Indiana Edges #20 Minnesota, 19-18, on Criteria

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Indiana Edges #20 Minnesota, 19-18, on Criteria

12/12/2015 12:17:00 AM | Wrestling

The Hoosiers secure their first Big Ten dual win since 2011

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Indiana wrestling head coach Duane Goldman has given his wrestlers one overarching message this season: "Don't just go for it, go get it."

Tonight, against a team the program hasn't defeated in dual competition since 1968, the Hoosiers got what they set out to achieve.

The Indiana Hoosiers opened Big Ten play with a monumental upset over the 20^th-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers. The win snaps a 35-dual skid against Big Ten opponents.

Indiana (2-0, 1-0 Big Ten) vs. #20 Minnesota (4-5, 0-1 Big Ten)
Team Sore: Indiana 19, Minnesota 18 (win on criteria)

Final Results: Indiana vs. Minnesota
Weight	Indiana Hoosiers	Record	Result	Minnesota Golden Gophers	Record
Score	19			18
125	Elijah Oliver, Fr. *	9-1 (2-0)	D, 13-8	Skyler Petry, r-Fr.	10-9 (4-5)
133	Alonzo Shepherd, Sr. *	6-5 (1-1)	PIN 3:44	Sam Brancale, r-Jr.	12-7 (5-4)
141	Cole Weaver, r-Fr.	8-5 (1-1)	D, 2-6	#11 Tommy Thorn, r-Fr. *	17-4 (6-3)
149	Luke Blanton, r-So.*	7-3 (2-0)	D, 17-10	#10 Jake Short, r-So.	8-3 (1-1)
157	Jake Danishek, r-Fr.	1-1 (1-1)	D, 4-8	Brandon Kingsley, r-Jr. *	10-5 (5-2)
165**	Bryce Martin, r-Fr.	6-8 (0-2)	D, 2-7	Brandon Krone, r-Fr. *	8-5 (1-1)
174	#11 Nate Jackson, r-Jr. *	10-1 (2-0)	D, 9-3	Nick Wanzek, r-So.	7-5 (3-4)
184	Matt Irick, r-Jr. *	5-4 (2-0)	D, 7-4	Chris Pfarr, r-So.	8-9 (3-6)
197	Jake Masengale, r-So.	2-6 (0-2)	PIN 2:15	#5 Brett Pfarr, r-Jr. *	17-1 (9-0)
285	Garret Goldman, r-Sr.	6-5 (1-1)	D, 0-6	#8 Michael Kroells, r-Jr. *	15-3 (7-2)

* denotes match winner
** denotes starting point of the dual

Indiana's win was full of highlight performances, including Luke Blanton's upset win over #10 Jake Short in the 149 lbs. bout. Short recorded a couple takedowns in the first period, but Blanton countered with a pair of escapes to stay in striking distance. The second period was more of the same, with a takedown by Short and two more escapes for Blanton.

The Alexandria native went on the attack in the third period, and tied the match at 9-9 with 1:20 remaining in the third period. Then, with 35 seconds remaining, Blanton earned a takedown and a two-point nearfall. Blanton held the lead, and finished with a 17-10 decision. It was Blanton's first ranked win of his young IU career.

Blanton's decision sealed the Hoosiers' victory, but it was the 133 lbs. match that turned the tide for Indiana. IU senior Alonzo Shepherd faced an early 2-0 deficit after a late takedown by Minnesota's Sam Brancale. Shepherd shot out of a cannon to start the second period, locking Brancale to the mat in workmanlike fashion. The match, which appeared to be going Brancale's way, ended with Shepherd earning a pin at 3:44. Shepherd's second pin of the season lifted Indiana to their first lead of the evening.

National #11 Nate Jackson put the Hoosiers on the scoreboard in the 174 lbs. match, the second bout of the evening. Jackson showcased his outstanding work on the defensive side of his skill set, as he thwarted every takedown attempt by his opponent, Nick Wanzek. The 2015 NCAA qualifier totaled three takedowns and a nearfall on his way to a 9-3 win, his sixth win in a row.

Matt Irick took the mat in the 184 lbs. bout against Chris Pfarr. Both wrestlers were looking to earn a winning record and their first Big Ten dual win. Irick jumped to an early 4-1 lead with two takedowns in the first period. He followed that with another takedown and two escapes to take the 7-4 decision. It was Irick's first Big Ten dual win of his career.

Indiana's newcomer at 125 lbs., Elijah Oliver, faced another rookie who has shown a lot of promise in the early goings of the 2015-16 season. Oliver dominated the first two rounds, earning two takedowns, one escape, and over three minutes of riding time. Oliver nearly grabbed his seventh major decision of the season, but a late takedown by Skyler Petry shifted the result to a 13-8 decision in Oliver's favor.

Up Next: Indiana Duals | Sunday, December 13 | Beginning at 1:00 pm ET | BTN Plus
• Indiana (2-0, 1-0 Big Ten) vs. Eastern Michigan (5-1, 1-0 MAC)
• Eastern Michigan (5-1, 1-0 MAC) vs. Manchester (0-5)
• Indiana (2-0, 1-0 Big Ten) vs. Manchester (0-5)

The Hoosiers will make full use of their day of rest before heading into the Indiana Duals on Sunday, December 13. Indiana will face Eastern Michigan at 1:00 p.m., which will provide a handful of enticing rematches from the Eastern Michigan Open. Immediately following that, Eastern Michigan will take part in a neutral dual against the University of Manchester.

Immediately following the dual between Eastern Michigan and Manchester, the Hoosiers will take the mat once again for a dual against Manchester. All three duals will air live on BTN2Go.com. You can track the results on our Dual Central page, or follow the action on Twitter @iuwrestling1.