Our #21 (dual meet ranking) Gophers are home today vs. #8 Rutgers at 1pm (on BTN +). Rutgers beat #9 NE and we lost to NE 24-10, but I'm projecting an 18-13 loss (see below). Here's the story from GopherSports.com:
Gophers Return Home for Sunday Dual with Rutgers
Sunday's matinee will be the first time the Scarlet Knights have ever visited Minneapolis
This Sunday, Michael Kroells will look to improve to 2-0 all-time in his series against Billy Smith
GopherSports.com
Jan. 14, 2016
Minnesota Match Notes (RU)
Rutgers Match Notes (MN)
Coming off a weekend split, No. 21 Minnesota (5-6, 1-2) returns to the Sports Pavilion this Sunday for an afternoon dual with No. 8 Rutgers (11-2, 2-1). This weekend's dual will be the first time the Scarlet Knights have ever visit Minneapolis and just the second all-time meeting between the two programs, the first coming in New Jersey last year during Rutgers' inaugural Big Ten season.
The Gophers are back on to campus after a quick trip to Lincoln last Sunday to cap off a 1-1 weekend. Minnesota returned to dual action on Friday night against Maryland, taking seven of the night's 10 matches and adding bonus points in three of those wins to knock off the Terrapins, 26-12. On the heels of that win, Minnesota headed west to take on No. 9 Nebraska, falling to the Cornhuskers, 24-10, on Sunday. The Gophers return to their home building this weekend, where they are 5-1 this season (3-0 on the Williams Arena side and 2-1 on the Sports Pavilion side). Minnesota is 27-3 when wrestling in Minneapolis during the past five seasons.
The Scarlet Knights will make their debut in the Land of 10,000 Lakes looking to continue one of the best seasons in program history. Minnesota will be the eighth ranked opponent for Rutgers already this year. The Knights are 5-2 in those matches, with wins over North Carolina, Northern Iowa, Oregon State, Cornell and Nebraska, as well as losses to Oklahoma and Iowa. Most recently, Rutgers recorded its first Big Ten shutout, a 34-0 home win over Michigan State last Sunday. That victory also gave Rutgers its second conference win of the season, matching its total from a year ago. Prior to beating Sparty, Rutgers took third in the Midlands Championships over the holidays, finishing behind only Iowa and Nebraska.
The two teams will send nine ranked wrestlers to the mat Sunday afternoon, a collection that will produce two ranked-versus-ranked matches.
At 141 pounds, a pair of underclassmen will square off when No. 10 Tommy Thorn takes on No. 4 Anthony Ashnault. Ashnault was an All-American last year as a redshirt freshman, finishing eighth at the NCAA Championships. For Thorn, Sunday's match will be his ninth against a ranked opponent, matching Brett Pfarr for the most on the team.
The ranked-versus-ranked matchup at heavyweight between No. 7 Michael Kroells and No. 16 Billy Smith is also one of two expected rematches from last year's dual. Kroells defeated Smith, a three-time NCAA qualifier, 6-5 in the final match of last January.
A rematch of last year's 184-pound bout will bump up to the 197 slot this weekend when No. 4 Brett Pfarr takes on Hayden Hrymack. Pfarr scored a series of take downs in last year's showdown and earned a 19-9 major decision. Pfarr leads the Gophers with 11 major decisions this season.
In addition to those matches, ranked wrestlers in action also include No. 9 Jake Short (149) for the Gophers and No. 18 Anthony Giraldo (133), No. 15 Richie Lewis (157) and No. 10 Anthony Perrotti (165) for Rutgers. At 157 pounds, Lewis will be the third consecutive ranked opponent for Brandon Kingsley, who has dropped 3-2 decisions to No. 18 Lou Mascola (Maryland) and No. 17 Tyler Berger (Nebraska) in his last two outings.
The Gophers defeated the Scarlet Knights in their first-ever meeting last season. That dual was defined by two streaks. First up was Rutgers, which opened the meet with four consecutive wins to build a 12-0 lead. Momentum shifted when Dylan Ness pinned Dylan Painton in the second period of their 157-pound contest. Including Pfarr and Kroells' wins, Minnesota won every match the rest of the way and took the dual, 23-12. Minnesota returns four starters from that dual: Short, Kinglsey, Pfarr and Kroells. Rutgers will have six returning: Ashnault, Hrymack, Smith, Sean McCabe (125), Nicholas Gravina (up two weights from 165 last year) and Phil Bakuckas.
