The Minnesota Gophers will be taking on the Northwestern Wildcats today at 2pm. The dual with be at Northwestern and you can stream it live on Big Ten Network+.
Projected Matches:
125- Patrick McKee (Minnesota) vs Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern)
Most likely we will not see DeAugustino after he got injured at the CKLV. Matt Vinci is the other listed 125 pounder on the Northwestern lineup and if he faces McKee there might be bonus points for Minnesota.
133- Aaron Nagao (Minnesota) vs Chris Cannon (Northwestern)
Both guys have looked good so far this year. Cannon should have the edge in this one if we are going off of prior results.
141- Jake Bergeland (Minnesota) vs Frankie Tal-Shahar (Northwestern)
These two guys have meet three times in the past with Bergeland winning all three of the meetings. All of them looking at the score lines have been close so expect that to happen again.
Being 3-0 against Tal-Shahar you can only really assume that he wins it again.
149- Michael Blockhus (Minnesota) vs Yahya Thomas (Northwestern)
After a little bit of a slump last year not making the podium Thomas has been on fire this season. Look for him to keep it going here as he should be able to put on a dominant display against Blockhus.
157- Brayton Lee (Minnesota)vs Trevor Chumbley (Northwestern)
Might have to call an upset here. There is no surprise that Chumbley is having the success that he has looking at who Northwestern’s last 157 pounder was.
Lee has already dropped two matches that maybe he shouldn’t have being that he was the top ranked guy in the country by some outlets at the beginning of the year.
165- Andrew Sparks (Minnesota) vs David Ferrante (Northwestern)
Sparks is back this season and has been looking as good as ever. These guys have wrestled twice in the past back in 2021 with Sparks putting up decisive score lines both times.
I would not be too surprised if he was to put up a major here on Ferrante.
174- Bailee O’Reilly (Minnesota) vs Troy Fisher (Northwestern)
This is an interesting match at 174, O’Reilly is the substantially higher ranked opponent but in their one meeting in college last season Fisher took the win 9-5.
This go around it looks like it will go in O’Reilly’s favor but this might be more of a toss up bout.
184- Isaiah Salazar (Minnesota) vs Evan Bates (Northwestern)
Salazar has been off to a hot start this season with wins over Travis Wittlake and Adam Kemp. This match should not be too close.
197- Michial Foy (Minnesota) vs Andrew Davison (Northwestern)
A big toss up match late, the dual should be very close should everything fall as it should on paper.
These two are dead even and have not met ever before in their collegiate careers. Foy will have to be my pick in this one to come out on top.
285- Garrett Joles (Minnesota) vs Lucas Davison (Northwestern)
Davison has looked phenomenal thus far already winning the Midlands Championship in a bracket with Cohlton Schultz, Trent Hillger, and Dayton Pitzer in it.
The last time these two met in 2021 it was a 14-5 major for Davison and it looks like it will be the same if not more dominant this go around.
