Michigan State University
Minnesota
No. 1 Minnesota Tops No. 20 Spartan Wrestling, 35-4
2/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 9, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The top-ranked Minnesota wrestling team defeated No. 20 Michigan State, 35-4, Friday night at the Sports Pavilion. No. 2 Nick Simmons recorded the lone victory for the Spartans (3-7, 2-3 Big Ten) at 133 pounds with a 13-0 major decision over Mike Thorn. The Gophers (17-1, 6-0), who feature seven ranked wrestlers in their lineup, remained in first place in the Big Ten with the victory. MSU returns to action Sunday to take on No. 10 Iowa at 3 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
In a battle of top-five wrestlers to start the dual, fourth-ranked Jayson Ness edged out No. 5 Franklin Gomez at 125 pounds, 8-5, handing Gomez only his third loss of the season (30-3). Ness recorded two takedowns in the first period to take a 4-2 lead, but Gomez battled back, and tied it at 5 with an escape to start the third. Ness then delivered a takedown with 1:09 remaining, and tacked on a riding-time point for the 8-5 victory.
Second-ranked Nick Simmons dominated Mike Thorn in the 133-pound match, collecting a 13-0 major-decision victory. It marked Simmons' eighth shutout win of the season and improved his record to 29-1.
In another matchup of top-ranked wrestlers, undefeated and second-ranked Manuel Rivera defeated No. 4 Andy Simmons, 7-2. After no scoring in the first, Rivera recorded one takedown in the second and two in the third to claim the victory.
The Gophers racked up 11 points in the next two matches as No. 2 Dustin Schlatter notched a technical fall over Tim Hammer at 149 pounds, 22-7, and No. 3 J.P. Schlatter pinned Tony Greathouse at 157 in 2:46.
Rocky Cozart battled at 165, but eventually fell in a high-scoring match to Tyler Safratowich in sudden-victory overtime, 14-12.
Minnesota recorded three more decisions at 174, 184, and 197 pounds before No. 1 Cole Konrad pinned Alan O'Donnell at heavyweight to close the match.
Michigan State returns to action Sunday to take on No. 10 Iowa in Iowa City at 3 p.m. ET.
MATCH RESULTS
No. 1 Minnesota 35, No. 20 Michigan State 4125: No. 4 Jayson Ness (MINN) dec. No. 5 Franklin Gomez (MSU), 8-5; MINN leads, 3-0133: No. 1 Nick Simmons (MSU) major dec. Mike Thorn (MINN), 13-0; MSU leads, 4-3141: No. 2 Manuel Rivera (MINN) dec. No. 4 Andy Simmons (MSU), 7-2; MINN leads, 6-4149: No. 2 Dustin Schlatter (MINN) tech. fall Tim Hammer (MSU), 22-7, 7:00; MINN leads, 11-4157: No. 3 J.P. Schlatter (MINN) pinned Tony Greathouse (MSU), 2:46; MINN leads, 17-4165: Tyler Safratowich (MINN) dec. Rocky Cozart (MSU), 14-12 (OT SV); MINN leads, 20-4174: No. 13 Gabriel Dretsch (MINN) dec. Greg Goidosik (MSU), 10-5; MINN leads, 23-4184: No. 2 Roger Kish (MINN) dec. No. 10 Joe Williams (MSU), 10-4; MINN leads, 26-4197: Yura Malamura (MINN) dec. Nick Palmieri (MSU), 7-1; MINN leads, 29-4Hwt: No. 1 Cole Konrad (MINN) pinned Alan O'Donnell (MSU), 1:36; MINN wins, 35-4
Players Mentioned
