Minnesota Golden Gophers wrestling
Encyclopedia
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are a Division I college wrestling
team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota
. They are a member of the Big Ten Conference and NCAA. Wrestling began at the University of Minnesota
in 1910, but the first formal dual meet was not until 1921 when coach Frank Gilman led the team to a victory over Wisconsin
. The Gophers have won the NCAA wrestling team championship
three times, in 2001, 2002, and 2007.
has been fielding wrestling teams for 92 seasons. In that time they have accumulated over 800 dual meet wins, the sixth-highest total in college wrestling history. Almost half of those wins were credited to long-time coach and wrestling Hall of Famer
Wally Johnson
, who led the team from 1952–1986. During that time he coached the team to 392 dual meet wins along with three individual NCAA champions and 25 All-Americans. Minnesota’s current wrestling success got its start in 1986, when J Robinson was hired as the school’s seventh wrestling coach. Also a member of the wrestling Hall of Fame, he has coached eight NCAA champions and numerous All-Americans while at Minnesota.
, capacity 14,321. This often happens for matches against archrivals Iowa
and Oklahoma State
. Several home matches each year are televised by the Big Ten Network. The school has also used Target Center
in downtown Minneapolis for some matches.
Big Ten Conference
: 1910, 1912, 1913, 1941, 1957, 1959, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007
Collegiate wrestling
Collegiate wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the collegiate and university level in the United States. Collegiate wrestling emerged from the folk wrestling styles practised in the early history of the United States...
team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. They are a member of the Big Ten Conference and NCAA. Wrestling began at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in 1910, but the first formal dual meet was not until 1921 when coach Frank Gilman led the team to a victory over Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. The Gophers have won the NCAA wrestling team championship
NCAA Wrestling Team Championship
The NCAA Wrestling Team Championship was first officially awarded in 1929 and began to be continuously awarded on an annual basis in 1934 except during World War II 1943-1945. In 1928 and from 1931 to 1933, there was only an unofficial title. Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State, won the 1928, 1931...
three times, in 2001, 2002, and 2007.
History
The University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
has been fielding wrestling teams for 92 seasons. In that time they have accumulated over 800 dual meet wins, the sixth-highest total in college wrestling history. Almost half of those wins were credited to long-time coach and wrestling Hall of Famer
National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on the campus of Oklahoma State University. The museum opened on September 11, 1976...
Wally Johnson
Wally Johnson
Wally Johnson was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the VFL.Johnson made his debut for Fitzroy in 1907 and finished the year as the club's joint Best and Fairest winner...
, who led the team from 1952–1986. During that time he coached the team to 392 dual meet wins along with three individual NCAA champions and 25 All-Americans. Minnesota’s current wrestling success got its start in 1986, when J Robinson was hired as the school’s seventh wrestling coach. Also a member of the wrestling Hall of Fame, he has coached eight NCAA champions and numerous All-Americans while at Minnesota.
Home Meets
Home meets are held in the 5,700-seat Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis. When large crowds are expected, meets are held in Williams ArenaWilliams Arena
Williams Arena, located on the Twin Cities main campus of the University of Minnesota is the home of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers men's and women's basketball teams, and the men's and women's hockey teams until 1992, when the hockey teams received their own buildings...
, capacity 14,321. This often happens for matches against archrivals Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling
The University of Iowa wrestling program is one of the most successful athletic programs in NCAA Division I. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes are a member of the Big Ten Athletic Conference. Iowa is second in NCAA history with 23 national championships, all of which have come since 1975...
and Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling
The Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling team is a NCAA Division I wrestling program and is one of five Big 12 Conference schools which participate in wrestling. Since the team's first season in 1914-15, it has won thirty-four team national championships , 133 individual NCAA championships, and 213...
. Several home matches each year are televised by the Big Ten Network. The school has also used Target Center
Target Center
The Target Center is an arena in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is sponsored by Target Corporation. The arena has a capacity of 20,500 people. It contains 702 club seats and 68 suites....
in downtown Minneapolis for some matches.
Team Championships
NCAA Division I: 2001, 2002, 2007Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
: 1910, 1912, 1913, 1941, 1957, 1959, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007
NCAA Individual Champions
The Gophers have had sixteen NCAA individual champions. Four of those were two-time champions.- John Whitaker: 1937
- Dale Hanson: 1939 (Most Valuable Wrestler)
- Leonard Levy: 1941
- Verne GagneVerne GagneLaverne Clarence "Verne" Gagne , is a retired American professional wrestler, football player, and professional wrestling trainer and promoter. He was the former owner/promoter of the American Wrestling Association , based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was the predominant promotion throughout...