First match for Sunday is set to begin at 1 p.m. Central. Fans can stream the entire dual live on BTN Plus and receive mat-side updates throughout the dual by following Gopher Wrestling on Twitter.
Prior to that day's dual, the Gophers will host the first of two youth clinics this season. Click here for more information on youth clinics.
Match Projections:
Wt. Name Yr. Hometown/ High School 2015-16 Record (Dual)
125 Sean McCabe R-Jr. Ronkonkoma, N.Y./ Connetquot 10-7 (7-5) (0-3)
-OR- Josh Patrick R-So. Rector, Pa./ Ligonier Valley 10-3 (1-0)
133 Anthony Giraldo R-Fr. Guttenberg, N.J./ North Bergen 12-7 (8-5) (0-6)
141 Anthony Ashnault* R-So. South Plainfield, N.J./ South Plainfield 18-1 (12-0) (0-9)
149 Tyson Dippery R-So. Harrisburg, Pa./ Central Dauphin 11-7 (8-5) (3-9)
157 Richie Lewis Jr. Toms River, N.J./ Toms River East 15-3 (9-1)) (3-12)
-OR- John Van Brill R-Fr. Mullica Hill, N.J./ Clearview 8-6 (2-1)
165 Anthony Perrotti** R-Sr. Roseland, N.J./ West Essex 13-2 (11-1) (3-15)
174 Phil Bakuckas R-Jr. Hammonton, N.J./ Hammonton 11-7 (6-5) (6-15)
-OR- Anthony Pafumi R-Jr. Westfield, N.J./ St. Peter’s Prep 7-5 (2-1)
184 Nicholas Gravina R-So. Allendale, N.J./ Northern Highlands Regional 12-6 (8-3) (6-18)
197 Hayden Hrymack Sr. Point Pleasant, N.J./ CBA 11-7 (8-5) (10-18)
285 Billy Smith*** R-Sr. Wantage, N.J./ High Point 16-5 (10-3) (13-18)
It should be interesting to see how we perform today. I'm hoping that we are continuing to improve!!
Gophers Return Home for Sunday Dual with Rutgers
Sunday's matinee will be the first time the Scarlet Knights have ever visited Minneapolis
This Sunday, Michael Kroells will look to improve to 2-0 all-time in his series against Billy Smith
GopherSports.com
Jan. 14, 2016
Minnesota Match Notes (RU)
Rutgers Match Notes (MN)
Coming off a weekend split, No. 21 Minnesota (5-6, 1-2) returns to the Sports Pavilion this Sunday for an afternoon dual with No. 8 Rutgers (11-2, 2-1). This weekend's dual will be the first time the Scarlet Knights have ever visit Minneapolis and just the second all-time meeting between the two programs, the first coming in New Jersey last year during Rutgers' inaugural Big Ten season.
The Gophers are back on to campus after a quick trip to Lincoln last Sunday to cap off a 1-1 weekend. Minnesota returned to dual action on Friday night against Maryland, taking seven of the night's 10 matches and adding bonus points in three of those wins to knock off the Terrapins, 26-12. On the heels of that win, Minnesota headed west to take on No. 9 Nebraska, falling to the Cornhuskers, 24-10, on Sunday. The Gophers return to their home building this weekend, where they are 5-1 this season (3-0 on the Williams Arena side and 2-1 on the Sports Pavilion side). Minnesota is 27-3 when wrestling in Minneapolis during the past five seasons.
The Scarlet Knights will make their debut in the Land of 10,000 Lakes looking to continue one of the best seasons in program history. Minnesota will be the eighth ranked opponent for Rutgers already this year. The Knights are 5-2 in those matches, with wins over North Carolina, Northern Iowa, Oregon State, Cornell and Nebraska, as well as losses to Oklahoma and Iowa. Most recently, Rutgers recorded its first Big Ten shutout, a 34-0 home win over Michigan State last Sunday. That victory also gave Rutgers its second conference win of the season, matching its total from a year ago. Prior to beating Sparty, Rutgers took third in the Midlands Championships over the holidays, finishing behind only Iowa and Nebraska.
