(University Park, PA) — Top-ranked Gable Steveson dominated No. 2 seed Mason Parris of Michigan with a 12-4 major decision to win his second straight Big Ten title on Sunday afternoon in University Park, Pa. Bolstered by the title at heavyweight, Minnesota climbed three spots to finish in fifth place as a team.
Steveson was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Championship following his performance in the title match. His two first-period takedowns set the tone early as he remained on the offensive throughout. In a battle of unbeatens and rematch of last year’s final, it was Steveson who improved to 12-0 on the season and 62-2 in his career. He is the first Gopher to win the award since Mack Reiter was honored in 2005.
Steveson became the first Golden Gopher to win multiple league titles since Tony Nelson was a three-time champion from 2012-14. The win also continued Minnesota’s dominance of the Big Ten heavyweight division. It was the Gophers’ 11th conference crown since 1999.
In addition to Steveson, six more Golden Gophers qualified for the 2021 NCAA Championships in two weeks. At-large selections will be announced on Wednesday night.
Sophomore Brayton Lee improved on his fourth place showing in 2020 with a third-place finish at 157 pounds. Lee recorded the only two takedowns in a 6-3 decision against No. 7 Chase Saldate of Michigan State.
Sophomore Michael Blockhus finished in fourth place at 149 pounds following a 2-1 overtime loss against No. 8 Mike Van Brill of Rutgers. A transfer from Northern Iowa, Blockhus finished fourth at the 2020 Big XII Championships.
Sophomore Jake Allar closed out his first conference tournament with a seventh-place finish at 174 pounds. His 12-3 major decision against Michigan State’s Drew Hughes was his second win with bonus points following a pin of No. 7 seed Jackson Turley of Rutgers on Saturday night.
Sophomore Patrick McKee (125) and seniors Boo Dryden (133) and Owen Webster (184) will advance to their first national tournament following eighth-place showings.
The 2021 NCAA Championships will be held at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo., March 18-20.
Big Ten Team Standings
1. Iowa (159.5)
2. Penn State (124.0)
3. Nebraska (105.5)
4. Michigan (92.0)
5. Minnesota (77.5)
6. Purdue (76.0)
7. Northwestern (74.0)
8. Michigan State (73.5)
9. Ohio State (69.5)
10. Rutgers (52.0)
11. Illinois (32.0)
12. Wisconsin (30.5)
13. Indiana (22.0)
14. Maryland (2.0)
Golden Gopher Results (Numbers listed are seeds)
125 pounds – No. 4 Patrick McKee (Eighth Place)
Round of 16: No. 13 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) dec. McKee, 6-5
Consolation: McKee pinned No. 12 Jacob Moran (Indiana), 1:08
Consolation: McKee pinned No. 6 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin), 5:33
Consolation: No. 8 Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) dec. McKee, 6-3
Seventh Place: No. 9 Dylan Ragusin (Michigan) dec. McKee, 9-7
133 pounds – No. 7 Boo Dryden (Eighth Place)
Round of 16: Dryden dec. No. 11 Jordan Hamdan (Michigan State), 3-2
Quarterfinals: No. 3 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) maj, dec, Dryden, 11-3
Consolation: Dryden dec. No. 5 Jack Medley (Michigan), 8-6
Consolation: No. 9 Kyle Burwick (Wisconsin) dec. Dryden, 4-3
Seventh Place: No. 11 Jordan Hamdan (Michigan State) dec. Dryden, 9-2
141 pounds – No. 6 Marcos Polanco (DNP)
Round of 16: No. 11 Cayden Rooks (Indiana) dec. Polanco, 5-4
Consolation: Polanco dec. No. 14 Dominic Dentino (Wisconsin), 9-4
Consolation: No. 5 Dylan Duncan (Illinois) maj. dec. Polanco, 8-0
Consolation: No. 11 Cayden Rooks (Indiana) dec. Polanco, 5-2
149 pounds – No. 6 Michael Blockhus (Fourth Place)
Round of 16: Blockhus dec. No. 11 Beau Bartlett (Penn State), 5-3
Quarterfinals: Blockhus dec. No. 3 Griffin Parriott (Purdue), 4-1
Semifinals: No. 7 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) dec. Blockhus, 2-1 TB1
Cons. Semifinal: Blockhus dec. No. 10 Graham Rooks (Indiana), 4-3
Third Place: No. 8 Mike Van Brill (Rutgers) dec. Blockhus, 2-1 TB1
157 pounds – No. 3 Brayton Lee (Third Place)
Quarterfinals: Lee dec. No. 6 Will Lewan (Michigan), 8-3
Semifinals: No. 2 Kaleb Young (Iowa) dec. Lee, 3-2 TB2
Cons. Semifinals: Lee dec. No. 5 Brady Berge (Penn State), 3-1 SV1
Third Place: Lee dec. No. 7 Chase Saldate (Michigan State), 6-3
165 pounds – No. 5 Andrew Sparks (DNP | Injury Default)
Round of 16: Sparks dec. No. 12 David Ferrante (Northwestern), 8-4
Quarterfinals: No. 4 Cameron Amine (Michigan) dec. Sparks, 5-2
Consolation: No. 6 Joe Lee (Penn State) pinned Sparks, 0:45
174 pounds – No. 9 Jake Allar (Seventh Place)
Round of 16: No. 8 Jared Krattiger (Wisconsin) dec. Allar, 3-2
Consolation: Allar pinned No. 7 Jackson Turley (Rutgers), 2:44
Consolation: No. 6 Kaleb Romero (Ohio State) dec. Allar, 9-4
Seventh Place: Allar maj. dec. No. 10 Drew Hughes (Michigan State), 12-3
184 pounds – No. 4 Owen Webster (Eighth Place)
Round of 16: Webster maj. dec. No. 13 Jon Halvorsen (Northwestern), 10-0
Quarterfinals: No. 5 John Poznanski (Rutgers) pinned Webster, 4:54
Consolation: Webster dec. No. 11 Kyle Cochran (Maryland), 9-7
Consolation: No. 9 Nelson Brands (Iowa) dec. Webster, 3-2
Seventh Place: No. 7 Max Lyon (Purdue) dec. Webster, 3-1
197 pounds – No. 11 Garrett Joles (DNP)
Round of 16: No. 6 Thomas Penola (Purdue) dec. Joles, 8-3
Consolation: Joles pinned No. 14 Andrew Salemme (Wisconsin), 4:25
Consolation: No. 5 Lucas Davison (Northwestern) maj. dec. Joles, 14-5
Heavyweight – No. 1 Gable Steveson (First Place)
Quarterfinals: Steveson tech. fall No. 8 Tate Orndorff (Ohio State), 19-4, 5:34
Semifinals: Steveson over No. 5 Christian Lance (Nebraska), medical forfeit
Finals: Steveson maj. dec. No. 2 Mason Parris of Michigan, 12-4
(info courtesy of Gopher Sports)