MINNEAPOLIS -- The Golden Gophers resumed Big Ten competition with a victory against No. 16 Northwestern on Friday evening. The Golden Gophers improve to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in the Big Ten.
The Gophers were able to win six of the ten bouts on the evening while claiming two decisions, two major decisions and two falls on the evening.
Minnesota started the the dual with a loss at 125 pounds as Jordan Kingsley made his dual debut on the season. Following the loss, Minnesota was able to pick up four victories before Danny Zilverberg was defeated by Northwestern's Pierce Harger. The Gophers would then drop the next bout as Alec Ortiz stepped in for No. 5 Logan Storley.
Kevin Steinhaus continued his dual success as he was able to win by major decision against Jacob Berkowitz. No. 1 Scott Schiller continued his undefeated season with a pin against Alex Polizzi. Schiller's record improves to 19-0 on the season.
The most noteworthy moment of the evening came as No. 1 Tony Nelson battled No. 8 Mike McMullan in a rematch of the Big Ten championship and NCAA championship from a year ago. Nelson trailed 1-0 going into the third period but was able to grab a point on an escape to tie the score at 1-1 at the end of three. In the first overtime, McMullan was able to takedown Nelson for the sudden victory win. The loss breaks Nelson's undefeated season streak.
No. 8 Nebraska 30, Indiana 10
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Colton McCrystal (133) and TJ Dudley (184) each earned pins as seven Huskers won their matches in a 30-10 rout of Indiana on Friday night at the Devaney Center.
No. 8 Nebraska improves to 7-0 on the season, with a 2-0 record in Big Ten duals. The Hoosiers fall to 8-3-1 and suffer their second Big Ten loss of the 2013-14 campaign.
The dual started at 133 pounds, where McCrystal battled Chris Caton before the Husker freshman pinned the Hoosier in 5:19. McCrystal improves to 12-5 and earns his third pin of the season.
Senior Adam Joseph earned his first-career dual start for the Huskers, but fell by a 6-4 decision to Ethan Raley at 141 pounds. Nebraska bounced back to win the next two matches as juniors Jake Sueflohn (149) and James Green (157) each recorded their 20th wins of the season.
No. 23 Wisconsin 22, No. 9 Ohio State 15
MADISON, Wis. -- Down 16-4 after five matches to No. 23 Wisconsin, ninth-ranked Ohio State's rally fell short after cutting the Badgers’ lead to four (16-12) and the Buckeyes eventually lost 22-15 Friday night at UW Fieldhouse. Ohio State falls to 5-2 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten, while Wisconsin improves to 9-3 overall and 3-0 in the conference.
Redshirt-junior Logan Stieber, ranked third in the nation, began the Buckeye rally at 141 pounds, picking up five team points following his 18-1 technical fall against Jesse Thielke. All 11 of Stieber’s wins have been bonus point victories so far this season. On the year, he has collected two major decisions, three technical falls and six falls.
Senior Ian Paddock won Ohio State’s second consecutive bout of the match (149 pounds) with his 3-2 victory vs. Rylan Lubeck. With both wrestlers tied 1-1 in the third period, No. 16 Paddock scored a takedown to take a 3-1 lead. Despite a final escape by Lubeck, Paddock held on for his 18th win of the season.
Down 16-12 with three matches remaining, Ohio State lost close back-to-back matches at 157 and 165 pounds. Trailing No. 11 Isaac Jordan 3-2 in the second period, Randy Languis was unable to score additional points the rest of the way and dropped a 5-2 decision in the 157-pound bout. An escape by Badger Frank Cousins in the third period proved to be the difference in the Joe Grandominico’s 3-2 loss at 165 pounds.
