Gophers wrestler Bart Goyler has earned a spot on the Minnesota starting roster for the second consecutive season, and with postseason action nearing, the senior has recaptured the 133-pound position.
“I think it’s pretty much definite,” Gophers’ assistant Mark Schwab said. “I think he’s proven that he can respond to the one-hour weigh-in and I think the team has rallied behind him.”
Similar to last season, senior Pat Connors lost the starting role to Goyler midway through the season. However, this year a wrestle-off was unnecessary — Goyler has consistently outperformed the 13th-ranked Connnors.
“Right now, Bart’s kind of the guy,” coach J Robinson said. “We just tried to give them the same opportunities, and with the opportunities he had, Bart performed better.”
After going 1-1 at home on Friday — defeating St. Cloud State’s Marc Schneider 15-1 at 141-pounds and losing to Northern Iowa’s No. 7 Eric Keller 6-3 at 133-pounds — Goyler reassured the coaching staff Sunday that he belongs on the mat.
Goyler pulled an upset in Nebraska — on paper, anyway.
“I don’t consider it an upset,” Goyler said. “I already beat him this year and just wanted to beat him worse.”
The unranked Goyler faced the Huskers’ 17th-ranked Todd Beckermann while Nebraska’s fans were going crazy. Goyler survived a scoreless first period before scoring off an escape five seconds into the second period.
The Gophers grappler was awarded another point when Beckermann was penalized for stalling. Beckermann spoiled Goyler’s shutout, however, escaping Goyler’s grasp nine seconds into the third period.
With a narrow 2-1 lead, Beckermann was penalized again, this time for an illegal hold. When time ran out Goyler walked away with a 3-1 victory.
“It’s a good win for me,” Goyler said. “I feel like I’m making some progress and setting the pace.”
In his fifth season with the team, the Cedar, Minn., native has struggled to make it this far.
“Wrestling wasn’t any fun at first,” Golyer said. “My first couple of years seemed like an eternity. They just dragged on.”
But now Goyler is a seasoned veteran. As the Big Ten Tournament approaches, Goyler never doubted he’d be a part of the Gophers’ lineup that will look to win its first conference title since the 1958-1959 season.
“The thought of quitting never crossed my mind,” Goyler said. “The support of the coaches has been unbelievable. I learned things that will help in the real world, like discipline and how to do hard work.”