Ranked sixth in the country entering the match, Minnesota (2-1) was coming off their first loss of the season last weekend. Facing another top-25 opponent in No. 12 Nebraska (4-2), Minnesota responded in a big way as five straight wins through the heart of the order sealed the win with three still left on the table.
The match of the night came at heavyweight, where the Gophers No. 11 ranked Ben Berhow (Hayward, Minn.) met up with the Huskers No. 7 ranked Tucker Lane. The only match of the night to feature two ranked wrestlers lived up to the hype. Lane scored first and led most of the match, holding a 6-5 lead late in the third period. Trailing by one halfway through, Berhow was able to score a takedown for his first lead of the match at 7-6. Now long after, however, Lane escaped to tie the match at 7-7, which is where it would stay at the end of regulation.
Working overtime for the second time this season against Lane, as well as the second straight match, Berhow was able to come out on top, scoring a takedown in the first overtime for the 9-7 win. With the decision, Berhow snapped a two-match losing skid, and tied the match at 6-6. His victory started a run of five straight for the Golden Gophers, that ended with Mario Mason (Moorestown, N.J.) earning a decision to seal the match.
At 149, Mason's match began with the Gophers leading 22-6, with just three matches left after his. Mason and his opponent, Chris Hacker struggled through a scoreless first period, before Mason was able to get on the board with an escape in the second. In the low scoring match, Mason managed just two more points on a takedown, but it was all he needed as he only allowed one for the 3-1 win, running his season record to 7-0.
With the score now at 25-6 with just three weights left, the match win was wrapped up for the Gophers.
The stretch of 125, 133 and 141 worked out to 16-0 Gopher advantage, effectively putting the match out of reach. Zach Sanders (Wabasha, Minn.) broke a 6-6 tie and put the Gophers up for good at 11-6 with his 23-8 tech fall victory over David Klingsheim. Sanders improves to 7-0 with his second tech fall fof the season.
At 133, Jayson Ness (Bloomington, Minn.) continued his dominance, improving to 10-0 while notching his 12th consecutive victory. In what has almost become a habit for Ness in his senior campaign, he dispelled his opponent the first period with a fall just 1:10 into the match. The win was the 127th of his career, moving him past former Gopher, and current assistant coach, Luke Becker for sole possession of 10th place all-time at Minnesota with 127 career wins.
Mike Thorn (St. Michael, Minn.) blew the match open with his tech fall win at 141, extending his lead to 19-4 before the match was called in the third period. Thorn improved to 6-1 on the season, getting back in the win column after his first loss of the season last week.
The Gophers last win came at 165, as Dustin Schlatter (Massillion, Ohio) scored his first victory of the season with an 8-4 win over James Nakashima. A pair of first period take downs were all Schlatter needed as he never trailed, adding insurance points at the match went on.
The Gophers improve to 2-1 on the season, beating their highest ranked opponent since knocking off No. 5 ranked Ohio State last season on Feb. 21.
Just a few days off and Minnesota is back on the mat, as they travel to Northern Colorado on Dec. 13 for a 3:00 p.m. dual. The Bears enter the match with an 0-5 record.
Then it will be some well deserved off time for the Gophers as they get a break from competition until Dec. 29 and 30 when they are at the Southern Scuffle in Greensboro, N.C.
Results:
184: No.18 Sonny Yohn (MINN) dec. Josh Ihnen (NU), 8-4 / 3-0
197: No.2 Craig Brester (NU) pin Joe Nord (MINN), 1:10 / 3-6
HWT: No.11 Ben Berhow (MINN) dec. No.7 Tucker Lane (NU), 9-7SV1 / 6-6
125: No.4 Zach Sanders (MINN) tech. David Klingsheim (NU), 6:23;23-8 / 11-6
133: No.2 Jayson Ness (MINN) pin Ridge Kiley (NU), 2:50 / 17-6
141: No.6 Mike Thorn (MINN) tech. Mike Koehnlein (NU), 6:48;19-4 / 22-6
149: No.9 Mario Mason (MINN) dec. Chris Hacker (NU), 3-1 / 25-6
157: No.1 Jordan Burroughs (NU) tech Joe Grygelko (MINN), 6:23;24-9 / 25-11
165: No.4 Dustin Schlatter (MINN dec. James Nakashima (NU), 8-4 / 28-11
174: No.3 Stephen Dwyer (NU) dec. Scott Glasser (MINN), 9-3 / 28-14
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