Wisconsin Badgers
Minnesota
Six to Pin: No. 11 Minnesota & No. 3 Iowa
February 14, 2024 | Wrestling
Badgers wrestle two B1G duals on road
Two B1G road matches this week!
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) February 13, 2024
Wisconsin at Minnesota
Friday, Feb. 16
8 PM CT
?? Watch live on @bigtennetwork
Wisconsin at Iowa
Sunday, Feb. 18
1 PM CT
?? Watch live on @bigtennetwork pic.twitter.com/nq7mcDTplx
MADISON, Wis. – No. 22 Wisconsin travels for two Big Ten dual matches this weekend. Wisconsin wrestles at No. 11 Minnesota on Friday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. CT at Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis and then compete at No. 3 Iowa on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. CT at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
Both matches will air nationally on Big Ten Network. Shane Sparks and Jim Gibbons will call Friday’s match against the Golden Gophers, while Sunday’s match will be called by Zach Mackey and Tim Johnson.
Here’s six more notes to pin:
1. Last Time Out:
Wisconsin earned its third-straight Big Ten victory with a 20-18 win over Illinois at home on Sunday, Feb. 11 on Senior Day for the Badgers.
The Badgers won five of 10 bouts, led by a pin by Dean Hamiti at 165 pounds.
Hamiti earned his 21st win (21-1) overall this season, which includes 18 bonus-point wins and is undefeated at 10-0 against Big Ten competition.
Gannon Rosenfeld earned his second career Big Ten dual win with a 12-6 decision to deliver the Badgers’ dual win in a tight match. Eric Barnett and Joe Zargo also both won by major decision.
Whose house? OUR HOUSE ??
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) February 11, 2024
Celebrated the seniors and secured the W in our last home match of the season.
Wisconsin 20
Illinois 18
Full recap via https://t.co/XlcG8gsYGk pic.twitter.com/NlbRzjHU9B
2. Scouting the Golden Gophers
No. 11 Minnesota is currently 5-2 in the Big Ten standings (10-2 overall) with losses only to No. 3 Iowa (22-9) and No. 6 Nebraska (19-14).
Minnesota has wrestlers ranked by Intermat in all 10 weight classes, led by No. 4 Michael Blockhus (157), No. 5 Isaiah Salazar (197) and No. 11 Patrick McKee (125).
3. Scouting the Hawkeyes
No. 3 Iowa is also 5-2 in the B1G (10-2 overall) with an upset by No. 12 Michigan (24-11) and a loss to No. 1 Penn State 29-6.
Iowa has nine wrestlers ranked by Intermat (except at 197), led by No. 2 Real Woods (141), No. 5 Drake Ayala (125) and No. 5 Jared Franek (157).
4. 50 Wins & 50 Years
Following Wisconsin's 20-18 win over Illinois at home, Chris Bono now has improved to 50 career wins leading the Wisconsin Badgers (50-32 record in six years) and is 153-90 (15 years) overall as a head coach.
He also celebrated his 50th birthday on February 13. Congrats Coach Bono on 50 years and 50 wins as a Badger!
Wrestler. Coach. Husband. Dad. Friend.
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) February 13, 2024
Celebrating 50 years for @ChrisBono today!
Happy Birthday Coach! Win the Day! ?? pic.twitter.com/wwg6RCKGmX
5. In the media polls
Five Badgers continue to earn national rankings in the latest Intermat poll, while the team is now tied at No. 16 in the team rankings in tournament and No. 22 in duals by Intermat.
- No. 4 – Eric Barnett, 125
- No. 5 – Dean Hamiti, 165
- No. 12 – Max Maylor, 174
- No. 16 - Shane Liegel, 184
- No. 19 – Joseph Zargo, 149
Five Badgers earn nods in latest @InterMat national rankings
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) February 13, 2024
3?? @ericbarnett1117 125
1??9?? @joseph_zargo 149
5?? @HamitiDean 165
1??2?? @max_maylor10 174
1??6?? Shane Liegel 184
With 2 weeks left of regular season, UW is 2??2?? for duals & tied at 1??6?? for tournament. RV (16) in NWCA. pic.twitter.com/hSiO2Qka6c
6. Lineup
No. 22 Wisconsin (9-4, 3-3 B1G)
- 125: #3 Eric Barnett (20-3)
- 133: Nicolar Rivera (12-7)
- 141: Felix Lettini (3-14) or Zan Fugitt (8-4)
- 149: #19 Joseph Zargo (15-5) or Julian George (1-3)
- 157: Luke Mechler (6-13) or Cody Goebel (14-9)
- 165: #5 Dean Hamiti (21-1)
- 174: #12 Max Maylor (14-4)
- 184: #16 Shane Liegel (18-6) or Luke Condon (9-2)
- 197: Josh Otto (1-9)
- 285: Gannon Rosenfeld (3-11)
Head Coach: Chris Bono
Record at Wisconsin: 50-32 (6th)
Overall Record: 153-90 (15th)
Associate Head Coach: Jon Reader
Assistant Coach: Seth Gross
Coach (RTC): Garrett Model
No. 11 Minnesota (10-2, 5-2 B1G)
- 125: #11 Patrick McKee (11-5) or Brandon Morvari (11-8)
- 133: #19 Tyler Wells (11-4) or Jake Gliva (11-5)
- 141: #26 Vance VomBaur (13-6)
- 149: #16 Drew Roberts (17-5)
- 157: #4 Michael Blockhus (14-1)
- 165: #32 Blaine Brenner (17-8) or Hunter Lyden (11-3)
- 174: #31 Andrew Sparks (7-4) or Sam Skillings (12-5)
- 184: #5 Isaiah Salazar (17-1) or Max McEnelly (15-0)
- 197: #20 Garrett Joles (17-6)
- 285: #30 Bennett Tabor (18-5)
Head Coach: Brandon Eggum
Head Assistant Coach: Luke Becker
Assistant Coaches: Trevor Brandvold, Zach Sanders
No. 3 Iowa (10-2, 5-2 B1G)
- 125: #5 Drake Ayala (14-3)
- 133: Brody Teske (8-2) or #20 Cullan Schriever (8-3)
- 141: #2 Real Woods (12-2)
- 149: #8 Caleb Rathjen (10-3)
- 157: #5 Jared Franek (13-3)
- 165: #7 Michael Caliendo (15-2)
- 174: #7 Patrick Kennedy (10-4)
- 184: Aiden Riggins (7-9)
- 197: #11 Zach Glazier (14-1)
- 285: #29 Bradley Hill (11-4) or Ben Kueter (2-1)
Head Coach: Tom Brands
Associate Head Coach: Terry Brands
Assistant Coaches: Ryan Morningstar, Bobby Telford
