Leroy Vega photo courtesy of Minnesota athletics; Spencer Lee photo courtesy of Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com
The 2001 Minnesota Golden Gophers have gone down in college wrestling lore as one of the most unique and impressive teams in history. This was a squad that put all ten of its wrestlers on the NCAA podium, a feat that has not been duplicated at the DI level before or since. That group effort propelled the Gophers past the host, Iowa Hawkeyes, by 13 points for the school’s first national title. Even more unbelievable was Minnesota had ten All-Americans and racked up 138.5 team points without having an NCAA finalist. They remain the only DI team to have won a team title without putting a single wrestler in the national finals.
In the 20 years since the Gophers won their first title, there have been plenty of excellent DI teams that didn’t come close to matching the hallowed ten national placewinners. (It should be noted that with the cancelation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament, Iowa had 10 wrestlers “named” All-Americans. Nine on the first team and one on the second team. However, they did not wrestle an actual tournament to finish in the top eight). In fact, the last two decades have contained some of the most dominant teams in NCAA history, but they did not approach the Gophers.
The 2005 Oklahoma State team surpassed the Minnesota team score mark (153-138.5) and crowned five champions, but “only” had seven AA’s. Iowa’s 2010 team had finalists at each of the first four weights and three national champions. They tallied 134.5 points and saw eight of their ten starters earn All-American honors. Penn State’s 2012 title-winning team was star-driven with 143 points and all six of their All-Americans finishing in the top three. A few years later, in 2017, Penn State matched Oklahoma State’s five national champions and rang up 146.5 team points, but only had one other AA. The next season, the Nittany Lions put eight on the podium.
20 years later, could we see Iowa finally match the performance of J Robinson’s 2001 team? Judging by the current rankings, there’s a strong possibility of that occurring. All ten of Iowa’s starters are ranked in the top-ten, with only one being lower than sixth. While the ten placewinners seem within the crosshairs for Tom Brands’ squad, it’s improbable that they achieved that mark the same way Minnesota did. The 2021 Hawkeyes feature three wrestlers who inhabit the top spot at their respective weights. One other is ranked second.
Today, we’ll go weight-by-weight and look at the chances for Iowa’s 2021 starter to secure a spot on the podium, along with some facts related to the corresponding Minnesota wrestler’s journey to the top-eight.
125 - #1 Spencer Lee
So here’s where the comparison to the Minnesota team gets blown out of the water! Defending Hodge Trophy winner Spencer Lee is as close as you can get to a lock to make the podium, barring a catastrophic injury or an unforeseen circumstance related to COVID. Even more so, he’s a heavy, heavy favorite to capture NCAA title number three.
Minnesota’s 2001 125 lber - LeRoy Vega (Big Ten Runner-up; NCAA 3rd seed; NCAA 3rd)
Vega posted three major decisions in a row on his way to the NCAA semi’s. There he was shutout by Iowa’s Jody Strittmatter, 4-0, in a rematch of the Big Ten finals. He claimed third by downing Michigan’s AJ Grant.
133 - #4 Austin DeSanto
DeSanto is in an odd weight class where the two favorites, Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) and Stevan Micic (Michigan), have yet to compete. With DeSanto holding the fourth seed, it would obviously increase his chances if either/both do not wrestle. Since moving to Iowa, all but one of DeSanto’s losses have come to NCAA title contenders (Austin Gomez of Iowa State being the outlier). Even if Austin does not win the whole thing, it would be a significant shock to see him off the podium.
Minnesota’s 2001 133 lber - Brett Lawrence (Big Ten 5th; NCAA 10th seed; NCAA 8th)
Brett Lawrence was the only 2001 Gopher seeded outside of the top-eight. He fell to the higher-seeded #7 Matt Azevedo (Iowa State) in the second round and had to battle back through the consi’s. There he majored future-MMA superstar Urijah Faber (UC Davis) before pulling a slight upset over the Big Ten runner-up Kevin Black (Wisconsin) in the Round of 12.
141 - #1 Jaydin Eierman
Who’s number one at 141 pounds could be up for debate. Jaydin Eierman, Nick Lee (Penn State) and Sebastian Rivera (Rutgers) all present compelling cases, but we’ve gone with Eierman. Jaydin has made the podium in each of his first three trips to nationals, while at Missouri. It’s hard to see him missing it this year at Iowa. 141 does have some depth at the first and second level of contenders, going about 11-deep, so it’s conceivable that Eierman runs into a bad style matchup or two. With all of that being said, it’s difficult to project him missing the podium.
