Early Lineup Look: 2022-23 Minnesota Golden Gophers

August 22, 2022

Overview

Head coach: Brandon Eggum (seventh season)

Assistants: Luke Becker, Trevor Brandvold, Zach Sanders

2022 NCAA match end: eleventh

2022 NCAA match document: 17-16

2022 NCAA match factors: 48.5

2022 B10 match end: sixth

2022 twin document: 4-6 (3-5 B10)

Returning nationwide qualifiers: 12 (Patrick McKee, Jake Gliva, Jake Bergeland, Marcos Polanco, Michael Blockhus, Brayton Lee, Cael Carlson, Andrew Sparks, Bailee O’Reilly, Isaiah Salazar, Michial Foy, Gable Steveson)

Returning All-People: 4 (Patrick McKee, Jake Bergeland, Brayton Lee, Gable Steveson)

Final NCAA champion: Gable Steveson (2022)

Highest NCAA group end: 1st (2001, 2002, 2007)

Highest NCAA group end beneath Eggum: seventh (2017, 2021)

Most place winners beneath Eggum: 4 (2017, 2019)

Abstract

Minnesota has as much as 12 returning nationwide qualifiers headlined by Gable Steveson, who may return for his ultimate season of eligibility. The Golden Gophers return 2022 All-People Patrick McKee (125) and Jake Bergeland (141) together with 2021 All-American Brayton Lee (157) who was out final yr with an premature end-of-the-year harm.

Few groups have the steadiness and total depth that Minnesota has, however that doesn’t essentially imply NCAA match factors. Eggum and firm went 4-6 in duals final season with a 3-5 document within the B10 — the hardest wrestling convention within the nation. The Golden Gophers picked up good wins in opposition to Northwestern (31-9) and Nebraska (19-13) however fell to Oklahoma State (23-10), Iowa (22-10), Wisconsin (21-15), Purdue (18-14), and Ohio State (24-14). It will likely be attention-grabbing to see if a number of of the youthful wrestlers can push the upperclassmen for his or her spots. 

Minnesota’s Projected 2022-23 Beginning Lineup

125: Patrick McKee, JR, (AA)

133: Aaron Nagao, SO

141: Jake Bergeland, SR, (AA)

149: Michael Blockhus, JR, (NQ)

157: Brayton Lee, JR (AA)

165: Andrew Sparks, SO (NQ)

174: Bailee O’Reilly, SR, (NQ)

184: Isaiah Salazar, SO (NQ)

197: Michial Foy, SR (NQ)

285: Gable Steveson, SR (NC, OG)

125: Patrick McKee, JR
2022 document: 26-9
2022 NCAA match document: 6-2 (fifth)

McKee must be simply positive if he loses early throughout a match. He positioned third in 2021 after dropping within the second spherical and he positioned fifth this yr after dropping his opening match. That makes him 13-3 over two NCAA Championships. 

The Golden Gophers will depend on him once more this yr to be a spark for the group. He can rating beneficial factors on the NCAA match and he would be the favourite in most matches, though he’ll have a tall process with Iowa’s Spencer Lee returning. Troy Spratley and Quincy Halverson may contend right here however a returning two-time All-American is an effective wager to be the starter.

133: Aaron Nagao, SO
2022 document: 8-3  

Nagao will get the nod solely as a result of he defeated Jake Gliva in straight matches at U23 Freestyle Nationals this summer time. And Nagao is definitely higher fitted to folkstyle. That’s excellent news for Eggum since Gliva reached the 2022 NCAA match, though he went 0-2 after a 13-15 season. Nagao reached the finals of this yr’s Southern Scuffle so Minnesota will likely be in good arms right here. Jager Eisch may additionally contend after an 8-6 freshman marketing campaign. 

141: Jake Bergeland, SR
2022 document: 23-9
2022 NCAA match document: 4-2 (seventh)

Bergeland is coming again for his COVID yr after a breakout season the place he was an All-American. It was Bergeland’s first yr because the starter and he took benefit by offering the Golden Gophers consistency and key wins. He took a few dangerous losses to the highest guys within the weight, however a seventh-place end ought to increase his confidence — particularly since many of the prime wrestlers are gone. 

Vance Vombaur redshirted final yr however he had a win over Kyle Biscoglia of Northern Iowa — a Large 12 finalist at 133 and a nationwide qualifier — previous to posting a 13-3 freshman marketing campaign. Marcos Polanco was a nationwide qualifier in 2021 with a 7-8 document and Tagen Jamison has created a buzz after a 6-2 grey shirt yr the place he misplaced to Bergeland, 8-6, and dropped a 6-4 sudden victory match to Iowa’s Caleb Rathjen. That is the burden class to observe when you’re a Minnesota wrestling fan. 

149: Michael Blockhus, JR
2022 document: 18-15
2022 NCAA match document: 1-2

Three-time nationwide qualifier Michael Blockhus is again after transferring from Northern Iowa following the 2020 season. Blockhus picked up a win at nationals however didn’t have any signature victories all through the season, though he held nationwide finalists Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell), Ridge Lovett (Nebraska), and Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) to selections. Drew Roberts is a U23 All-American and might be a contender after a 10-8 redshirt season, as may Blaine Brenner.  

