Minnesota, historically one of the best dual meet teams ever, is looking to improve upon their 8-6 dual meet record from last season.
125 – Russell (Sr) <Collins, GA>
Scott Russell transfers in from Edinboro. Russell is a 3-time qualifier and 1-time AA (2-2 in 2018 from the 11 seed, 7th place in 2017 from the 7 seed, 1-2 in 2016 – unseeded). He takes over for Ethan Lizak who’s moving up to 133.
133 – Lizak (Jr) <Parkland, PA>
Backpack moves up to a very crowded 133 weight class. He’s a two-time AA placing 4th from the 8 seed last year and 2nd from the 6 seed in 2017. Lizak had an especially busy tournament last year wrestling 8 matches. After dropping down into the consis with a 2nd round loss to Bresser, he reeled off 5 straight wins and lost a close 3rd place battle with Tomasello. Lizak takes over for McKee who moves up to 141. Lizak was Minnesota’s only AA last year.
141 – McKee (Jr) <St. Michael-Albertville, MN>
Two-time qualifier Mitch McKee moves up from 133. He went to the round of 12 last year (16 seed) and in 2017 (14 seed). He takes over for Thorn who moves up to 149.
149 – Thorn (Sr) <St. Michael-Albertville, MN>
Three-time qualifier and 1-time AA @141 (0-2 in 2018 – unseeded, 8th in 2017 from the 14 seed, 2-2 in 2016 from the 11 seed). Thorn takes over 149 from Steve Bleise who moves up to 157.
157 – Bleise (Sr) <Chelsea, MI>
Three-time qualifier and former transfer from Northern Illinois, Bleise went 2-2 for Minnesota @149 last year. He went to the round of 12 for NIU @149 in 2017 from the 14 seed and went 0-2 for NIU @141 in 2016 from the 13 seed. He takes over 157 from 3-time qualifier Jake Short (2-2 in 2018, R12 in 2017, 0-2 @149 in 2016).
165 – Allar (Fr) <St. Michael-Albertville, MN>
Jake Allar enters the lineup after a redshirt season (no results due to injury). He takes over for 3-time qualifier Nick Wanzek (R12 in 2018 from the 12 seed, R12 in 2017 from the 16 seed, 1-2 in 2016 @174).
174 – Skatzka (Jr) <Richmond, MI> or Krone (Sr) <Anoka, MN>
Devin Skatzka transfers in from Indiana. Skatzka is a 2-time qualifier going 0-2 in 2018 and 2017. He had a 22-12 season record last year. Brandon Krone moved up last season filling in for an injured Owen Webster @184 and qualified for the tournament going 1-2 (12-10 season record). Whoever becomes the starter is taking over for Chris Pfarr who went 13-13 last year and didn’t qualify for the tournament (Pfarr qualified in 2017 going 0-2).
184 – Webster (Jr) <Shakopee, MN>
Webster, who was a transfer from Augsburg, was 8-3 last year for Minnesota before his season was cut short by injury. He had wins last year against AA-Chip Ness and qualifier Martin Mueller.
197 – Bobby Steveson (Jr) <Apple Valley, MN> or Anderson (So) <Hudson, WI> or Joles (Fr) <Boyceville, WI>
Bobby Steveson began last season as the starter going 4-9 before his season was cut short by injury (Steveson qualified for the tournament @184 in 2017, going 1-2). Dylan Anderson also wrestled @184 after Webster was injured and later moved up to become the 197 starter and did not qualify for the tournament. Anderson had a 23-15 season record (2-4 @197). Incoming freshman Garrett Joles is a two-time Wisconsin state champ @195. Will Balow (Sr) could also be an option here.
Heavy – Gable Steveson (Fr) <Apple Valley, MN>
I never heard of this guy before so I did a little research on him. I guess he’s pretty good.
The Gophers return their lone AA (Lizak) from last season and 4 other qualifiers (McKee, Thorn, Bleise, Krone/Skatzka) and lose 2 qualifiers (Wanzek, Short). They add a former AA (Russell), get Webster back from injury and add a pretty good freshman at heavyweight. It would be a surprise if they didn’t improve upon their 17th place/27.5 point performance from last season. They might even be able to finish higher than Rutgers.
