Minnesota uses early wins to control dual meet victory over Wisconsin

Wisconsin wrestling had a tough loss on the road against Minnesota Friday night. It’ll have to be a quick turnaround for the Badgers as they take on Iowa Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Chris Bono and company faced early adversity in a 28-12 defeat on the road. Minnesota’s Patrick McKee stunned the Wisconsin bench with a pin against favored Eric Barnett in the second period at 125 pounds.

With a 6-0 lead right off the bat, the Gophers took control with two more wins in a row. Wisconsin would get an upset victory at 149 with Joe Zargo knocking off Drew Roberts by major decision. 

While it brought them back into the team score, Minnesota’s hammer Michael Blockhus took control at 157 pounds.

With his major decision, the Gophers had a 16-4 lead over Wisconsin going into intermission. As far as Wisconsin is concerned, the Badgers have some high quality wrestlers in the backend.

That was on display at 165 with Dean Hamiti getting the tech fall. The comeback was on as Max Maylor kept it rolling with a decision to cut the lead 16-12, in favor of Minnesota.

Needing an upset, Shane Liegel couldn’t pull it off against Minnesota’s Isaiah Salazar, losing 4-1 at 184 pounds.

Garrett Joles kept it rolling for the Gophers at 197 with a tech fall to wrap up the dual and took a 24-12 lead going into the final bout. Bennett Tabor finished it off with a major decision and the Badgers were left to regroup for Sunday’s dual.

No. 11 Minnesota 28, No. 22 Wisconsin 12 

125: #11 Patrick McKee (MINN) over #3 Eric Barnett (WIS), Fall 4:47 | 0-6
133: #19 Tyler Wells (MINN) over Nicolar Rivera (WIS), Dec. 4-1 (SV-1) | 0-8*
141: #26 Vance Vombaur (MINN) over Zan Fugitt (WIS), Major Dec. 17-5 | 0-12
149: #19 Joseph Zargo (WIS) over #16 Drew Roberts (MINN), Major Dec. 13-5 | 4-12
157: #4 Michael Blockhus (MINN) over Luke Mechler (WIS), Major Dec. 11-2 | 4-16
165: #5 Dean Hamiti (WIS) over #32 Blaine Brenner (MINN), Tech Fall 20-3 5:00 | 9-16
174: #12 Max Maylor (WIS) over #31 Andrew Sparks (MINN), Dec. 4-1 | 12-16
184: #5 Isaiah Salazar (MINN) over #16 Shane Liegel (WIS), Dec. 4-1 | 12-19
197: #20 Garrett Joles (MINN) over Josh Otto (WIS), Tech Fall 18-3 7:00 | 12-24
285: #30 Bennett Tabor (MINN) over Gannon Rosenfeld (WIS), Major Dec. 11-1 | 12-28
* Minnesota lost 1 team point for Control of Mat (-1.0) during 133 pound bout

Wisconsin will take on Iowa on the road Sunday at 2:00 p.m ET.