157: Brayton Lee, JR
2022 document: 17-2

Minnesota will get Lee again after dropping him to harm through the ultimate twin of the season. Lee positioned sixth on the NCAA Championships in 2021 following a 14-6 season. Previous to the harm, he had solely dropped one match on the season and had wins over Kendall Coleman (Purdue), Will Lewan (Michigan), Peyton Robb (Nebraska), Kaleb Younger (Iowa), and Jared Franek (NDSU) as much as that time. 

165: Andrew Sparks, SO
2022 document: 4-3

It is a roll of the cube right here, however Sparks will get the nod over 2022 nationwide qualifier, Cael Carlson, despite the fact that Carlson defeated Sparks on the 2021 Bison Open. Sparks certified for nationals in 2021 as a real freshman and continues to be comparatively unproven, however he has proven glimpses of potential — particularly throughout his first faculty win in opposition to Nebraska’s Peyton Robb. Don’t be shocked if Carlson is the starter with incoming freshman Hunter Lyden giving chase. 

174: Bailee O’Reilly, SR
2022 document: 25-11
2022 NCAA match document: 0-2

Minnesota caught the harm bug when two confirmed wrestlers went down at important elements of the season. First, it was Lee within the ultimate twin, then it was O’Reilly getting harm throughout his quarterfinal match in opposition to Nebraska’s Mikey Labriola on the B10 Championships. O’Reilly nonetheless certified for NCAAs however went 0-2. The Goodhue, Minnesota, native is aggressive in most matches however didn’t decide up any wins in opposition to prime 10 opponents final season. 

Don’t anticipate to see O’Reilly early within the season. Minnesota would possibly roll him out on the finish of the primary semester or early in second semester so he may be at full power. Wisconsin switch Jerad Krattinger (9-4 final season for Minnesota) and incoming freshman Devin Wasley will compete for the spot and one must be the starter till O’Reilly returns. 

184: Isaiah Salazar, SO
2022 document: 15-7
2022 NCAA match document: 1-2

Salazar had a string of 4 victories originally and center of the season however alternated between wins and losses within the final half. He retains most matches shut, and if he can flip round a few toss-up losses then he has a shot at reaching the Spherical of 12 this yr and, with a stellar efficiency, he may attain the rostrum. Sam Skillings is difficult for the spot however Salazar is the clear front-runner proper now. 

197: Michial Foy, SR
2022 document: 16-14
2022 NCAA match document: 0-2

It ought to come as no shock that Foy made a U23 Greco World group this yr. His father, additionally Michial, was a Greco Olympian in 1988 and 1992. The youthful Foy is all the way down to his ultimate shot at reaching the rostrum after a back-and-forth season much like Salazar’s.

The Crete, Illinois, native dropped each his matches on the NCAA match however they have been to Junior World Freestyle champions Rocky Elam (Missouri) and Braxton Amos (Wisconsin). Junior Garrett Joles has seen varsity motion however he has not been the starter on the finish of the yr. Rowan Morgan — son of former Minnesota NCAA champion and assistant — will likely be within the combine, as will Gabe Nagel who may both go at 184 or 197. 

285: Gable Steveson
2022 document: 18-0
2022 NCAA match document: 5-0 (1st)

There are not any ensures, however indicators level to a return of Steveson sooner or later for his ultimate yr of eligibility. The 2020 Olympic gold medalist hasn’t misplaced a university match since a semifinal setback to Penn State’s Anthony Cassar through the 2019 NCAA Championship semifinals on March 21. 

Getting Gable again can be massive for the Golden Gophers — particularly since he scored 23 of Minnesota’s 48.5 factors final season and since some contemplate him the best faculty heavyweight ever. Steveson simply turned 22 so there’s no telling what he may do for an encore in one of many deepest heavyweight fields in historical past. He might be the primary three-time NCAA champion in program historical past, which ought to add to his motivation. Keaton Kluever and Bennett Tabor will battle for the spot till Steveson’s potential return.

The place Will The Golden Gophers End At The NCAAs?

Assuming Steveson returns for his ultimate yr, the Golden Gophers have an actual shot at a trophy this yr, given to the highest 4 groups on the NCAA Championships. Success relies on how the supporting solid helps its famous person. Arizona State positioned fourth in 2022 with 66.5 factors — and that’s a practical whole for subsequent yr’s Minnesota group. It’ll take McKee, Lee, and Bergeland to succeed in the rostrum once more, and it’ll take three or 4 others to get a number of wins at nationals.

With out Steveson, there’s a state of affairs the place this group drops out of the highest 15. It’s onerous to interchange 20-plus factors from one wrestler, however Minnesota has confirmed they will succeed with a balanced assault. Is that this a group that may do it? The Golden Gophers may have as much as 12 returning nationwide qualifiers however most haven’t made a deep run within the match…but. 

This group is designed for end-of-the-year tournaments. Don’t anticipate Minnesota to have its finest line-up for each twin, which may result in extra losses than wins within the ultra-competitive B10 convention. No matter who’s beginning, this Minnesota group must be enjoyable to observe — and the battle for varsity spots will likely be simply as intriguing because the groups they’re dealing with. 

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