125 – Russell (Sr) <Collins, GA>
Scott Russell transfers in from Edinboro. Russell is a 3-time qualifier and 1-time AA (2-2 in 2018 from the 11 seed, 7th place in 2017 from the 7 seed, 1-2 in 2016 – unseeded). He takes over for Ethan Lizak who’s moving up to 133.
133 – Lizak (Jr) <Parkland, PA>
Backpack moves up to a very crowded 133 weight class. He’s a two-time AA placing 4th from the 8 seed last year and 2nd from the 6 seed in 2017. Lizak had an especially busy tournament last year wrestling 8 matches. After dropping down into the consis with a 2nd round loss to Bresser, he reeled off 5 straight wins and lost a close 3rd place battle with Tomasello. Lizak takes over for McKee who moves up to 141. Lizak was Minnesota’s only AA last year.
141 – McKee (Jr) <St. Michael-Albertville, MN>
Two-time qualifier Mitch McKee moves up from 133. He went to the round of 12 last year (16 seed) and in 2017 (14 seed). He takes over for Thorn who moves up to 149.
149 – Thorn (Sr) <St. Michael-Albertville, MN>
Three-time qualifier and 1-time AA @141 (0-2 in 2018 – unseeded, 8th in 2017 from the 14 seed, 2-2 in 2016 from the 11 seed). Thorn takes over 149 from Steve Bleise who moves up to 157.
157 – Bleise (Sr) <Chelsea, MI>
Three-time qualifier and former transfer from Northern Illinois, Bleise went 2-2 for Minnesota @149 last year. He went to the round of 12 for NIU @149 in 2017 from the 14 seed and went 0-2 for NIU @141 in 2016 from the 13 seed. He takes over 157 from 3-time qualifier Jake Short (2-2 in 2018, R12 in 2017, 0-2 @149 in 2016).
165 – Allar (Fr) <St. Michael-Albertville, MN>
Jake Allar enters the lineup after a redshirt season (no results due to injury). He takes over for 3-time qualifier Nick Wanzek (R12 in 2018 from the 12 seed, R12 in 2017 from the 16 seed, 1-2 in 2016 @174).
174 – Skatzka (Jr) <Richmond, MI> or Krone (Sr) <Anoka, MN>
Devin Skatzka transfers in from Indiana. Skatzka is a 2-time qualifier going 0-2 in 2018 and 2017. He had a 22-12 season record last year. Brandon Krone moved up last season filling in for an injured Owen Webster @184 and qualified for the tournament going 1-2 (12-10 season record). Whoever becomes the starter is taking over for Chris Pfarr who went 13-13 last year and didn’t qualify for the tournament (Pfarr qualified in 2017 going 0-2).
184 – Webster (Jr) <Shakopee, MN>
Webster, who was a transfer from Augsburg, was 8-3 last year for Minnesota before his season was cut short by injury. He had wins last year against AA-Chip Ness and qualifier Martin Mueller.
197 – Bobby Steveson (Jr) <Apple Valley, MN> or Anderson (So) <Hudson, WI> or Joles (Fr) <Boyceville, WI>
Bobby Steveson began last season as the starter going 4-9 before his season was cut short by injury (Steveson qualified for the tournament @184 in 2017, going 1-2). Dylan Anderson also wrestled @184 after Webster was injured and later moved up to become the 197 starter and did not qualify for the tournament. Anderson had a 23-15 season record (2-4 @197). Incoming freshman Garrett Joles is a two-time Wisconsin state champ @195. Will Balow (Sr) could also be an option here.
Heavy – Gable Steveson (Fr) <Apple Valley, MN>
I never heard of this guy before so I did a little research on him. I guess he’s pretty good.
The Gophers return their lone AA (Lizak) from last season and 4 other qualifiers (McKee, Thorn, Bleise, Krone/Skatzka) and lose 2 qualifiers (Wanzek, Short). They add a former AA (Russell), get Webster back from injury and add a pretty good freshman at heavyweight. It would be a surprise if they didn’t improve upon their 17th place/27.5 point performance from last season. They might even be able to finish higher than Rutgers.
