We have another close dual match tonight, when #12 MN takes on #16 NE in Lincoln, NE!!!
The match is on BTN at 8pm, and there is another interesting match on ESPNU at 8pm when NU is at IA!!!
I was super conservative in predicting this match, and have it as a 15-15 tie, based solely on individual rankings. I actually think we should win as at least one of our lower ranked guys will win and we may also get bonus points somewhere!! Here's which matches could lift us to victory:
133 - #20 Aaron Nagao gets a major decision (MN +1)
141 - #11 Jake Bergeland beats #5 Brock Hardy (MN +3 - NE -3)
149 - Michael Blockhus gets a major decision (MN +1)
157 - #13 Brayton Lee beats #1 Peyton Robb (MN +3 - NE -3)
184 #12 Isaiah Salazar wins over #10 Lenny Pinto (MN +3 - NE -3)
197 #27 Michial Foy wins over #25 Silas Allred (MN +3 - NE -3)
285 #25 Garrett Joles gets a major decision over Cale Davidson (MN +1)
It's going to be a fun match to watch so get your popcorn, alcohol, and mood enhancers, and tune in!!!
Here's the article on this weekend's action from Gophersports.com:
Nebraska, Michigan State on Tap Next for No. 12 Gophers
Gophersports.com
01/12/2023
Wrestling
WREST Dual Notes at Nebraska (1/13) - University of Minnesota Athletics
WREST Dual Notes at Nebraska (1/13)
MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 12 University of Minnesota wrestling program (7-1, 0-1 B1G) is set for week two of Big Ten competition as they travel to Lincoln, Neb., on Friday for an 8:00 p.m. dual against No. 16 Nebraska (4-2, 0-0 B1G) before returning to Maturi Pavilion to host No. 29 Michigan State (7-0, 0-0 B1G) at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.
The Gophers are looking to battle back from their first loss of the season after previously beginning the year 7-0, as they dropped an 18-11 dual to Northwestern in their conference opener last Saturday.
Both of the upcoming duals this weekend will be nationally broadcasted live on the Big Ten Network, while fans can also follow along to live match-by-match updates on Twitter at @GopherWrestling.
Tale of the Tape - The Cornhuskers
Nebraska is led by veteran head coach Mark Manning, who enters the weekend ranked fourth among active coaches in wins at their current school with 272. Returning three All-Americans from last season, the Cornhusker lineup is highlighted by top-ranked Peyton Robb and second-ranked Mikey Labriola. Nebraska has also seen contributions from fresh faces in the lineup, as first-year starters Brock Hardy and Lenny Pinto each have cracked the top-10 in the InterMat polls.
The Cornhuskers enter the weekend on a three-dual win streak as they hold a record of 4-2 on the year and have yet to compete in Big Ten competition. Nebraska made noise on the national stage earlier this season at the Cliff Keen Invitational, where the squad took home the team title for the fifth time in program history with three individual titles.
The Series with Nebraska
Minnesota holds the all-time series against the Nebraska Cornhuskers with a record of 52-23 in a series that dates back to 1922. Nebraska and Minnesota have split each of the previous ten meetings. The Gophers snapped Nebraska's five-dual win streak in their most recent meeting last season, as the Maroon & Gold took a 19-13 home victory inside Maturi Pavilion.
First Meeting: L, 22-26 (2/21/1922)
Last Meeting: W, 19-13 (1/14/2022)
Longest Win Streak: W13 (2/27/1954-1/9/1971)
Longest Losing Streak: L5 (1/10/2016-1/8/2021)
Current Streak: W1
Last Meeting:
The "U" hosted Nebraska last season for a top-15 home showdown on January 14, 2022, and defeated the Cornhuskers by a score of 19-13, as the Gophers took six of the ten bouts in a razor thin contest. The two teams traded the first four matchups, as Cael Carlson and Isaiah Salazar would each pick up decision wins. The Maroon & Gold later rattled off a three-match win streak as Gable Steveson earned a major decision at heavyweight, followed by Patrick McKee and Jake Gliva decision victories. With the dual in the balance for the final bout of the night at 157 pounds, Brayton Lee closed the door on the dual with a 4-0 win over Peyton Robb.
