Wrestlers Set To Host No. 1 Minnesota

Nov. 27, 2006

GREELEY, Colo. - The Northern Colorado wrestling team will kick off the dual-meet season with a match against the top-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Minnesota entered the season as the No. 1 team, and so far this season they have proved deserving of the honor. They will visit Greeley December 1 to square off against the Bears.

Last season, the Golden Gophers finished as runner-up at the NCAA tournament and return all but one starter from that team, including a pair of national champions in senior heavyweight Cole Konrad and sophomore Dustin Schlatter (149).

"It's the first time in 44 years since we host the No. 1 team in the country," said Bears coach Jack Maughan. "The last time the No. 1 team came to Greeley was the 1962-63 season, when Oklahoma State held the honor." The teams battled to an 18-18 tie - the only blemish on the Cowboys' otherwise perfect season.

"I don't think I realized how tough it was," joked Maughan about his team's schedule, which features duals against six of the top 28 teams in the county. Minnesota has "top-20 ranked wrestlers in nine of the 10 divisions, so it's a great way to get going in Division 1."

"We are excited to bring the highest level of wrestling to Greeley," said Maughan of the Golden Gophers. "We could not have opened our first year in Division I with a tougher opponent. Minnesota is a program that we are working to emulate to the best of our ability."

The Bears will be led by heavyweight Reece Hopkin, who came into the season ranked 10th in the nation. Other impact wrestlers for the Bears include: Kyle Kaiser (133), Tony Mustari (125) and Kenny Hashimoto (141). Each won their division in last week's Northern Colorado/Old Chicago Open.