The defending national champion Minnesota Golden Gopher wrestling team will wrap up its final tune-up before the start of the dual meet season this Saturday when they compete at the Kaufman-Brand Open, hosted by the University of Nebraska-Omaha. The Kaufman-Brand Open is the largest single-day collegiate wrestling meet in the nation.
The event will get underway at 9:00 a.m. at the Lee & Helene Sapp Fieldhouse in Omaha, Neb. Four Minnesota wrestlers took home titles in the Elite Division during last year’s event Jayson Ness (125 lbs.), Manuel Rivera (141), C.P. Schlatter (157) and Gabe Dretsch (174). Tyler Safratowich, and NCAA Qualifier at 165 pounds last year, took fifth at 157 pounds during the 2006 Open.
In addition, four other Gophers (Scott Glasser, Mike Thorn, Joe Nord and Brent Eidenschink) placed in the top-five in the Amateur Division in their respective weight classes a year ago.
A total of 42 teams are expected to enter approximately 650 wrestlers in the meet, making it easily the country's largest single-day collegiate meet. The U.S. Olympic Training Center will send a squad in addition to many of the top teams in all three NCAA divisions.
Other NCAA Division I teams competing will be Boise Sate, Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Wyoming, North Dakota State and South Dakota State. Periodic updates will be available via UNO’s website by clicking here.
Minnesota’s dual meet season begins on Nov. 24 when they participate in the first-ever Northern Quad invitational, a one-day dual meet event held at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn. The Northern Quad will also feature Northern Colorado, Northern Illinois and North Dakota State University.
The Gophers’ home dual meet season begins on Dec. 2 against 2006-07 national runner-ups Iowa State. That meet will begin at 2:00 p.m. in Williams Arena and will also be taped by the Big Ten Network, to be shown via tape delay on Dec. 7.
2006 Golden Gopher Placewinners Kaufman-Brand OpenElite Division1st Jayson Ness (125)
1st Manuel Rivera (149)
1st C.P. Schlatter (157)
1st Gabriel Dretsch (174)
5th Tyler Safratowich (157)
Amateur Division1st Scott Glasser (165)
3rd Mike Thorn (133)
3rd Joe Nord (Hwt)
4th Brent Eidenschink (197)