Tale of the Tape - The Spartans
Michigan State heads into their first B1G action of the season on the heels of their best start under current head coach Roger Chandler as they hold a 7-0 record on the year, good enough to slot in at No. 29 in the InterMat polls. The Spartans are led by their veteran trio of Rayvon Foley, Layne Malczewski, and Cameron Caffey.
While getting off to a hot start in the 2022-23 campaign, Michigan State is now slated for their toughest test of the season this weekend as they will see ranked competition for the first time all year. Their most impressive wins of their non-conference schedule include a 21-15 win over Princeton as well as shutout dual victories over Davidson and American.
The Series with Michigan State
Minnesota holds the all-time series against the Michigan State Spartans with a record of 34-23 in a series that dates back to the 1945-46 season. The Gophers have dominated the series as of late, winning 23 of the last 24 duals with the Spartans, including each of the last twelve contests with a streak that dates back to 2006. The most recent meeting came during the 2021 season in a triangular meet hosted by Michigan State in which Minnesota trounced the Spartans by a score of 28-6.
First Meeting: L, 8-23 (1945-46)
Last Meeting: W, 28-6 (1/16/2021)
Longest Win Streak: W12 (2/19/2006-1/16/2021)
Longest Losing Streak: L12 (1/22/1966-2/2/1985)
Current Streak: W1
Potential Matchups
Between the two duals this weekend, the Maroon & Gold could see a total of 12 ranked matchups with four Gopher grapplers prepared to face a ranked opponent in each contest.
Patrick McKee has two ranked tests ahead of him this weekend, as he is projected to take on No. 10 Liam Cronin (Nebraska) and No. 25 Tristan Lujan (Michigan State).
Aaron Nagao will look for the signature win of his young career on Sunday, as he will get a second crack at Michigan State's Rayvon Foley in a rematch of the 2022 Southern Scuffle finals.
All-American Jake Bergeland gets an opportunity against a top-5 opponent as he will square off against Brock Hardy in Lincoln on Friday night.
Brayton Lee will get a chance to knock off top-ranked 157-pounder Peyton Robb of Nebraska on Friday night before returning home to battle against Michigan State's Chase Saldate. Lee is a combined 3-0 all-time against his weekend opponents.
Isaiah Salazar looks to continue his climb up the ranks this weekend with a pair of top-20 opponents in No. 10 Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) and No. 17 Layne Malczewski (Michigan State).
Up Next
Following this weekend's action, the Big Ten gauntlet continues for the Gophers as they prepare for another conference doubleheader next weekend. The "U" will first travel to Bloomington, Ind., to battle Indiana next Friday at 5:00 p.m. CST, before returning to Maturi Pavilion to celebrate Alumni Night with a Sunday afternoon tussle against the Purdue Boilermakers at 1:00 p.m. CST. Both duals will be broadcasted on the conference's subscription-based platform B1G+.
My Predictions:
MN vs. NE:
125 - #4 Patrick McKee wins over #10 Liam Cronin (MN 3 - NE 0)
133 - #20 Aaron Nagao wins over Boo Dryden (6-0)
141 #11 Jake Bergeland loses to #5 Brock Hardy (6-3)
149 - #14 Michael Blockhus wins over Dayne Morton (9-3)
157 #12 Brayton Lee loses to #1 Peyton Robb (9-6)
165 - #24 Andrew Sparks wins over #29 Bubba Wilson (12-6)
174 - #15 Bailee O’Reilly loses to #2 Mikey Labriola (12-9)
184 - #12 Isaiah Salazar loses to #10 Lenny Pinto (12-12)
197 - #27 Michial Foy loses to #25 Silas Allred (12-15)
285 #25 Garrett Joles wins over Cale Davidson (15-15)
Final Team Score MN 15 - NE 15
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