Friday, February 2
Madison, Wis.
7 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Wisconsin
Photo by: John Konstantaras/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Wraps Up Road Schedule At Wisconsin, No. 10 Minnesota
2/1/2024 7:57:00 PM | Wrestling
Sunday’s matchup with Golden Gophers to air live on Big Ten Network
EVANSTON, Ill. (February 1, 2024) – Following a pair of dual meets at home, Northwestern wrestling (0-4, 0-3 B1G) embarks on its final road trip of the 2023-24 regular season this weekend.
The Wildcats will open the two-dual swing by battling Wisconsin at 7 p.m. on Friday evening inside the UW Field House before heading to Minneapolis, Minn. for a 1 p.m. matchup with No. 10 Minnesota. Northwestern's clash with the Golden Gophers will be televised live on Big Ten Network.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern fell to a pair of top-10 opponents this past weekend inside Welsh-Ryan Arena, dropping decisions to both No. 6 Nebraska, 39-3, and No. 3 Iowa, 46-0.
In the Wildcats' clash with the Cornhuskers, Trevor Chumbley scored his 11th win of the season at 157 pounds, rallying past Ethan Stiles for an 8-5 decision that included a pair of third-period takedowns.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
Like Northwestern, Wisconsin (6-4, 0-3 B1G) looks to rebound from a pair of setbacks last weekend. The Badgers came up on the short end against both Michigan State, 22-15, and No. 6 Nebraska, 28-9.
Sixth-year head coach Chris Bono's squad features a pair of wrestlers ranked in the top five nationally in Eric Barnett and Dean Hamiti. Currently sitting second at 125 pounds, Barnett, a two-time All-American, holds an 18-2 record entering Friday's matchup against the 'Cats. He sits at 9-1 in dual action and is 3-0 since the start of Big Ten play. Also a two-time All-American, Hamiti, who is ranked fifth at 165 pounds, is 18-1 on the year, a mark highlighted by a spotless 5-0 showing at the 59th Annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships that saw him cruise to the individual title. Last season, he took home the Big Ten crown at 165 pounds ahead of placing sixth at the NCAA Championships.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Ranked 10th in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division I Coaches Poll, Minnesota (6-2, 1-2 B1G) battled to a 20-12 win over No. 13 Rutgers last Saturday in Piscataway, N.J.
Under the tutelage of eighth-year head coach Brandon Eggum, the Golden Gophers' lineup is led by five top-20 ranked wrestlers. Leading the charge is the duo of Michael Blockhus and Isaiah Salazar. An All-American at 149 pounds during the 2022-23 campaign, Blockhus made the jump up to 157 pounds this season and hasn't missed a beat, winning 10 of his 11 bouts to climb up to fifth nationally. Salazar, a fourth-place finisher at the 2023 Big Ten Championships, has been equally as impressive at 184 pounds, ascending to sixth after beginning the season on a 13-1 tear.
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern picked up its fourth win in five tries against Wisconsin last season, dealing the Badgers an 18-17 defeat on January 27, 2023 inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. Wisconsin currently lead the all-time series, 63-33-2 (.653).
The 'Cats snapped a three-match skid to Minnesota, rallying for an 18-11 win over the Golden Gophers in Evanston on January 7, 2023. With the victory, Northwestern trimmed Minnesota's lead in the head-to-head series between the two programs to 36-11-1 (.760)
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Northwestern
125: Massey Odiotti
133: Patrick Adams
141: Kolby McClain
149: Aiden Vandenbush
157: #18 Trevor Chumbley
165: #21 Maxx Mayfield
174: David Ferrante
184: #33 Troy Fisher
197: Evan Bates
285: Jack Jessen
Wisconsin
125: #2 Eric Barnett
133: Nicolar Rivera -OR- Zan Fugitt
141: Felix Lettini
149: #22 Joseph Zargo -OR- Julian George
157: Luke Mechler
165: #5 Dean Hamiti
174: #12 Max Maylor -OR- Cale Anderson
184: #16 Shane Liegel -OR- Luke Condon
197: Josh Otto -OR- Michael Tal-Shahar
285: Gannon Rosenfeld
#10 Minnesota
125: #14 Patrick McKee
133: #20 Tyler Wells -OR- Jager Eisch -OR- Jake Gliva
141: #21 Vance VomBour -OR- Ben Lunn
149: #13 Drew Roberts
157: #5 Michael Blockhus -OR- Sebas Swiggum
165: #28 Blaine Brenner
174: Andrew Sparks
184: #6 Isaiah Salazar -OR- Max McEnelly
197: #21 Garrett Joles -OR- Rowan Morgan
285: #29 Bennett Tabor
* All individual rankings courtesy of InterMat (January 30)
UP NEXT
Northwestern opens a season-ending four-dual homestand on Friday, February 9 when it entertains Purdue inside Welsh-Ryan Arena at 7 p.m.
