The No. 4 Gophers wrestling team is cutting its teeth against a tough slate of early-season competition, with mixed results.
It defeated Central Michigan on Friday 24-9 and fell to No. 2 Oklahoma State 23-14 Sunday in its second tough road trip of the season.
Minnesota won only three of 10 matches against the Cowboys and fell to 1-2 against ranked teams.
The match started at 133 pounds Sunday afternoon, and the Cowboys wasted no time taking the lead and control of the dual.
No. 1-ranked Jordan Oliver pinned David Thorn in the first period to give OSU an early 6-0 lead.
âÄúThorn got caught in the cradle by a top-ranked guy,âÄù head assistant coach Brandon Eggum said. âÄúThat was disappointing, I guess, because I wanted to see how that wouldâÄôve played out.âÄù
Nick Dardanes (141) went to overtime and got a quick takedown in extra time to win the match 14-12.
After a Dylan Ness (149) loss, the Gophers earned their biggest victory of the day when Cody Yohn (165) got a 12-1 major decision victory.
âÄúCody wrestled a guy that heâÄôd had some closer matches with in the past so it was nice to see him break that one open and win big,âÄù Eggum said.
Minnesota lost the next two matches before Sonny Yohn (197) pulled out a 3-2 win against No. 3 Cayle Byers with a last-second takedown.
Zach Sanders (125) ended the dual with a 15-7 major decision victory.
The Gophers had little trouble with CMU on Friday, winning the first six matches of the dual. Sanders won by technical fall, his third of the season.
CMU got on the board when Anthony Bill (174) defeated Steven Avalos. True freshman Logan Storley was expected to appear in his first dual of the season, but suffered a setback with his sprained ankle last week.
Minnesota also competed without Jake Deitchler (157) for both duals this weekend.
âÄúIâÄôm not sure with [Deitchler], [or] exactly when heâÄôll be back,âÄù Eggum said. âÄú[WeâÄôre] just kind of taking it day by day, weâÄôre not going to rush it.âÄù
Deitchler sat out all of last season with concussion problems.
The Chippewas won three out of the last four matches with upset victories over Kevin Steinhaus (184) and Tony Nelson (heavyweight). The two combined to go 0-4 on the weekend.
âÄúSteinhaus [needs to] work on being more intense earlier,âÄù Eggum said. âÄúIt seemed like he wrestled too much of a strategy match. I think he sat back a little bit too much trying to find the perfect set up and the perfect opportunity to score.âÄù
