Big Ten Lineup Look: Minnesota Boast Lots of Experience

Experience. That’s that comes to mind when you look at Minnesota’s 2024-25 lineup. They’ve added a good amount of experience to their coaching staff as five-time All-American Michael Kemerer has joined the staff, and they also picked up a few transfers, including a pair of NCAA qualifiers, to fill key vacancies in their lineup as well. 
 
Potential Lineup 
125: Cooper Flynn
133: Tyler Wells
141: Vance VomBaur
149: Drew Roberts
157: Tommy Askey
165: Andrew Sparks or Blaine Brenner
174: Clayton Whiting
184: Max McEnelly
197: Isaiah Salazar
285: Bennett Tabor 
 
Listen to Minnesota Head Coach Brandon Eggum discuss this year’s team and season:
 
 
Biggest Duals
1/11/25 – at Nebraska
1/19/25 – vs Michigan
2/7/25 – at Ohio State
2/14/25 – vs Iowa
 
Here is a look at the key losses, returners and newcomers we will see in the Gophers’ lineup this season.
 
Key Losses
125: Patrick McKee – 2x NCAA All-American
157: Michael Blockhus – 2023 NCAA All-American
 
Summary: For the first time since 2016 there is no “Mckee” in the lineup as Patrick McKee has now graduated and handed off the leadoff hitting duties. Additionally, Michael Blockhus, who, like McKee, took a 6th year a season ago, has now gone back to the cage. Blockhus had taken his first MMA fight on a Bellator card before deciding to come back, and now will focus on throwing punches full-time.
 
New Lineup Additions
125: Cooper Flynn – Transfer from Virginia Tech, ACC runner-up, NCAA qualifier
157: Tommy Askey – Transfer from App State, 2x SoCon Champ, 2x NCAA qualifier
174: Clayton Whiting – Transfer from Missouri, went 10-3 in 2023-24 season
184: Max McEnelly – Undefeated redshirt season winning four open tournaments
 
Summary: Despite two key losses at 125 and 157 where McKee and Blockhus have now went on to their post collegiate careers, the Gophers picked up a pair of NCAA qualifiers from the transfer portal as Cooper Flynn and Tommy Askey have now joined the team. Flynn was taking an Olympic redshirt last season while at Virginia Tech, but an injury to the Hokies’ starter forced Flynn into the lineup where he saw a good bit of success and his first NCAA Championship berth. Askey comes to the Gophers as a graduate transfer from Appalachian State where he was a two-time SoCon champ. Additionally, Clayton Whiting has is another transfer portal addition coming from Missouri where he finished his redshirt freshman season with a 10-3 record. Lastly, there is Max McEnelly. He is coming off of a redshirt season in the Minnesota program where he went undefeated and won four opens. He appeared in one dual meet last season and got the win over Rutgers’ two-time NCAA qualifier Brian Soldano. 
 
Key Returners
133: Tyler Wells – NCAA qualifier (Bloodround) 
141: Vance VomBaur – Returning All-American (8th)
149: Drew Roberts – NCAA qualifier
165: Andrew Sparks – NCAA qualifier
165: Blaine Brenner – NCAA qualifier
197: Isaiah Salazar – Returning All-American (6th)
285: Bennett Tabor – NCAA qualifier
 
Summary: Seven NCAA qualifiers with two of which brining All-American honors back with them. Vance VomBaur returns to man the spot at 141 again after placing 8th last year. And at the top of the lineup, Isaiah Salazar will go up to 197 after winning a Big Ten title and finishing 6th at 184 a season ago. Along with the AA’s the Gophers have qualifiers at five other weights as well. Tyler Wells, who was a very tough freshman last season finishing the year coming up 1-point short in a bloodround loss, returns to his spot at 133. Before last season, Eggum was very high on the youngster and he didn’t disappoint in his first season in the lineup. Also, Drew Roberts returns at 149 along with Andrew Sparks and Blaine Brenner battling it out for the starting spot at 165 this year. Brenner and Sparks filled the 165 and 174 spots a season ago, but Sparks will come down this season. Lastly, Bennett Tabor returns at 285 as well.