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DarrenTheGreek

DarrenTheGreek

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Came here to vent my frustrations at the result of last night's dual loss to South Dakota State and realized we don't have a thread for this season. SO here it goes.

#17 SD State 18, #7 Minnesota 14
125: #16 Brady Roark, SDSU DEC #3 Jore Volk, MINN - 5-4
133: Chris Cannon, MINN DEC Cale Seaton, SDSU - 8-1
141: #13 Julian Tagg, SDSU DEC #9 Vance Vombaur, MINN - 5-1
149: Dre Roberts, MINN DEC Avery Allen, SDSU - 4-2
157: #14 Cael Swensen, SDSU DEC #18 Charlie Millard, MINN - 7-5
165: #10 Andrew Sparks, MINN DEC Marcus Espinoza-Owens, SDSU - 2-0
174: #25 Moses Espinoza-Owens, SDSU DEC #21 Ethan Riddle, MINN - 4-1
184: #3 Max McEnelly, MINN TF Brock Fettig, SDSU - 20-5
197: #7 Bennett Berge, SDSU, DEC #25 Gavin Nelson, MINN - 2-1
HWT: #21 Luke Rasmussen, SDSU DEC #13 Koy Hopke, MINN - 7-5

Not a good look for the program as 4 guys were upset by lower ranked opponents. Time for a serious discussion on the direction of the program. Well actually the time was probably 5 years ago but might as well start now.
 

DarrenTheGreek said:
Well actually the time was probably 5 years ago but might as well start now.
Click to expand...

Much to our dismay, the Wrestling program is just another "Coyle Special" within the Gophers Athletic Department.

With the amount of HS wrestling talent produced in this state, it's simply inexcusable what's become of this program in such a reasonably short time.

As you stated, we could see this coming 5-6 years ago and Coyle has just stood back and let Eggum run this to program into mediocrity. We see a pattern of complacency here by the AD:

Wrestling
Men's Hockey
Women's Hockey
Volleyball
Softball
Baseball

This doesn't even include Coyle's fumbling of both Hoops programs. Very depressing for those of us that follow the smaller budget programs as much, if not more, than our Big Box sports programs.
 

Maybe we can dump Eggum and hire Hahn who just beat us.

Who wouldn't want Hahn back in Maroon & Gold?
 

TruthSeeker said:
Maybe we can dump Eggum and hire Hahn who just beat us.

Who wouldn't want Hahn back in Maroon & Gold?
Click to expand...
When has Coyle ever replaced a coach before their program turned into a dumpster fire? I’d like to replace Eggum but the program hasn’t bottomed out yet.
 



Gophers beat Bison yesterday 26-9

#7 Minnesota 26, North Dakota State 9
125: #8 Jore Volk dec. #30 Ezekiel Witt (NDSU), 9-5 | MINN 3, NDSU 0
133: #28 Tristan Daugherty (NDSU) dec. Chris Cannon, 4-1 | MINN 2, NDSU 3*
141: #11 Vance VomBaur MD #33 Michael Olson (NDSU), 9-1 | MINN 6, NDSU 3
149: #29 Max Petersen (NDSU) dec. Drew Roberts, 7-5 | MINN 6, NDSU 6
157: #21 Charlie Millard dec. #9 Gavin Drexler (NDSU), 10-4 | MINN 9, NDSU 6
165: #9 Andrew Sparks TF Boeden Greenley (NDSU), 18-3 (7:00) | MINN 14, NDSU 6
174: #25 Ethan Riddle dec. Max Magayna (NDSU), 9-5 | MINN 17, NDSU 6
184: #3 Max McEnelly TF #14 Aidan Brenot (NDSU), 22-6 (6:58) | MINN 22, NDSU 6
197: Devin Wasley (NDSU) dec. Gabe Nagel, 6-3 | MINN 22, NDSU 9
285: #15 Koy Hopke MD Drew Blackburn-Forst (NDSU), 11-0 | MINN 26, NDSU 9
*Minnesota lost one team point for unsportsmanlike conduct (thrown headgear)
 

Tougher and tougher to recruit kids to Minneapolis. Hoping that will change but am not confident
 


The last home meet vs South Dakota State was fun. Gophers won 26-9. Charlie Millard put on a great show. Vince VomBaur showed he has "it" with a major. I forgot, I think it was Ethan Riddle that had the other guy in a long near-pin that kept going and going. Max "the man" McEnelly did the "give-up-1-point-to-get-more-points-to-technical" gameplan to win a technical win. Heavyweight Koy Hopke won 11-0.

Speaking of Hopke, he's this week's Big Ten Freshman of the Week. "Hopke went 4-0 last weekend to capture the heavyweight title at the Soldier Salute. He outscored his opponents 18-5 and was not taken down."

