Wisconsin edged by Minnesota, 19-15

[TomM]

Wisconsin edged by Minnesota, 19-15
Badgers and Gophers split bouts 5-5

On the Web: https://uwbadgers.com/news/2023/2/11/Wisconsin_falls_to_Minnesota.aspx

Video: Eric Barnett wins big at 125 – Instagram video by Big Ten Wrestling - https://www.instagram.com/p/CoiUSowAjlh/

MADISON, Wis. – No. 15 Wisconsin fell to No. 23 Minnesota Saturday afternoon 19-15 at the UW Field House, splitting duals 5-5 in the narrow loss to close the Big Ten dual season.

Down 6-0 after Minnesota earned a pin at 149 pounds to open the dual, Garrett Model and Dean Hamiti got the Badgers on the scoreboard with victories at 157 and 165. Model secured a 12-9 decision win over Drew Roberts through three takedowns and two reversals, earning riding time in the victory. Hamiti earned a 7-3 decision win over Cael Carlson, earning two takedowns against his Gopher opponent and fending off a late attack to seal the win with riding time to tie up the team score, 6-6.

Minnesota retook the team lead with two victories at 174 and 184. With the Badgers now in a 13-6 hole, the Badgers next three wrestlers put points on the board and reclaimed the team lead again at 15-13.

No. 20 Braxton Amos collected a hard-fought 2-1 decision win over No. 23 Michial Foy after a Foy penalty point and an escape. Heavyweight Trent Hillger fired immediately off the start to score a takedown against Minnesota's Garrett Joles in the bout's opening seconds, then scored a later escape to hand Joles the loss in a 3-2 decision win.

In a much-anticipated match-up at 125 pounds, Eric Barnett, ranked seventh in the country took down No. 6 Patrick McKee in a physical 5-4 decision victory. Barnett scored a takedown and a reversal against McKee. Tied up 4-4 after the second period, Barnett rode out McKee in the final period to earn riding time and the upset victory.

Minnesota rallied in the final two bouts at 133 and 141 pounds to reclaim the team lead, eventually winning 19-15.

The Badgers now turn their attention to their last dual meet of the season vs. Northern Iowa next Saturday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. Wisconsin will celebrate senior night in the Field House and the dual match will be streamed live on B1G+.

Feb. 11, 2023 - #15 Wisconsin 15, #23 Minnesota 19 (Madison, Wis.) | WIS-MIN

149: #15 Michael Blockhus (MIN) over Aidan Medora (WIS) Fall 5:56 | 0-6
157: #18 Garrett Model (WIS) over Drew Roberts (MIN) Dec. 12-9 | 3-6
165: #6 Dean Hamiti (WIS) over Cael Carlson (MIN) Dec. 7-3 | 6-6
174: #10 Bailee O'Reilly (MIN) over Josh Otto (WIS) Major Dec. 14-4 | 6-10
184: Sam Skillings (MIN) over Tyler Dow (WIS) Dec. 10-4 | 6-13
197: #20 Braxton Amos (WIS) over #23 Michial Foy (MIN) Dec. 2-1 | 9-13
285: #11 Trent Hillger (WIS) over Garrett Joles (MIN) Dec. 3-2 | 12-13
125: #7 Eric Barnett (WIS) over #6 Patrick Mckee (MIN) Dec. 5-4 | 15-13
133: #14 Aaron Nagao (MIN) over #30 Taylor LaMont (WIS) Dec. 5-1 | 15-16
141:  #14 Jake Bergeland (MIN) over #28 Joseph Zargo (WIS) Dec. 1-0 | 15-19

Attendance: 2,125
All rankings Intermat for Feb. 7, 2023

JESSICA BURDA LESLIE | WISCONSIN ATHLETICS
Digital Content Editor, Brand Communications