Northwestern
Minnesota
Grapplers Fall to Top-ranked Minnesota, 38-6
2/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 8, 2002
Evanton, Ill. - For one brief moment, the Northwestern wrestling team was defeating defending national champion Minnesota Friday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. But the glory was short-lived, as the top-ranked Gophers took an early 3-0 deficit and turned it into a 38-6 win. The loss drops the Wildcats' record to 7-10 overall and 0-5 in the Big Ten. The Gophers remain undefeated on the year at 15-0, 4-0 in the Big Ten.
The 'Cats have made a habit all year long of winning their first match, regardless of what weight class begins the dual. Tonight, Ryan Kane (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) gave NU the early lead with a, 13-7, win over 12th-ranked John Hardy. Kane led from the start, taking a commanding 8-3 lead after the first three minutes. Kane has won 25 matches this season, and is 4-1 in the Big Ten.
Minnesota rolled on for the next six matches, notching two pins, two major decisions and a technical fall. Going into the 141-pound weight class the Gophers held a, 27-3, advantage.
NU's 141-pounder John Giacche (Flemington, N.J./Flemington Academy) came into his match with Trent Hatlevig having won his last nine matches. Giacche battled back from behind to edge Hatlevig, 4-3. The win keeps him undefeated in Big Ten duals at 5-0, and stoped the Gophers from adding on to their lead, at least temporarily.
Minnesota won a major decision at 149 and posted a pin at 157 pounds to close out the match, 38-6.
The 'Cats are next in action Friday, Feb. 15, when they travel to Michigan State for a 7:30 p.m. dual.
Results NU MN 165: Ryan Kane (NU) dec. #12 John Hardy (MN), 13-7 3 0 174: #9 Jacob Volkman (MN) MD Jason Erwinski (NU), 13-5 3 4 184: Josh McLay (MN) dec. Andrew Curran (NU), 6-3 3 7 197: #3 Owen Elzen (MN) FALL Brendan Curran (NU), 1:29 3 13 Hwt:. #6 Garrett Lowney (MN) FALL Mike Little, 1:47 3 19 125: #2 Leroy Vega (MN) TF Rob Potashnick (NU), 15-0 3 24 133: #1 Ryan Lewis (MN) MD Tommy Vargas, 15-4 3 28 141: #16 John Giacche (NU) dec. Trent Hatlevig (MN), 4-3 6 28 149: #2 Jared Lawrence (MN) MD Josh Ballard (NU), 14-5 6 32 157: #3 Luke Becker FALL Paul Augle (NU), 1:25 6 38
