No. 15 ‘Cats Host No. 9 Minnesota Saturday In Big Ten Opener

NORTHWESTERN WRESTLING: DUAL INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	Live Stream
Saturday, January 7	#9 Minnesota	2 p.m.	Welsh-Ryan Arena Evanston, Ill.	B1G+
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EVANSTON, Ill. (January 6, 2023) – No. 15 Northwestern wrestling makes its 2023 Welsh-Ryan Arena debut on Saturday afternoon as it raises the curtain on its Big Ten Conference slate against No. 9 Minnesota at 2 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Yahya Thomas (149 pounds), Trevor Chumbley (157 pounds), and Lucas Davison (285 pounds) all won individual titles as Northwestern surged to the team championship at the 58^th Annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships last week at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. Four additional Wildcats notched podium finishes as Northwestern claimed the team crown at the prestigious event for the first time in program history.

For his efforts, which included wins over a pair of top-10 opponents, Thomas was named the Big Ten Conference Wrestler of the Week on Tuesday.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Piloted by seventh-year head coach Brandon Eggum, Minnesota, which checks in ninth in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Top 25, sports a sparkling 7-0 record on the year, a mark that includes victories over a trio of nationally ranked foes.

Most recently, Minnesota saw action at the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn., where they placed fifth (96 points) in the team race. 10 Golden Gophers earned podium finishes, led by the Aaron Nagao (133 pounds) and Jake Bergeland (141 pounds), who both placed third.

SERIES STUFF
Winners of three straight matchups against the Wildcats, Minnesota holds a 36-10-1 advantage (.777) in 47 previous matchups with Northwestern, a series that traces its roots back to a 19-7 Golden Gopher victory during the 1928-29 campaign.

When the two teams met last season inside Maturi Pavilion, Thomas, Chris Cannon, and Michael DeAugustino all picked up victories as Minnesota dealt the 'Cats a 31-9 setback.

Northwestern's last win against Minnesota came in thrilling fashion on January 18, 2018, with a Ryan Deakin fall in the final bout of the afternoon proving to be the difference in a 20-18 victory.

UP NEXT
Northwestern hits the road next week to battle perennial Big Ten power No. 2 Iowa at 8 p.m. on Friday, January 13. The dual will be televised live on ESPNU.

No. 15 ‘Cats Host No. 9 Minnesota Saturday In Big Ten Opener

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Players Mentioned

Chris Cannon

Trevor Chumbley

Lucas Davison

Ryan Deakin

Michael DeAugustino

Yahya Thomas

Northwestern University Athletics