Match Notes

MADISON, Wis. – After a week off after an impressive showing at the Midlands Championships, the ninth-ranked Wisconsin wrestling team is back in action this weekend for a duo of Big Ten Conference battles. 
 
The Badgers travel across the state border to compete against the fourth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis. The dual is slated to begin at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
 
It will be a quick turnaround for Wisconsin as it hosts the No. 7 Nebraska Cornhuskers. In their second home match of the season. The Badgers will honor military members as tickets are discounted for service men and women and can be purchased here. If you can't make it to the 2 p.m. match, you can stream it on BTN+
 
1. Border Battle. The Badgers are looking for revenge against the No. 4 Minnesota Golden Gophers. Last year, Wisconsin dropped the dual with a final score of 27-13. After an offseason filled with improvement and transfer student sensation, Seth Gross, the Badgers have a strong chance to accomplish the upset in Minnesota in this year's border battle.
 
2. Home Sweet Gross. Wisconsin's 133-pounder, No. 1 Seth Gross returns home this weekend to Minnesota. The Apple Valley native is 8-2 in his career against Minnesota wrestlers and will get his first try at the Gophers as a Badger this weekend. Gross, the reigning Big Ten Wrestler of the Week, is coming off a Midlands Championship title after downing Iowa's Austin DeSanto.
 
3. More of Moran. No. 9 Tristan Moran was the super hero last year in the Minnesota dual, with a pin over the Gopher's Mitch McKee as time expired. McKee is currently ranked No. 2 by FloWrestling. The series is tied at one win each between Moran and McKee. Moran is coming into the dual off of a sixth-place finish at Midlands and a 3-2 decision over No. 5 Grant Leeth from Missouri earlier this season. 
 
4. Go B1G or go home. No. 9 Wisconsin is in search of its first Big Ten victory this weekend. After falling to No. 1 Iowa on Dec. 1, the Badgers are hungry for their first conference win. They currently are 7-1 as a team and are coming off of a fourth-place finish at Midlands, tied for the team's highest finish in tournament history. 
 
5. What about 197? The Badgers are still looking for their first dual win in the 197-pound weight class. Wisconsin has used the combination of Taylor Watkins, a senior transfer from Missouri, and true freshman Peter Christensen. The Badgers will face off against either Garrett Joles or former Badger Hunter Ritter in their dual against Minnesota, and No. 13 Eric Schultz from Nebraska.