Staff Reporter
Minnesota wrestlers Delaney Berger and Brent Boeshans captured titles Sunday at the Great Plains Invitational Tournament in Lincoln, Nebraska. Berger (167 pounds) and Boeshans (HWT) both downed Nebraska opponents in the finals to place first in their weight classes.
The pair of sophomores serve as backups to the regular Gophers’ starters and attended the 20-team tournament to gain experience. Both won their title bouts by just one point. Berger downed the Husker’s Kevin Keeny in overtime by a score of 7-6. Boeshans defeated Nebraska’s J.R. Plienis by a 6-5 decision.
Also representing Minnesota at the tournament were starters Troy Marr and Chad Kraft. Marr, the Gophers’ regular 134 pounder, lost his first match of the day, but wrestled back to win seven straight matches and take third.
Kraft, a two time All-American, attended the tournament to get in a few more matches before starting the Big Ten schedule. He fell behind after a knee injury sidelined him for the preseason Open tournaments. Sunday, Kraft won his first match of the day at 150 pounds, but didn’t wrestle after that because of illness.
Eleven full Division I teams wrestled in the 20-team tournament. Minnesota, represented by only four wrestlers because of a dual meet at Iowa State, finished sixth overall with 65 team points. Oregon claimed the team title with 122 points.
Kraft and Marr are expected to be back in the Gophers’ starting lineup against Nebraska Friday night at the Sports Pavilion.
Sunday’s late results
Minnesota 20
Iowa State 15
118 pounds — Cody Sanderson (ISU) maj. dec. Brett Lawrence (UM), 13-2.
126 pounds — Dwight Hinson (ISU) dec. Pat Connors (UM), 7-4.
134 pounds — Bart Golyer (UM) dec. Frank Kisley (ISU), 7-2.
142 pounds — Jason Davids (UM) maj. dec. Cole Sanderson (ISU), 16-7.
150 pounds — David Maldonado (ISU) won by tech. fall Brad Pike, 22-7 (5:48).
158 pounds — Josh Holiday (UM) dec. Ben Schwab (ISU), 5-2.
167 pounds — Zac Taylor (UM) maj. dec. Ben Perkins (ISU), 15-4.
177 pounds — Brandon Eggum (UM) dec. Matt Mulvihill (ISU), 7-5.
190 pounds — Tim Hartung (UM) dec. Zach Thompson (ISU), 5-0.
HWT — Trent Hynek (ISU) dec. Shelton Benjamin (UM) 10-9.
