While seven match victories would have been enough on their own to win the dual, Minnesota’s ability to produce bonus points in six of those wins, including a streak of five in a row after the dual’s opening bout, turned a victory into a blowout for the Gophers. That run of five consecutive matches with bonus points is the longest for Minnesota in any single dual since the final five matches against Purdue in January 2012. The six victories with bonus points are the most for Minnesota in a dual since the team produced seven (five major decisions and two pins) against Indiana in February 2014.
After Sunday’s dual began at 149, where Jake Short followed up his first career Big Ten victory on Friday with his second, a 7-4 decision over Ben Dorsay, No. 1 Dylan Ness started the run of bonus points for Minnesota. Ness got the better of a crazy opening-minute scramble with Lou Mascola to score the fall at 1:07. The pin was his 11th of the season, one shy of his career high, and the 36th of his career, giving him sole possession of 10th on Minnesota’s all-time falls list. No. 17 Nick Wanzek followed Ness’ performance with his first career tech fall in dual competition, a 22-4 victory over T.J. Guidance at 6:16.
At 174, No. 4 Logan Storley gave Minnesota its second pin, earning the fall over Sean O’Malley with four seconds remaining in the first period of their match. The pin was Storley’s fifth on the season, a new career high for the senior. No. 11 Brett Pfarr kept the streak going heading to intermission with a 14-3 major decision over Tony Gardner.
Following the break, No. 5 Scott Schiller scored the third fall for the Gophers in a five-match window, pinning Rob Fitzgerald at 5:40. Schiller’s effort gave Minnesota its first three-pin performance in a dual since a 41-5 victory over Wyoming in November 2013.
Minnesota’s run on bonus points ended in the night’s seventh match, 285, when No. 13 Spencer Myers knocked off No. 12 Michael Kroells in sudden victory overtime, 8-6.
Ethan Lizak earned Minnesota’s final victory on the day, its seventh, at 125. Lizak turned in a dominant 11-0 performance against Josh Polacek for his first career dual match victory.
The dual concluded with the Gophers forfeiting to Maryland and No. 20 Geoff Alexander at 133, and Shyheim Brown defeating Conrad Rangell, 3-1, at 141, giving the Terrapins nine points to cement the final score at 34-12. The 22-point victory on Sunday was Minnesota’s largest since defeating Michigan State, 36-3, at the Sports Pavilion on November 21 of this season.
With their Big Ten schedule now completed, the Gophers will prepare for their opening round match in the NWCA National Duals next Sunday in Fargo, where Minnesota will take on North Dakota State.
Results:
149: Jake Short (Minn) dec. Ben Dorsay (Md), 7-4 / Minnesota 3 – Maryland 0
157: No. 1 Dylan Ness (Minn) fall (1:07) Lou Mascola / Minnesota 9 – Maryland 0
165: No. 17 Nick Wanzek (Minn) tech fall (6:16) T.J. Guidice (Md), 22-4 / Minnesota 14 – Maryland 0
174: No. 4 Logan Storley (Minn) fall (2:56) Sean O’Malley (Md) / Minnesota 20– Maryland 0
184: No. 11 Brett Pfarr (Minn) maj. dec. Tony Gardner (Md), 14-3 / Minnesota 24 – Maryland 0
197: No. 5 Scott Schiller (Minn) fall (5:40) Rob Fitzgerald (Md) / Minnesota 30 – Maryland 0
285: No. 13 Spencer Myers (Md) dec. (SV-1) No. 12 Michael Kroells (Minn), 8-6 / Minnesota 30 – Maryland 3
125: Ethan Lizak (Minn) maj. dec. Josh Polacek (Md), 11-0 / Minnesota 34 – Maryland 3
133: No. 20 Geoff Alexander (Md) forfeit victory / Minnesota 34 – Maryland 9
141: Shyheim Brown (Md) dec. Conrad Rangell (Minn), 3-1 / Minnesota 34 – Maryland 12
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