The Minnesota wrestling team gave a strong showing Saturday as five Gophers were named Bison Open champions.
Gophers 125-pound Patrick McKee, 133-pound Brent Jones, 141-pound Mitch McKee, 149-pound Brayton Lee and 174-pound Devin Skatzka were all crowned champions at the meet in Fargo, North Dakota. Redshirt freshman Patrick McKee got pins in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds before earning the major decision, 10-0, over his teammate, redshirt freshman Jake Gliva in the championship round. Gliva recorded a pin in the quarterfinal round and a one point decision in the semifinal round before falling to Patrick McKee, taking second place.
Jones won a 10-0 major decision in quarterfinals and a 4-0 decision in semifinals before going on to win in championships.
Senior Mitch McKee got a technical fall over freshman teammate Sebas Swiggum in the quarterfinal round and a pin in the first minute of the semifinal round. The championship round was even shorter, as he pinned North Dakota State’s Sawyer Degen in 16 seconds. The McKee brothers combined to go 7-0.
Lee also earned a technical fall in the quarterfinal round and a pin in the semifinal round. In championships, he got the 7-5 decision over teammate Jakob Bergeland. Bergeland placed second, earning an 8-0 major decision in quarterfinals and a pin in semifinals before losing to Lee in championships.
Skatzka was the last of the champions for Minnesota, earning a 18-6 decision over NDSU’s Jimmy Noel in the championship.
The Gophers also earned five second place finishes, including Bergeland and Gliva. At 157 pounds, redshirt senior Carson Brolsma finished second, earning decisions in quarter and semifinals before losing the 5-4 decision to NDSU’s Jared Franek in championships. 165-pound Bailee O’Reilly also earned a second place finish. He had a pin in quarterfinals and won a decision in semis, but lost 6-0 to NDSU’s Andrew Fogarty in championships. 184-pound Hunter Ritter also came away with victories in quarter and semifinals before falling in championships and placing second.
The Gophers will be back in action Friday when they take on Rider University at Williams Arena.