Good Heavyweights, the long Gophers tradition.

gophersports.com

Hopke Tabbed Big Ten Freshman of the Week - University of Minnesota Athletics

Minnesota's Koy Hopke has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second time this season, the conference announced Thursday.
gophersports.com gophersports.com


Seventh ranked Gophers today face #11 Illinois.

gophersports.com

Seventh-Ranked Gophers Open Big Ten Slate at No. 11 Illinois Saturday - University of Minnesota Athletics

Competing in its first dual since Dec. 7, No. 7/12 Minnesota opens competition within the Big Ten Saturday at No. 11/9 Illinois. The match is set to start at...
gophersports.com gophersports.com
 





Tomorrow Friday January 16, get to this 8 pm rumble, a big one -- I mean a big BIG one.

#6 Nebraska at #7/9 Gophers home turf.

Televised on Big Ten Network.5:30 PM Friday pregame. 6 pm Penn State-Iowa and then 8 pm Minnesota-Nebraska rumble on Big Ten Network. Although you will...

Be there.

gophersports.com

Coach's Corner with Brandon Eggum - University of Minnesota Athletics

"Coach's Corner" is back as head coach Brandon Eggum breaks down each match from last weekend's Gophers' win at No. 11 Illinois, plus he previews Friday nigh...
gophersports.com gophersports.com

hurrdatsports.com

Manning Addresses Nebraska Wrestling Trajectory, AJ Ferrari Status | Hurrdat Sports

The No. 6 Nebraska wrestling team has faced a lot of adversity this season. However, head coach Mark Manning isn't letting that get in the way of the team’s
hurrdatsports.com hurrdatsports.com

huskers.com

NU Travels to No. 9 Minnesota

huskers.com huskers.com
 





Slim Tubby said:
Much to our dismay, the Wrestling program is just another "Coyle Special"
Click to expand...
Slim Tubby said:
As you stated, we could see this coming 5-6 years ago and Coyle has just stood back and let Eggum run this to program into mediocrity.
Click to expand...

You have no idea what is going on. The Gophers finished 5th at the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Minnesota scored 51.5 points. Top Performers:

Max McEnelly: Finished 3rd at 184 lb. McEnelly earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year his first season.

Vance VomBaur: Became a two-time All-American with an 8th place finish at 141 lbs.

Andrew Sparks & Clayton Whiting: Both finished in the top 7.

With NIL competition from teams.like Penn State, it's tough. I do think AD Coyle and Minnesota were slow to adapt to NIL and conservative with compliance.

You are right that some prominant Gophers teams have not been near the top. The wrestling program was uncertain the past few years, not bad, but now in full resurgency.

Ok, I will admit the loss to South Dakota State was a jolt, like what is going on, yet SDS was much better than the early season rank at the time, now #10.
 

WinMinGophers! said:
You have no idea what is going on.
Click to expand...
Are you sure? We've been hosting members of the program (past and present) nearly every hunting season for over the past 15 years. They are most certainly more than aware of what has been "going on". The Eggum extension was not well received by many supporters of the program.

Coyle's acceptance of mediocre sports programs at the U is at the heart of our problems. Wrestling is far from the only sports program that's dropped off dramatically during his tenure (hoops x 2, hockey x 2, volleyball, softball, baseball, etc.). There's a reason for that and it's not all NIL related.

We can agree to disagree on this topic. Obviously, we both want to get back to being legitimate National Champion contenders.
 


WinMinGophers! said:
Tomorrow Friday January 16, get to this 8 pm rumble, a big one -- I mean a big BIG one...

Televised on Big Ten Network.5:30 PM Friday pregame. 6 pm Penn State-Iowa and then 8 pm Minnesota-Nebraska rumble on Big Ten Network...
Click to expand...

Wow, a strong #4 Iowa was trounced by #1 Penn State 27-9.

This is Penn State's 79th dual win in a row, a record.

Up next tonight in the Friday double-header rumble on Big Ten Network: Minnesota-Nebraska.
 


#11 Charlie Millard Gophers had #5 beat until 5 seconds left and then gave up a sudden pin at 2 seconds left. What a bummer, Millard had him beat.
 

For the finale, #10 up-and-comer redshirt freshman heavyweight Koy Hopke wrestled #3 Ferrari evenly but lost by 1 point riding time.

Good showing by Gophers. Bummer about Millard losing at the end a big upset win.

Both those guys are freshmen, encouraging.

And of course Max McEnelly is the man, beating a guy who was an All American last season and Big Ten champ in 2023.

Darn, they almost had this dual against #6 Nebraska. And on Big Ten Network Friday night double-header.

Minnesota must be squarely around 6-8 then.
 


WinMinGophers! said:
For the finale, #10 up-and-comer redshirt freshman heavyweight Koy Hopke wrestled #3 Ferrari evenly but lost by 1 point riding time.

Good showing by Gophers. Bummer about Millard losing at the end a big upset win.

Both those guys are freshmen, encouraging.

And of course Max McEnelly is the man, beating a guy who was an All American last season and Big Ten champ in 2023.

