Northwestern to Grapple at #11 Wisconsin, vs. #7 Minnesota

1/18/2019 11:18:00 AM | Wrestling

NORTHWESTERN WRESTLING: MATCH DAY INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	BROADCAST	LIVE STATS
Friday, January 18	#11 Wisconsin	7 p.m.	UW Field House Madison, Wis.	BTN Plus	TrackWrestling
Sunday, January 20	#7 Minnesota	12 p.m.	The New Welsh-Ryan Arena Evanston, Ill.	BTN Plus	TrackWrestling
Social: Twitter (@NUwrestle) \| Instagram (@NUwrestle) \| Facebook 2018-19 Season Stats

EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern wrestling is set for a pair of conference matchups this weekend, traveling to No. 11 Wisconsin on Friday (Jan. 18) before hosting No. 7 Minnesota on Sunday (Jan. 20). The dual against the Badgers will start at 7 p.m., while the scuffle against the Golden Gophers will commence at noon.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR MINNESOTA DUAL: For only $10, fans can purchase our matchday ticket package that includes a ticket to the match, Northwestern mug, and a packet of hot chocolate! Use promo code: NUMUG.

The Wildcats are highlighted by 125-pounder Sebastian Rivera, the top-ranked wrestler in the nation at his weight class. The New Jersey native is an undefeated 15-0 and will have two ranked matchups on tap this weekend — Wisconsin's 125-pounder Connor Brown is ranked 14th while Minnesota's 125-pounder, Sean Russell, is ranked sixth.

Rivera met with Brown in the Midlands semifinals and recorded a 19-4 tech fall in 6:08. It remains the only time Brown has been tech falled this season. Meanwhile, Rivera met with Russell last season when he wrestled for Edinboro. In a Midlands matchup, Rivera posted a 6-0 decision against the then-seventh ranked grappler.

133-pounder Colin Valdiviez will be matching up with Wisconsin's Jens Lantz for the third time in his career and his second time this season. Valdiviez edged him out in a 1-0 decision at the Midlands earlier this season.

157-pounder Ryan Deakin — the third-ranked grappler in his weight class — is set to take on No. 7 Steve Bleise in Sunday's dual against Minnesota. This will be the fourth meet-up between the two wrestlers, with the last one a win by fall in Deakin's favor at the 2017 Midlands, when Bleise was wrestling unattached after a transfer from Northern Illinois.

Johnny Sebastian (174 lbs.) will have a pair of ranked matchups, facing off against No. 10 Ryan Christensen (Wisconsin) and No. 11 Devin Skatzka (Minnesota). Last season, Sebastian went 3-0 against Christensen and topped Skatzka (then with Indiana) in a 14-5 major deciison.

No. 19 Conan Jennings (285 lbs.) will also have a test this weekend, starting with his first-ever matchup against No. 9 Trent Hillger of Wisconsin and finishing with the newly top-ranked and undefeated Gable Steveson of Minnesota.

PROBABLE NORTHWESTERN LINEUP
125: #1 Sebastian Rivera (15-0)
133: Colin Valdiviez (11-8)
141: Alec McKenna (6-5)
149: Shayne Oster (8-6) OR Yahya Thomas (11-6)
157: #3 Ryan Deakin (16-2)
165: Tyler Morland (1-2)
174: Johnny Sebastian (4-4)
184: Brendan Devine (0-11)
197: Zack Chakonis (2-11)
285: #19 Conan Jennings (10-6)

PROBABLE WISCONSIN LINEUP
125: #16 Connor Brown (11-3)
133: Jens Lantz (9-10)
141: #16 Tristan Moran (17-5)
149: #13 Cole Martin (12-7)
157: Zander Wick (6-5) or Devin Bahr (8-7)
165: #3 Evan Wick (20-1)
174: #10 Ryan Christensen (14-5)
184: Mason Reinhardt (15-7)
197: Andrew Salemme (1-12) or Beau Breske (3-4)
285: #9 Trent Hillger (16-2)

PROBABLE MINNESOTA LINEUP
125: #6 Sean Russell (17-3)
133: #9 Ethan Lizak (16-4)
141: #7 Mitch McKee (11-1)
149: Tommy Thorn (9-7)
157: #7 Steve Bleise (10-2) OR Miles Patton (2-3)
165: Carson Brolsma (14-5)
174: #11 Devin Skatzka (17-5)
184: Owen Webster (7-7) OR Brandon Krone (4-6)
197: Rylee Streifel (6-5) OR Dylan Anderson (9-6)
285: #1 Gable Steveson (20-0)

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