The two teams will send nine ranked wrestlers to the mat Sunday afternoon, a collection that will produce two ranked-versus-ranked matches.
At 141 pounds, a pair of underclassmen will square off when No. 10 Tommy Thorn takes on No. 4 Anthony Ashnault. Ashnault was an All-American last year as a redshirt freshman, finishing eighth at the NCAA Championships. For Thorn, Sunday's match will be his ninth against a ranked opponent, matching Brett Pfarr for the most on the team.
The ranked-versus-ranked matchup at heavyweight between No. 7 Michael Kroells and No. 16 Billy Smith is also one of two expected rematches from last year's dual. Kroells defeated Smith, a three-time NCAA qualifier, 6-5 in the final match of last January.
A rematch of last year's 184-pound bout will bump up to the 197 slot this weekend when No. 4 Brett Pfarr takes on Hayden Hrymack. Pfarr scored a series of take downs in last year's showdown and earned a 19-9 major decision. Pfarr leads the Gophers with 11 major decisions this season.
In addition to those matches, ranked wrestlers in action also include No. 9 Jake Short (149) for the Gophers and No. 18 Anthony Giraldo (133), No. 15 Richie Lewis (157) and No. 10 Anthony Perrotti (165) for Rutgers. At 157 pounds, Lewis will be the third consecutive ranked opponent for Brandon Kingsley, who has dropped 3-2 decisions to No. 18 Lou Mascola (Maryland) and No. 17 Tyler Berger (Nebraska) in his last two outings.
The Gophers defeated the Scarlet Knights in their first-ever meeting last season. That dual was defined by two streaks. First up was Rutgers, which opened the meet with four consecutive wins to build a 12-0 lead. Momentum shifted when Dylan Ness pinned Dylan Painton in the second period of their 157-pound contest. Including Pfarr and Kroells' wins, Minnesota won every match the rest of the way and took the dual, 23-12. Minnesota returns four starters from that dual: Short, Kinglsey, Pfarr and Kroells. Rutgers will have six returning: Ashnault, Hrymack, Smith, Sean McCabe (125), Nicholas Gravina (up two weights from 165 last year) and Phil Bakuckas.
First match for Sunday is set to begin at 1 p.m. Central. Fans can stream the entire dual live on BTN Plus and receive mat-side updates throughout the dual by following Gopher Wrestling on Twitter.
Prior to that day's dual, the Gophers will host the first of two youth clinics this season. Click here for more information on youth clinics.
Match Projections:
Wt. Name Yr. Hometown/ High School 2015-16 Record (Dual)
125 Sean McCabe R-Jr. Ronkonkoma, N.Y./ Connetquot 10-7 (7-5) (0-3)
-OR- Josh Patrick R-So. Rector, Pa./ Ligonier Valley 10-3 (1-0)
133 Anthony Giraldo R-Fr. Guttenberg, N.J./ North Bergen 12-7 (8-5) (0-6)
141 Anthony Ashnault* R-So. South Plainfield, N.J./ South Plainfield 18-1 (12-0) (0-9)
149 Tyson Dippery R-So. Harrisburg, Pa./ Central Dauphin 11-7 (8-5) (3-9)
157 Richie Lewis Jr. Toms River, N.J./ Toms River East 15-3 (9-1)) (3-12)
-OR- John Van Brill R-Fr. Mullica Hill, N.J./ Clearview 8-6 (2-1)
165 Anthony Perrotti** R-Sr. Roseland, N.J./ West Essex 13-2 (11-1) (3-15)
174 Phil Bakuckas R-Jr. Hammonton, N.J./ Hammonton 11-7 (6-5) (6-15)
-OR- Anthony Pafumi R-Jr. Westfield, N.J./ St. Peter’s Prep 7-5 (2-1)
184 Nicholas Gravina R-So. Allendale, N.J./ Northern Highlands Regional 12-6 (8-3) (6-18)
197 Hayden Hrymack Sr. Point Pleasant, N.J./ CBA 11-7 (8-5) (10-18)
285 Billy Smith*** R-Sr. Wantage, N.J./ High Point 16-5 (10-3) (13-18)
It should be interesting to see how we perform today. I'm hoping that we are continuing to improve!!