Darn, they almost had this dual against #6 Nebraska. And on Big Ten Network Friday night double-header.

Minnesota must be squarely around 6-8 then.
Click to expand...
Ferrari is still an absolute douchebag.
 

cheeseheadgophfan said:
Ferrari is still an absolute douchebag.
Click to expand...


At the start of the meet he went over and stared down Kopke, walking towards him at the same time, almost like he was going to lunge, animal like. Ferrari at the start of the match repeatedly pushed Hopke's forehead. Then at the end he got down in a wide stance and did the he-man arms out muscle pump with animal face at us in the crowd.

Yet until Ferrari is beat he can strut his stuff like that... the douche way he is.

A #10 Koy Hopke evenly wrestled #3 Ferrari and lost on the 1 point riding time, this was no dominance by Ferrari. Hopke is a freshman and coming up. Hopke may yet get him in tournaments this year. Hopke did win the Solider Solute this year.
 

Tough dual coming up at Minnesota against a brutal Ohio State #2 in the latest NWCA Coaches Poll -- undefeated in duals this season.

Will be televised on Big Ten Network that Friday evening.


Here's the Big Ten Network schedule for the evening of Friday, January 23, 2025 -- Friday Night Wrestling:
  • 4:00 PM ET: Michigan State at Purdue (Wrestling)
  • 6:00 PM ET: #5 Ohio State at #10 Minnesota (Wrestling)
  • 8:00 PM ET: #2 Nebraska at #4 Iowa (Wrestling)

Ohio State just blanked Indian 45-0, winning 7 of 10 matches in bonus points. Ohio State beat Iowa this season 27-12.

Their wrestlers down the line are ranked in the vicinity of #1, #3, #2, #6, #2...


Using stat-driven Wrestlestat for ranks:

#3 Gopher Max McEnelly at 184, a contender for the National Title, faces a tough #5 OSU wrestler who just won by a pin against a #14 at Indiana.

Heavyweight Gopher Koy Hopke at #8 (Wrestlestat) faces an Ohio State #4 wrestler. Hopke nearly beat #3 Ferrari so Hopke could win this upset.

It's going to be hard to win others against this brutal OSU team. Gophers will be underdogs down the line.

Freshman Gopher Charlie Millard at 157 is a guy to watch. Twice I saw him live and twice he put on a show against a higher ranked guy. He's #14 facing #2 OSU.

Gopher #10 Vance Vombaur (in my mind higher than that) has to face #2 Ohio State wrestler.

MAJOR TEST FOR GOPHERS

Again, for rankings here I'm using Wrestlestat.

OSU is simply a step above teams like Nebraska and Minnesota which are both around #6-#9.

WrestleStat | Division I Wrestler Rankings | 2026

www.wrestlestat.com www.wrestlestat.com
 
Last edited:

WinMinGophers! said:
Tough dual coming up at Minnesota against a brutal Ohio State #2 in the latest NWCA Coaches Poll -- undefeated in duals this season.

Will be televised on Big Ten Network that Friday evening.


Here's the Big Ten Network schedule for the evening of Friday, January 23, 2025 -- Friday Night Wrestling:
  • 4:00 PM ET: Michigan State at Purdue (Wrestling)
  • 6:00 PM ET: #5 Ohio State at #10 Minnesota (Wrestling)
  • 8:00 PM ET: #2 Nebraska at #4 Iowa (Wrestling)

Ohio State just blanked Indian 45-0, winning 7 of 10 matches in bonus points. Ohio State beat Iowa this season 27-12.

Their wrestlers down the line are ranked in the vicinity of #1, #3, #2, #6, #2...


Using stat-driven Wrestlestat for ranks:

#3 Gopher Max McEnelly at 184, a contender for the National Title, faces a tough #5 OSU wrestler who just won by a pin against a #14 at Indiana.

Heavyweight Gopher Koy Hopke at #8 (Wrestlestat) faces an Ohio State #4 wrestler. Hopke nearly beat #3 Ferrari so Hopke could win this upset.

It's going to be hard to win others against this brutal OSU team. Gophers will be underdogs down the line.

Freshman Gopher Charlie Millard at 157 is a guy to watch. Twice I saw him live and twice he put on a show against a higher ranked guy. He's #14 facing #2 OSU.

Gopher #10 Vance Vombaur (in my mind higher than that) has to face #2 Ohio State wrestler.

MAJOR TEST FOR GOPHERS

Again, for rankings here I'm using Wrestlestat.

OSU is simply a step above teams like Nebraska and Minnesota which are both around #6-#9.

WrestleStat | Division I Wrestler Rankings | 2026

www.wrestlestat.com www.wrestlestat.com
Click to expand...
Watching what PSU did to Iowa yesterday was incredibly demoralizing for every other program in the country.

I agree with you...OSU has a better chance of earning points against them than Iowa did.
 

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