By Amy Farnum
NCAASports.com Staff Writer
SNAPPING STREAKS: Second-ranked Minnesota wreaked a little havoc in the wrestling world at the NWCA National Duals last weekend as the Golden Gophers upended top-ranked Oklahoma State, 21-14, in the championship of the annual event. The Gophers ended the Cowboys’ streak of 30 straight dual victories, and won their fourth National Duals title and first since 2002.
Minnesota led 15-14 heading into the highly-touted heavyweight match as Oklahoma State’s two-time NCAA Champion Steve Mocco and second-ranked Cole Konrad of Minnesota squared off. Konrad pinned Mocco in 5:34, snapping Mocco’s winning streak at 85 collegiate matches and garnering the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler award. Konrad had defeated Mocco earlier this year in an exhibition match at the NWCA/Marines All-Star Classic, but was not an official collegiate bout.
The Gophers also had help from freshman Dustin Schlatter, who upset defending NCAA Champion Zack Esposito, 8-7, in the 149-pound weight class. It was the eighth-ranked Schattler’s third win against a top-five opponent on the weekend. He is now 26-1 on the season.
HOOSIERS STILL PERFECT: No. 15 Indiana posted an 18-15 victory over No. 25 Pennsylvania to capture the 26th Annual Virginia Duals team title on Jan. 14 in Norfolk. Va. With four victories in the tournament, the Hoosiers improved their perfect record to 9-0 on the year.
With the Hoosiers trailing 15-9, Indiana’s Brady Richardson pinned Jack Sullivan in just 1:07 to tie the match. Heavyweight Dave Herman’s 3-2 decision against Paul Velekie in the final bout gave the Hoosiers the three-point win.
Indiana defeated Chattanooga, 29-11, in the semifinals earlier in the day. The Hoosiers defeated Virginia Tech, 40-13, and Bloomsburg, 42-0, in the first day of competition.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: Nebraska’s Jacob Klein was selected Big 12 Conference Wrestler of the Week for turning in a 4-0 record and helping the Huskers to a third-place finish at the NWCA National Duals last weekend.
Klein posted victories against four ranked wrestlers at the tournament, including three shutouts, at 174-pounds. The fifth-ranked senior edged No. 3 Mark Perry of Iowa, 4-3, as Nebraska beat the Hawkeyes 24-13 in the first round on Jan. 13. Later, Klein shutout sixth-ranked Nick Roy of Michigan, 4-0, to help the Huskers defeated the Wolverines, 24-16.
Klein blanked Oklahoma State’s Brandon Mason, 3-0, and handed Brandon Stinnott of Central Michigan a 6-0 loss on Jan. 14 as he earned the second weekly honor of his career. He is currently riding an eight-match winning streak.
NOTABLE: No. 11 Lehigh won six of 10 matches as the Mountain Hawks downed No. 21 Navy, 20-12, on Jan. 14 in Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association action. The Mountain Hawks improved their record to 7-4-1, and extended their winning streak to 24 straight duals against EIWA opponents … Maryland recorded its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory since 2002 with a convincing 28-6 win over NC State to give the Terrapins’ second-year head coach Pat Santoro his first league victory. Freshman Alex Krom earned a 15-0 technical fall against Jalil Dozier to help the Terps in the triumph, and garnered ACC Wrestler of the Week for his efforts.
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