EVANSTON, Ill. (January 7, 2023) – No. 15 Northwestern (2-0, 1-0 B1G) couldn't have scripted a better start to Big Ten Conference action, dealing No. 9 Minnesota (7-1, 0-1 B1G) its first dual meet defeat of the season in an 18-11 triumph this afternoon inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. Today's victory marks the Wildcats' first dual meet win over the Golden Gophers in Evanston since 1996.
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The 'Cats picked up wins in six of the afternoon's nine bouts, including five straight victories to close the dual meet.
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Maxx Mayfield provided early fireworks in the day's opening bout at 165 pounds, recording a takedown on the edge of the mat with just one second remaining in the third period to edge out a 6-4 decision over No. 22 Andrew Sparks.
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At heavyweight, No. 4 Lucas Davison, fresh off a Midlands Championships run that saw him not allow a point, jumped out to an early lead on Garrett Joles and coasted to a 4-1 win.Â
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No. 11 Chris Cannon found himself in an early hole at 133 pounds, trailing No. 22 Aaron Nagao, 3-0, late in the second period. With time winding down in the frame, Cannon erupted for a takedown that was followed by a four-point near fall as the redshirt junior raced in front, 6-3, on his way to a 7-3 victory.
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Competing at 141 pounds, No. 15 Frankie Tal-Shahar picked up a top-10 triumph, making a takedown in the waning seconds of the first period against No. 10 Jakob Bergeland stand in a 2-1 nailbiter.
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No. 5 Yahya Thomas picked up a 2-1 win of his own, riding out No. 15 Michael Blockhus in the second period of overtime at 149 pounds en route to a ninth straight victory.
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Closing out the meet at 157 pounds, No. 16 Trevor Chumbley slammed the door shut on any hopes of a Minnesota comeback, putting away No. 8 Brayton Lee by an 8-4 scoreline to put the exclamation point on the afternoon for the Wildcats.
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Northwestern is back in action on Friday, January 13 when it battles No. 2 Iowa inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in an 8 p.m. tilt that will be televised on ESPNU.
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#15 Northwestern 18, #9 Minnesota 11
125: Double Forfeit
133: No. 11 Chris Cannon (NW) over No. 22 Aaron Nagao (MINN) (Dec 7-4)
141: No. 15 Frankie Tal-Shahar (NW) over No. 10 Jakob Bergeland (MINN) (Dec 2-1)
149: No. 5 Yahya Thomas (NW) over No. 15 Michael Blockhus (MINN) (TB-3 (RT) 2-1)
157: No. 16 Trevor Chumbley (NW) over No. 8 Brayton Lee (MINN) (Dec 8-4)
165: Maxx Mayfield (NW) over No. 22 Andrew Sparks (MINN) (Dec 6-4)
174: No. 15 Bailee O`Reilly (MINN) over Ankhaa Enkhmandakh (NW) (MD 17-5)
184: No. 11 Isaiah Salazar (MINN) over Evan Bates (NW) (MD 15-1)
197: HM Michial Foy (MINN) over HM Andrew Davison (NW) (Dec 2-0)
285: No. 4 Lucas Davison (NW) over HM Garrett Joles (MINN) (Dec 4-1)
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The 'Cats picked up wins in six of the afternoon's nine bouts, including five straight victories to close the dual meet.
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Maxx Mayfield provided early fireworks in the day's opening bout at 165 pounds, recording a takedown on the edge of the mat with just one second remaining in the third period to edge out a 6-4 decision over No. 22 Andrew Sparks.
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Drama in the first bout of the year at Welsh-Ryan Arena! ??@maxxmayfield5 beats the buzzer with a last second takedown to win a 6-4 decision over Andrew Sparks!#GoCats | @B1GWrestling pic.twitter.com/C4KFbym5IL
— Northwestern Wrestling (@NUWrestle) January 7, 2023
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At heavyweight, No. 4 Lucas Davison, fresh off a Midlands Championships run that saw him not allow a point, jumped out to an early lead on Garrett Joles and coasted to a 4-1 win.Â
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No. 11 Chris Cannon found himself in an early hole at 133 pounds, trailing No. 22 Aaron Nagao, 3-0, late in the second period. With time winding down in the frame, Cannon erupted for a takedown that was followed by a four-point near fall as the redshirt junior raced in front, 6-3, on his way to a 7-3 victory.
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.@Chris_Cannon18 flipped the script ??
— Northwestern Wrestling (@NUWrestle) January 7, 2023
A MASSIVE takedown and nearfall points to end the second period was the difference in his win over Minnesota's Aaron Nagao!#GoCats | @B1GWrestling pic.twitter.com/fNS90XgxAd
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Competing at 141 pounds, No. 15 Frankie Tal-Shahar picked up a top-10 triumph, making a takedown in the waning seconds of the first period against No. 10 Jakob Bergeland stand in a 2-1 nailbiter.
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No. 5 Yahya Thomas picked up a 2-1 win of his own, riding out No. 15 Michael Blockhus in the second period of overtime at 149 pounds en route to a ninth straight victory.
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A B1G Mat Return from @yahyat_prime to help lock up an OT victory over Minnesota's Michael Blockhus ??#GoCats | @B1GWrestling pic.twitter.com/gN1JJy7EUW
— Northwestern Wrestling (@NUWrestle) January 7, 2023
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Closing out the meet at 157 pounds, No. 16 Trevor Chumbley slammed the door shut on any hopes of a Minnesota comeback, putting away No. 8 Brayton Lee by an 8-4 scoreline to put the exclamation point on the afternoon for the Wildcats.
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Gallery: (1-7-2023) Wrestling vs #9 Minnesota
Northwestern is back in action on Friday, January 13 when it battles No. 2 Iowa inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in an 8 p.m. tilt that will be televised on ESPNU.
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#15 Northwestern 18, #9 Minnesota 11
125: Double Forfeit
133: No. 11 Chris Cannon (NW) over No. 22 Aaron Nagao (MINN) (Dec 7-4)
141: No. 15 Frankie Tal-Shahar (NW) over No. 10 Jakob Bergeland (MINN) (Dec 2-1)
149: No. 5 Yahya Thomas (NW) over No. 15 Michael Blockhus (MINN) (TB-3 (RT) 2-1)
157: No. 16 Trevor Chumbley (NW) over No. 8 Brayton Lee (MINN) (Dec 8-4)
165: Maxx Mayfield (NW) over No. 22 Andrew Sparks (MINN) (Dec 6-4)
174: No. 15 Bailee O`Reilly (MINN) over Ankhaa Enkhmandakh (NW) (MD 17-5)
184: No. 11 Isaiah Salazar (MINN) over Evan Bates (NW) (MD 15-1)
197: HM Michial Foy (MINN) over HM Andrew Davison (NW) (Dec 2-0)
285: No. 4 Lucas Davison (NW) over HM Garrett Joles (MINN) (Dec 4-1)