Gophers Ready for NCAA Championships

Title Time
The Gophers are set to return to the NCAA championships. Minnesota will send wrestlers in nine of 10 weight classes to the National Tournament, one of just seven schools to send at least nine competitors. Ben Berhow, Scott Glasser, Mario Mason, Jayson Ness, Zach Sanders, Dustin Schlatter, Mike Thorn and Cody and Sonny Yohn will all take the mat this weekend. The NCAA Tournament will run from Mar. 18-20 in the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.,  starting with session one at 11:00 a.m.

The Records
The Gophers finished the 2009-2010 season with a 12-5 overall record and a 7-1 mark in Big Ten duals. The Gophers lone Big Ten loss was to unbeaten Iowa, while all five of their losses came to the teams ranked 1-4 in the national polls. 2009-10 marked the Gophers third season of at least seven wins in the last five years.

The Series
The Gophers have had quite the run of success at the NCAA Tournament. Minnesota won National Titles in 2001, 2002 and 2007 and finished as national runner-up in 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2006. The Gophers have placed in the top-10 at the NCAA Tournament 31 times. Last season marked Minnesota's first finish outside the top-10 since 1996.

Last Match-Up
Last season at the NCAA Tournament Minnesota finished in a tie for 14th place with Central Michigan. Each team finished with 35.0 points12.5 points outside the top-10. The Gophers boasted three All-Americans last season, led by Jayson Ness who finished in third place at 133. In his first NCAA Tournament, freshman Zach Sanders placed sixth at 125, and senior Tyler Safratowich ended his career with his first All-America certificate, placing eighth at 157. Mike Thorn at 141 and Ben Berhow at heavyweight also qualified last season, but did not place.

Follow Along
ESPN, ESPNU  and ESPN360 will be broadcasting the NCAA Championships, starting with the quarterfinals on Saturday Mar. 19 and continuing through the championships Mar. 20. Also fans can log on to NCAA.com and GopherSports.com all weekend for updates from the tournament. Scores, results and updated brackets will be posted as they become available.

Last Time Out
At the Big Ten Tournament Mar. 6-7, the Gophers earned a second place finished with 119.5 points, finishing behind first place Iowa with 156.5. Jayson Ness at 133 and Mike Thorn at 141 each won Big Ten Championships while Scott Glasser at 174 and Sonny Yohn at 197 finished in second place. Zach Sanders at 125 and Ben Berhow at HWT placed third while Mario Mason at 149 finished in fifth. The final Gopher to place was Cody Yohn in sixth at 165.

Next Up
As the Gophers wrap up the 2009-10 season and look ahead to 2010-11, they will have to say goodbye to four seniors. Matt Everson, Nate Matousek, Jayson Ness and Dustin Schlatter all conclude their careers this spring.

Scouting The NCAA Championships
- Weekend Schedule
 Thursday, Mar. 18
 Session I - Qwest Center Omaha 11:00 a.m.
 Session II - Qwest Center Omaha 6:30 p.m.
 Friday, March 19
 Session III - Qwest Center Omaha 9:30 a.m.
 Session IV - Qwest Center Omaha 6:00 p.m.
 Saturday, March 20
 Session V - Qwest Center Omaha 10:00 a.m.
 Session VI - Qwest Center Omaha 6:30 p.m.
- Jayson Ness and Dustin Schlatter are making their third NCAA Tournament appearance
- Ben Berhow is making his third appearance
- Zach Sanders and Mike Thorn are making their second appearance
- Scott Glasser, Mario Mason, Cody Yohn and Sonny Yohn are all going to the NCAA Tournament for the first time
- Minnesota won National titles in 2001, '02 & '07
- Iowa, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Central Michigan all Qualified 10 wrestlers
- Ohio State and Oklahoma join Minnesota with nine qualifiers
- From 1997 to 2007 Minnesota finsihed in the top-three at the NCAA Championships nine times, the most in the country during that span.
- Iowa is a two-time defending national champion
- Four National Champions return to defend their 2009 titles

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