The University of Minnesota wrestling team held its annual awards banquet on Sunday night at the Four Points Sheraton. All-Americans Cole Konrad, Mack Reiter and Bobbe Lowe were multiple honorees.
A sophomore from Freedom, Wis., Konrad was named the team’s Most Valuable Wrestler and the Most Outstanding Wrestler. Konrad earned All-American honors for the second straight year after finishing runner-up at heavyweight at the NCAA Championships. The 2005 Big Ten Champion finished with a 41-3 record, the fourth-highest win total in school history.
A redshirt freshman from Gilbertville, Iowa, Reiter was named the team’s Most Oustanding Freshman, as well as the Most Exciting Wrestler. He was also honored for his team-leading 15 falls. Reiter finished fourth at 133 pounds at the NCAA Championships, just two weeks after becoming the first Big Ten freshman to win a league title since 2001. With a 40-7 record, he became the just the eighth wrestler in school history to reach the 40-win plateau. His 15 pins on the year were the second-highest total by a Minnesota freshman.
A senior from Oak Grove, Mo., Lowe was the recipient of the Verne Gagne Scholarship/ Leadership Award and the Most Dedicated Wrestler Award. Lowe earned his second All- American citation after placing seventh at 125 pounds at the NCAA Championships. He finished his final season with a career-best 36-9 record, including an 11-5 record in dual meets.
Other honorees on the night included junior Matt Nagel, redshirt freshman C.P. Schlatter and true freshman Matthew Everson. A native of Frazee, Minn., Nagel was named the team’s Most Improved Wrestler after earning his first All-American citation. Nagel placed sixth at 165 pounds at the NCAA Championships.
A native of St. Paris, Ohio, Schlatter received the Fraser Dean Most Courageous Wrestler Award. One of the top recruits in the nation in 2003, Schlatter suffered a serious knee injury this past summer and did not return to the Golden Gopher lineup until late December. After beginning the year at 149 pounds, Schlatter moved up to 157 pounds. He qualified for his first NCAA Championship after placing fourth at the Big Ten Championships. A pre-nursing major, Schlatter also received the Upperclassmen Outstanding Academic Award.
A true freshman from Mitchell, S.D., Everson received the team’s Freshman Outstanding Academic Award. Everson was the lone true freshman to wrestle for the Golden Gophers. He made his Golden Gopher debut in Minnesota’s 20-15 dual meet win against Ohio State on Feb. 13.
A complete list of the award winners is below.
Most Valuable: Cole Konrad
Most Outstanding: Cole Konrad
Fraser Dean Most Courageous: C.P. Schlatter
Most Dedicated: Bobbe Lowe
Verne Gagne Scholarship/Leadership Award: Bobbe Lowe
Chris Berglin Most Improved: Matt Nagel
Most Exciting: Mack Reiter
Most Falls: Mack Reiter (15)
Outstanding Freshman: Mack Reiter
Freshman Outstanding Academic Award: Matthew Everson
Upperclassman Outstanding Academic Award: C.P. Schlatter
All-American Awards: Bobbe Lowe, Mack Reiter, Matt Nagel, Cole Konrad
Senior Awards: Bobbe Lowe, Jon Duncombe, Josh McLay
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