Minnesota’s 2001 141 lber - Chad Erikson (Big Ten Runner-up; NCAA 7th seed; NCAA 8th)
It was all chalk in the first two rounds for Chad Erikson as he advanced to the quarters before getting majored by the eventual champion, Michael Lightner (Oklahoma). For his spot on the podium, Erikson got by the unseeded Mark Rial (Northern Iowa), 12-5.
149 - #6 Max Murin
No disrespect intended to Max Murin, but after the first three weights, we finally at least have some sort of discussion around whether or not one of the Hawkeyes makes the podium. Murin earned NWCA All-American honors last season, taking fifth in the Big Ten and receiving the seventh seed at nationals. In his only time competing at nationals, Murin came up a match shy of the podium, though he did outwrestle his 22nd seed and advanced to the quarterfinals. This season, Murin has rightfully earned a #6 ranking after defeating nemesis Mike Carr (Illinois) and national qualifier Michael Blockhus (Northern Iowa). Though he belongs at number six in the country, there are still plenty of wrestlers from 7-20 that could take him out on their best day.
Minnesota’s 2001 149 lber - Jared Lawrence (Big Ten Champion; NCAA 2nd seed; NCAA 6th)
It was a rematch of the 2001 Big Ten finals in the NCAA semis as Jared Lawrence faced off with rival Adam Tirapelle (Illinois), who was the tournament’s third seed. Tirapelle turned the tables and posted a 6-0 win and later won a national title. Jared ran into a buzzsaw in the consolation semis, in unseeded Mike Zadick. He was majored 17-5. For fifth-place, Lawrence dropped a 7-4 decision to JaMarr Billman (Lock Haven), an opponent he defeated in the quarters.
157 - #5 Kaleb Young
Kaleb Young was an All-American as a freshman for Iowa, grabbing fifth at the 2019 NCAA Championships. He received the eighth seed in 2020 despite having an uncharacteristic 0-2 showing at the Big Ten Championships. Young was also beaten 9-4 by Wyatt Sheets (Oklahoma State) in his final dual of the year. Though he’s unscathed so far in 2021, could Young be capable of a national tournament letdown like his 2020 B1G tournament? It’s certainly a possibility and 157 features a lot of young, hungry talent.
Minnesota’s 2001 157 lber - Luke Becker (Big Ten Runner-Up; NCAA 6th seed; NCAA 4th)
Luke Becker made the 2001 national semifinals after defeating unseeded Scott Owen (Northern Illinois). Owen had knocked off the three-seed, Yoshi Nakamura (Penn). There Luke met rival Bryan Snyder (Nebraska). Snyder edged Becker 3-2, though the Gopher would get revenge the next year in the NCAA finals. Becker ended up losing a 12-10 shootout against Shane Roller (Oklahoma State) for third place.
165 - #2 Alex Marinelli
Alex Marinelli has received the number one season at the NCAA Championships in each of the last two years and has made the medal stand in both national tournament appearances. Though he did not wrestle up to his seed in either trip, it’s more likely that Marinelli wins the entire thing, opposed to missing the podium. Alex did not suit up during the Hawkeyes dual with Illinois, so there could be concerns about his health in the postseason, which could throw a wrench into this equation.
Minnesota’s 2001 165 lber - Brad Pike (Big Ten 3rd; NCAA 6th seed; NCAA 4th)
The three seed, Steve Blackford (Arizona State), getting knocked off in the first round opened up a lane to the semis for Brad Pike. He responded with three bonus-point wins before drawing #2 Joe Heskett (Iowa State) in the semis. Pike dropped the bout in sudden victory. He rebounded for a win Saturday morning before settling into fourth place.
174 - #1 Michael Kemerer
Both years Michael Kemerer has participated in the NCAA Tournament, he has advanced to the consolation finals, finishing third as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore. Last season he received the second seed after his loss to Mark Hall (Penn State) in the Big Ten finals. Kemerer missed the entire 2018-19 season due to an injury, so there’s always lingering concerns about that, especially as a sixth-year senior. Aside from something injury-related, it’s difficult to picture Kemerer missing the top-eight in St. Louis.
Minnesota’s 2001 174 lber - Jacob Volkmann (Big Ten 4th; NCAA 7th seed; NCAA 4th)
It was a Big Ten semifinal rematch in the NCAA quarters as Jacob Volkmann met Otto Olson (Michigan). Olson, the Big Ten Champion, remarkably defeated Volkmann 3-2 at the conference meet, in the NCAA quarters, and in the NCAA’s consolation finals. To claim his spot on the podium, Volkmann downed unseeded Luke Moore (Ohio), 7-3. Before his rematch with Olson, Jacob got by future NCAA champion, Tyrone Lewis (Oklahoma State), 5-2 in the NCAA consolation semis.
