2008-09 College Results
Wolverines Hand Gophers First Big Ten Dual Loss
February 6, 2009
Michigan (7-6-1, 2-0-1) handed the Gophers (13-5, 3-1) their first loss
of the Big Ten dual season by a 17-16 score on Friday night at the
Sports Pavilion. Minnesota got a major decision win from Jayson Ness at
133 pounds, but was unable to grab bonus points in any of its other
four victories. Major decision wins by Michigan’s top-ranked Steve Luke
at 174 pounds and by No. 6 Tyrel Todd at 197 pounds helped the
Wolverines gain the one-point victory.
Minnesota’s seventh-ranked Zach Sanders got the dual kicked off with a
11-6 win over No. 17 Mike Watts at 125 pounds. The win improves
Sanders’ 2008-09 record to 29-2, including a 17-1 mark in dual meets.
Ness followed with his major decision victory in the next match, but
No. 5 Kellen Russell halted the Minnesota momentum with a narrow 6-4
win over eighth-ranked Mike Thorn at 141 pounds. The announced crowd of
2,390 got to its feet in the third period as eighth-ranked Thorn worked
for a takedown in the closing seconds, but Russell thwarted Thorn to
improve his record to 15-2.
Decision victories by 17th-ranked Tyler Safratowich at 157 pounds and
Scott Glasser at 165 gave Minnesota a 13-6 lead, but wins by three
consecutive ranked Wolverines gave the visitors a 17-13 lead entering
the heavyweight match.
Gopher heavyweight Ben Berhow was able to improve his Big Ten record to
a perfect 4-0, but was unable to earn the bonus points Minnesota would
need to stay unbeaten. With his win over Michgan’s Edwin Phillips this
evening, Berhow is one of two Gophers – along with 197-pounder Gordon
Bierschenk – to remain unbeaten during the conference dual season.
The Gophers are back in action on Sunday afternoon when they take on
No. 16 Northwestern in a 2:00 p.m. (CT) dual at the Sports Pavilion.
Tickets the dual are still available and can be purchased by calling
1-800-U-GOPHER or by contacting the Gopher Ticket Office at
612-624-8080.
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