: 1948, 1949 - Dick Mueller: 1953
- Evan Johnson: 1976
- Pat Neu: 1977
- Marty Morgan: 1991
- Tim Hartung: 1998, 1999
- Brock LesnarBrock LesnarBrock Edward Lesnar is an American mixed martial artist, actor and a former professional and amateur wrestler. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and is ranked the No.5 Heavyweight in the world by Sherdog...
: 2000 - Luke Becker: 2002
- Jared Lawrence: 2002
- Damion Hahn: 2003, 2004
- Dustin SchlatterDustin SchlatterDustin Schlatter was the 2006 NCAA Division 1 Wrestling National Champion and a three-time NCAA All-American at 149 pounds for the University of Minnesota...
: 2006 - Cole KonradCole KonradCole Konrad is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He is currently a student at the University of Minnesota and former wrestler for the Golden Gophers. Konrad won a gold medal at the 2005 Pan-American Championships...
: 2006, 2007 - Jayson Ness: 2010
Current Roster
- 133lbs: Thane Antczak Prairie Farm, WisconsinPrairie Farm, WisconsinPrairie Farm is a village in Barron County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 508 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Prairie Farm, on eastern shore of the Prairie Farm Flowage, a reservoir on the Hay River....
- 174lbs: Steven Alavos Mundelin, Illinois
- 197lbs: Joel Bauman Kerkhoven, MinnesotaKerkhoven, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 759 people, 313 households, and 210 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,023.5 people per square mile . There were 338 housing units at an average density of 455.8 per square mile...
- 125lbs: Brenton Beard Liberty Lake, WashingtonLiberty Lake, WashingtonLiberty Lake is an incorporated city in Spokane County, Washington, United States, on the Idaho state line. Liberty Lake is a suburb of Spokane, Washington. Thus, it is situated between Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho...
- 133lbs: Brandon Bigelbach Mounds View, MinnesotaMounds View, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 12,738 people, 5,018 households, and 3,387 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,096.6 people per square mile . There were 5,130 housing units at an average density of 1,247.1 per square mile...
- 149lbs: Nate Bruner Apple Valley, MinnesotaApple Valley, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 45,527 people, 16,344 households, and 12,405 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,625.5 people per square mile . There were 16,536 housing units at an average density of 953.6 per square mile...
- 133lbs: Chris Dardanes Oak River, Illinois
- 141lbs: Nick Dardanes Oak River Illinois
- 285lbs: Alex Daugherty Monaca, PennsylvaniaMonaca, PennsylvaniaMonaca is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States along the Ohio River, northwest of Pittsburgh. Monaca was first incorporated as Phillipsburg in 1840, and had been known by that name since the 1820s. In 1892, the name of the borough was changed to Monaca in honor of the Native...
- 157lbs: Jake Deitchler Anoka, MinnesotaAnoka, MinnesotaAt the 2000 census, there were 18,076 people, 7,262 households and 4,408 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,709.0 per square mile . There were 7,398 housing units at an average density of 1,108.7 per square mile...
- 157lbs: Brad Dolezal Marshfield, WisconsinMarshfield, WisconsinMarshfield is a city in Marathon and Wood counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the largest city in Wood County. The small portion of the city that extends into Marathon County is part of the Wausau Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,800 at the 2000 census. Marshfield is...
- 149lbs: Austin Enoch Redmond, OregonRedmond, OregonRedmond is a city in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. Incorporated on July 6, 1910, the city is located on the eastern side of Oregon's Cascade Range, in the High Desert, and is considered the geographical heart of Central Oregon...
- 149lbs: Tom Giaimo Appleton, WisconsinAppleton, WisconsinAppleton is a city in Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is situated on the Fox River, 30 miles southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles north of Milwaukee. Appleton is the county seat of Outagamie County. The population was 78,086 at the 2010 census...
- 157lbs: Joe Gryglko Greenfield, MinnesotaGreenfield, MinnesotaGreenfield is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, along the Crow River. The population was 2,777 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
- 133lbs: Randy Hanson Bethel, AlaskaBethel, AlaskaBethel is a city located near the west coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, west of Anchorage. Accessible only by air and river, Bethel is the main port on the Kuskokwim River and is an administrative and transportation hub for the 56 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.Bethel is the largest...
- 125lbs: Corey Hodowanic Cornell, WisconsinCornell, WisconsinCornell is a city in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 1,466 at the 2000 census. It is located on the Chippewa River, upstream from Lake Wissota and Chippewa Falls.-Attractions:Brunet Island State Park is adjacent to the city...