The Wildcats will open the two-dual swing by battling Wisconsin at 7 p.m. on Friday evening inside the UW Field House before heading to Minneapolis, Minn. for a 1 p.m. matchup with No. 10 Minnesota. Northwestern's clash with the Golden Gophers will be televised live on Big Ten Network.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern fell to a pair of top-10 opponents this past weekend inside Welsh-Ryan Arena, dropping decisions to both No. 6 Nebraska, 39-3, and No. 3 Iowa, 46-0.
In the Wildcats' clash with the Cornhuskers, Trevor Chumbley scored his 11th win of the season at 157 pounds, rallying past Ethan Stiles for an 8-5 decision that included a pair of third-period takedowns.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
Like Northwestern, Wisconsin (6-4, 0-3 B1G) looks to rebound from a pair of setbacks last weekend. The Badgers came up on the short end against both Michigan State, 22-15, and No. 6 Nebraska, 28-9.
Sixth-year head coach Chris Bono's squad features a pair of wrestlers ranked in the top five nationally in Eric Barnett and Dean Hamiti. Currently sitting second at 125 pounds, Barnett, a two-time All-American, holds an 18-2 record entering Friday's matchup against the 'Cats. He sits at 9-1 in dual action and is 3-0 since the start of Big Ten play. Also a two-time All-American, Hamiti, who is ranked fifth at 165 pounds, is 18-1 on the year, a mark highlighted by a spotless 5-0 showing at the 59th Annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships that saw him cruise to the individual title. Last season, he took home the Big Ten crown at 165 pounds ahead of placing sixth at the NCAA Championships.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Ranked 10th in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division I Coaches Poll, Minnesota (6-2, 1-2 B1G) battled to a 20-12 win over No. 13 Rutgers last Saturday in Piscataway, N.J.
Under the tutelage of eighth-year head coach Brandon Eggum, the Golden Gophers' lineup is led by five top-20 ranked wrestlers. Leading the charge is the duo of Michael Blockhus and Isaiah Salazar. An All-American at 149 pounds during the 2022-23 campaign, Blockhus made the jump up to 157 pounds this season and hasn't missed a beat, winning 10 of his 11 bouts to climb up to fifth nationally. Salazar, a fourth-place finisher at the 2023 Big Ten Championships, has been equally as impressive at 184 pounds, ascending to sixth after beginning the season on a 13-1 tear.
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern picked up its fourth win in five tries against Wisconsin last season, dealing the Badgers an 18-17 defeat on January 27, 2023 inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. Wisconsin currently lead the all-time series, 63-33-2 (.653).
The 'Cats snapped a three-match skid to Minnesota, rallying for an 18-11 win over the Golden Gophers in Evanston on January 7, 2023. With the victory, Northwestern trimmed Minnesota's lead in the head-to-head series between the two programs to 36-11-1 (.760)
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Northwestern
125: Massey Odiotti
133: Patrick Adams
141: Kolby McClain
149: Aiden Vandenbush
157: #18 Trevor Chumbley
165: #21 Maxx Mayfield
174: David Ferrante
184: #33 Troy Fisher
197: Evan Bates
285: Jack Jessen
Wisconsin
125: #2 Eric Barnett
133: Nicolar Rivera -OR- Zan Fugitt
141: Felix Lettini
149: #22 Joseph Zargo -OR- Julian George
157: Luke Mechler
165: #5 Dean Hamiti
174: #12 Max Maylor -OR- Cale Anderson
184: #16 Shane Liegel -OR- Luke Condon
197: Josh Otto -OR- Michael Tal-Shahar
285: Gannon Rosenfeld
#10 Minnesota
125: #14 Patrick McKee
133: #20 Tyler Wells -OR- Jager Eisch -OR- Jake Gliva
141: #21 Vance VomBour -OR- Ben Lunn
149: #13 Drew Roberts
157: #5 Michael Blockhus -OR- Sebas Swiggum
165: #28 Blaine Brenner
174: Andrew Sparks
184: #6 Isaiah Salazar -OR- Max McEnelly
197: #21 Garrett Joles -OR- Rowan Morgan
285: #29 Bennett Tabor
* All individual rankings courtesy of InterMat (January 30)
UP NEXT
Northwestern opens a season-ending four-dual homestand on Friday, February 9 when it entertains Purdue inside Welsh-Ryan Arena at 7 p.m.
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