Gopher Sports: Non-Rev Review 1/15/19

After another busy weekend for many of the Minnesota Golden Gophers non-revenue sports teams, we are back for another Non-Rev Review. The Gopher women’s hockey team took care of business with a big sweep, Gopher women’s gymnastics got their season off to a flying start, and titles are coming home on the track as well.

Gopher Women’s Hockey:

The Gophers played their first WCHA series in nearly a month and a half and had no trouble jumping back into action. The Gophers went down Highway 169 to Mankato and swept the Mavericks winning 5-1 on Friday night and then 6-2 on Saturday afternoon.

Minnesota got goals from five different players on Friday. Patti Marshall, Emily Oden, Amy Potomak, Taylor Wente, and Olivia Knowles all found the back of the net for the Gophers. Taylor Heise remained hot after her WCHA Rookie of the Week performance the week before adding two assists. Alex Gulstene make 18 saves to move to 15-0 on the season.

Saturday was just as easy as Friday for Minnesota. The scoring reamined spread out as five different Gophers once again put the puck in the net on Saturday. Grace Zumwinkle was the only Gopher with two goals while Taylor Williamson, Abigail Boreen, Alex Woken, and Amy Potomak all had single goals. Woken added a pair of assists to go along wither her goal, and Heise added two more for a four point weekend. Sydnee Scobee picked up the win making 23 saves to move to 6-2-1 on the season. The Gophers will take a 14-game winning streak into a huge series with #1 Wisconsin this weekend at Ridder Arena. Look for a preview of the series on Friday.

Gopher Wrestling:

The #7 ranked Gopher wrestling team fell at home to #4 Iowa Hawkeyes by a final score of 24-10. Minnesota won just three individual bouts, #11 ranked Devin Skatzka won his bout at 174 pounds, #6 Mitch McKee won his bout over #15 Max Murin at 141 pounds, and freshman superstar Gable Steveson remained undefeated with a win over Connor Corbin at heavyweight.

On Tuesday, Steveson was raised to the #1 ranked Heavyweight in the country.

Minnesota now falls to 8-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten. The Gophers now head on the road for a pair of matches this upcoming weekend, Friday night they will take on #19 Illinois Fighting at 6PM, and then Sunday will face Northwestern at Noon. Both matches will stream on BTN + ($$)

Gopher Women’s Basketball:

Things are not going so well for the Gopher women’s basketball team. The #23 Gophers lost their fourth consecutive game Monday night to #22 Iowa 81-63. The Gophers had a 40-32 lead at halftime, but self-destructed in the second half allowing Iowa to shoot 69% from the field in the final two quarters. Minnesota only turned the ball over three times in the first half and outscored the Hawkeyes on points off of turnovers 18-0. But, those numbers changed in a hurry in the second half.

Kenisha Bell led the Gophers with 22 points, but it wasn’t nearly enough. All-American Megan Gustafson had her way with the Gophers scoring 34 points to lead Iowa to the win. Minnesota now falls to 1-4 in the Big Ten and will need to try and find a way to snap out of their funk on the road. Minnesota will be at WisconsinThursday night in a rematch of the Gophers only Big Ten win on the season so far earlier in December. They then will head to Lincoln to face Nebraska on Sunday.

Gopher Track and Field:

The Gopher men’s and women’s track and field teams competed in two events this past weekend— the Graduate Classic hosted by Nebraska and the Minnesota Open held at the U of M Fieldhouse. Both teams took home home several titles. Winning individual event titles for the Gopher men in Lincoln were Evan Ferlic in the 3,000 meters, Kieran McKeag in the weight throw, Obsa Ali in the one mile, Ben Psicihulis in the 600 meters, and Elliot Davis in the 400 meters.

At the Minnesota Open Alex Kelner won the 400 meter title and Teddy Frid won the 60 meter hurdles and the pole vault while Jackson Wellenstein won the 600 meters.

The Gopher women would win eight individual titles in Lincoln. Kelli Schmidt won the 800 meters, Lindsey Greenlund the mile, Amria Young the 60 meter dash and 200 meters, Rachel Schow the 60 meter hurdles, Meleah Biermaier the 600 meters, Kiley Sabin the shot out, and Schow, Biermaier, Erin Huls and Sophia Anderson combined to win the 4x400m relay.

At home at the Minnesota Open Gopher individuals added seven additional titles with wins going to Molly Roach in the 800 meters, Libby Halbmeyer in the mile, Ayesha Champagnie in the 60 meter hurdles and long jump, Karlie Place in the pole vault, Kaitlyn Long in the weight throw and Nayoka Clunis in the shot put.

The Gopher track and field teams will be split in two locations once again this weekend with the majority of the team competing in the Larry Wieczorek Invitational hosted by the Iowa Hawkeyes, and some members competing in the UST Invite at St. Thomas.

Gopher Women’s Gymnastics:

The Gophers hosted their annual Best of Minnesota meet this year hosting Hamline, Winona State and Gustavus Adolphus, and to no surprise they cleaned up. Minnesota took the top six scores on each apparatus.

Lexi Ramler won the all-around competition with a final score of 39.475. She also won the beam with a score of 9.925 and the floor exercise with a score of 9.85. Ivy Lu won the uneven bars even with a score of 9.925. Paige Williams and Ona Loper tied for the Vault crown with 9.825 scores.

The Gophers will open Big Ten competition this weekend when they head to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes on Saturday.

Gopher Men’s Gymnastics:

The #4 Gopher men opened their 2019 season at the Rocky Mountain Open in Colorado Springs, Colorado with a third place finish and a score of 403.900. #1 Oklahoma took home the crown and #7 Nebraska came in second.

Senior Captain Vitali Kan would tie for the individual vault crown with a score of 14.650. Shane Wiskus took second place on pommel horse and Timmy Kutyla came in third place on the high bar. Shaun Herzog was the Gophers top all-around finisher in fifth place.

The Gophers are back in action Saturday night at the Windy City Classic hosted by the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Gopher Swimming and Diving:

The Gophers continued to enjoy their holiday training trip as both the Gopher men and women defeated the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in their home pool last Saturday. The Men would win 158-104 while the women picked up a 145-118 win.

Both teams will remain out west and will take on Pac-12 foes USC and Oregon State in Los Angeles on Friday night.