The Gophers wrestling team was looking for revenge Tuesday night from its loss against No. 3 Iowa State on Saturday, and Nebraska just happened to be the victim.
Minnesota interrupted the Cornhuskers’ four-win streak by taking all but three weight classes with a final score of 29-12.
The Gophers (7-1) were out to vindicate Saturday’s frustrating 19-16 loss to the Cyclones and prove they belong among the top wrestling teams in the nation.
Minnesota started off quickly when junior Brandon Paulson (ranked No. 5 at 118-pounds) defeated Todd Beckerman by major decision, 11-3.
Next, Gophers junior Jason Davids (No. 2 at 142) won by major decision 17-7, followed by an 8-4 win by sophomore Chad Kraft (No. 4 at 150).
Minnesota sophomore Josh Holiday upset No. 10 Jason Kraft 4-3 in the 158-pound match and junior Zac Taylor won by technical fall 22-6.
In a one minute, 15-second span in the second period of Taylor’s match, the junior scored 10 points by nearly pinning Monte Christensen four times. The match was called after the fourth near-fall.
Sophomore Tim Hartung, No. 7 at 190, added another win to his spotless 14-0 record downing Scott Munson by major decision 14-2.
Nebraska forfeited the 177-pound match due to injury.
Minnesota freshman Ty Friederichs (126) and sophomore Pat Connors (134) were both defeated by nationally ranked Huskers.
No. 11 Jeramie Welder defeated Friederichs 11-4 and No. 12 Bart Canoyer downed Connors 3-2.
Gophers freshman Brent Boeshans, who wrestled in place of Shelton Benjamin after Benjamin lost the deciding match against Iowa State, took on the toughest job of the night by wrestling senior All-American Tolly Thompson in the heavyweight match.
Boeshans was pinned by Thompson in 2:29.
Thompson, Nebraska’s 1995 NCAA Champion, is ranked No. 4 and holds a career collegiate record of 135-19.
Minnesota will meet South Dakota State on Friday, Jan. 10 at Williams Arena.