- 149lbs: Steven Keogh Apple Valley, Minnesota
- 125lbs: Jordan Kingsley Apple Valley, Minnesota
- 141lbs: Steh Lange Sturgis, South DakotaSturgis, South DakotaSturgis is a city in Meade County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 6,627 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Meade County. Sturgis is famous for being the location of one of the largest annual motorcycle events in the world, which is held annually on the first full week...
- 174lbs: Torrey Line Browerville, MinnesotaBrowerville, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 735 people, 318 households, and 181 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,052.5 people per square mile . There were 337 housing units at an average density of 482.6 per square mile...
- 149lbs: Matt Mincey Apple Valley, Minnesota
- 125lbs: Tony Morrow Kasson, MinnesotaKasson, MinnesotaKasson is a city in Dodge County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 5,931 at the 2010 census. The city is located 13 miles west of Rochester, Minnesota along U.S. Route 14 and is one of the endpoints of Minnesota State Highway 57. The Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad's main...
- 285lbs: Tony Nelson Cambridge, MinnesotaCambridge, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 5,520 people, 2,237 households, and 1,353 families residing in the city. The population density was 894.1 people per square mile . There were 2,373 housing units at an average density of 384.4 per square mile...
- 149lbs: Dylan Ness Bloomington, MinnesotaBloomington, MinnesotaBloomington is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota in Hennepin County. Located on the north bank of the Minnesota River above its confluence with the Mississippi River, Bloomington lies at the heart of the southern...
- 157lbs: Alec Ortiz Grand Ronde, OregonGrand Ronde, OregonGrand Ronde is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Polk County, Oregon, United States. Originally named "Grand Ronde Agency", the name of this city is a variation of the French Grande Ronde or "fine large valley", a description given to the area by the employees of the...
- 157lbs: Brian Peterson Richmond, MichiganRichmond, MichiganRichmond is a city on the border between Macomb and St. Clair counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,897 at the 2000 census. The 2008 Census Bureau Estimate places the population at 5,606. Most of the city is located in Macomb County, though there is a small portion in St....
- 141lbs: Bart Reiter Gilbertville, IowaGilbertville, IowaGilbertville is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 767 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Waterloo–Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Gilbertville is located at ....
- 149lbs: Wesley Richard Dillingham, AlaskaDillingham, Alaska- Natural resources :Dillingham was once known as the Pacific salmon capital of the world and commercial fishing remains an important part of the local economy...
- 125lbs: Zach Sanders Wabasha, MinnesotaWabasha, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,599 people, 1,062 households, and 665 families residing in the city. The population density was 318.4 people per square mile . There were 1,166 housing units at an average density of 142.9 per square mile...
- 197lbs: Scott Schiller Fargo, North DakotaFargo, North DakotaFargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
- 184lbs: Kevin Steinhaus Pennock, MinnesotaPennock, MinnesotaPennock is a city in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 508 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
- 125lbs: Zach Stepan Zimmerman, MinnesotaZimmerman, MinnesotaZimmerman is a rural community located about 45 miles northwest of St. Paul, in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 5,228 at the 2010 census.U.S. Route 169 serves as a main arterial route in the city.-History:...
- 174lbs: Logan Storley Roslyn, South DakotaRoslyn, South DakotaRoslyn is a town in Day County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 183 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Roslyn is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
- 133lbs: David Thorn St. Michael, MinnesotaSt. Michael, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 9,099 people, 2,926 households, and 2,437 families residing in the city. The population density was 279.4 people per square mile . There were 3,058 housing units at an average density of 93.9 per square mile...
- 184lbs: Jonathon Volp Maple Grove, MinnesotaMaple Grove, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 50,365 people , 17,532 households, and 13,955 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,532.3 people per square mile . There were 17,745 housing units at an average density of 539.9 per square mile...
- 165lbs: Cody Yohn Alamosa, ColoradoAlamosa, ColoradoThe city of Alamosa is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Alamosa County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 8,682 in 2005...
- 197lbs: Sonny Yohn Alamosa, Colorado
- 174lbs: Kaleb Young Tenstrike, MinnesotaTenstrike, MinnesotaTenstrike is a city in Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 201 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.-Demographics:...
- 157lbs: Danny Zilverberg Wayzata, MinnesotaWayzata, MinnesotaWayzata is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, a western suburb of Minneapolis. Wayzata came into existence in the center of Chief Shakopee's Indian village.-Early settlement:...
- 141lbs: David ZIlverberg Wayzata, Minnesota