the Sanders win at 125, the Buckeyes won six of
the next seven matches to put the dual out of reach for the Gophers.
Wins by the Gophers’ Gordon Bierschenk at 197 pounds and Nord at
heavyweight trimmed the final deficit to 25-12.
Minnesota will enjoy more than a week off before traveling 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
FIFTH PLACE DUAL
#6 Ohio State 25, #11 Minnesota 12
125: #5 Zach Sanders (MN) dec. Nikko Triggas (OSU), 8-3 (3-0)
133: #8 Reece Humphrey (OSU) dec. #4 Jayson Ness (MN) 5-4 (3-3)
141: #14 J Jaggers (OSU) dec. #8 Mike Thorn (MN), 7-2 (3-6)
149: #4 Lance Palmer (OSU) pinned Joe Grygelko (MN), 2:35 (3-12)
157: #16 Tyler Safratowich (MN) dec. #15 Jason Johnstone (OSU), 6-4 (6-12)
165: #4 Colt Sponseller (OSU) dec. #16 Scott Glasser (MN), 4-0 (6-15)
174: David Rella (OSU) maj. dec. Kaleb Young (MN), 13-3 (6-19)
184: #2 Mike Pucillo (OSU) pinned Brent Eidenschink (MN), 4:33 (6-25)
197: Gordon Bierschenk (MN) dec. Cody Gardner (OSU), 4-3 (9-25)
Hwt: Joe Nord (MN) dec. #16 Cory Morrison (OSU), 4-3 (12-25)