184 - #8 Nelson Brands
Provided Nelson Brands is the postseason starter at 184 lbs, and all signs point to that being the case, he will be one of only two new faces in the Hawks Big Ten lineup. Brands was thought to be an option at 165 lbs entering the 2019-20 season, but he competed at 174 and 184 lbs, with some success. In a bit of a surprise, he got the call in Iowa’s first match of the 2021 campaign and responded with a major decision against All-American Taylor Venz (Nebraska). Nelson did suffer his first defeat of the year on Sunday against Zac Braunagel (Illinois) in sudden victory. It remains to be seen if size is a factor against the upper-echelon at 184 lbs. Being as Brands is currently ranked number eight, it wouldn’t be a shock for an eighth-seed to miss out on earning All-American honors.
Minnesota’s 2001 184 lber - Damion Hahn (Big Ten 3rd; NCAA 5th seed; NCAA 5th)
Super freshman Damion Hahn was seeded fifth but was actually upset in the opening round by Scott Justus (Virginia Tech), 6-5. Hahn battled back with three wins over ranked opponents just to secure a spot on the podium. He dispatched #12 Shawn Scannell (Rider), and #10 Tom Tanis (Rutgers), before getting by #8 Jessman Smith (Iowa) in the bloodround. Damion added wins over Kyle Hansen (Northern Iowa) and Cash Edwards (Boise State) on his way to fifth place.
197 - #4 Jacob Warner
In each of his first two years with Iowa, Jacob Warner has placed third at the Big Ten Championships and received the fifth-seed at nationals. Warner did have a rough go of it at the 2019 NCAA Championships when he was upset by #21 Thomas Lane (Cal Poly) in the second round. Jacob righted the ship enough to win three straight bouts and clinch a place among the top-eight. Because of the condensed season and how 197 lbs is comprised, Warner could find himself more vulnerable than other fourth seeds (provided his ranking holds). There are a handful of freshmen at the weight that could have an impact and may not get enough quality wins to warrant a seed commensurate with their talents. AJ Ferrari (Oklahoma State), Isaac Trumble (Nebraska), Michael Beard (Penn State), and Rocky Elam (Missouri) are all undefeated and could make for difficult matches in the NCAA quarters or the Round of 12.
Minnesota’s 2001 197 lber - Owen Elzen (Big Ten 3rd; NCAA 5th seed; NCAA 3rd)
Owen Elzen was able to outwrestle his fifth seed by pinning and majoring his first two opponents. He won a place in the semis after a two-point win over Babek Nejadmaghaddam (CSU Fullerton). Then Elzen ran into top-seeded Mark Munoz (Oklahoma State), who prevailed 13-9. Owen grabbed third place by pinning the fourth-seed, Rusty Cook (Boise State), the opponent that Nejadmaghaddam upset in the second round.
285 - #3 Tony Cassioppi
Gable Steveson’s (Minnesota) performance in the first month of the 2021 season gives the impression that 285 lbs could be Gable...then everyone else. Steveson wrestled Tony Cassioppi to two and five-point decisions last season, but managed to major the Hawkeye big man in January. Even so, Cassioppi has an excellent chance at earning All-American honors. He has only lost four times during collegiate competition and three of those came at the hands of Steveson. While the 285 lb class is deeper than in most years, there are many opponents below Cassioppi in the rankings that could prevent him from cracking the top-eight.
Minnesota’s 2001 285 lber - Garrett Lowney (Big Ten Champion; NCAA 1st seed; NCAA 3rd)
Fresh off a bronze medal in Greco-Roman at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Garrett Lowney was thought to be “the next big thing” at 285 lbs for Minnesota. Lowney had an immediate impact capturing the 2001 Big Ten Championship over John Lockhart (Illinois). That gave him the top seed in Iowa City. Garrett advanced to the semis, where he met Lockhart again. This time it was a reversal of fortunes and the Illini big man snuck by in tiebreakers. Lowney took third after a :42 fall over Leonce Crump (Oklahoma), his second win over the Sooner in that tournament.
While Iowa’s quest for ten All-Americans looks like a strong possibility, on paper, the NCAA Championships don’t work that way. Unforeseen upsets are the norm and with the unique challenges surrounding the 2021 tournament, there will probably be more than ever. As with any tournament, staying in one piece for five-plus matches will be essential.
With what we know right now, I’d bet on the side of history and take less than ten AA’s for the Hawks. Of course, as one that loves to witness history, I’ll be happy if I’m wrong. With exceptional performances at the Big Ten Championships, Iowa could fight their way into even better seeds than the current rankings, which would help enhance their case for all ten placewinners. However it plays out, this should make for an interesting subplot in St. Louis!
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