Gophers wrestler Gable Steveson will try to become just the sixth heavyweight to win three NCAA titles on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Steveson, the top seed, advanced the championship match with two victories Friday.
In the quarterfinals, he defeated Arizona State’s Cohlton Schultz by technical fall 20-5. In the semifinals, he defeated fourth-seeded Owen Trephan of Lehigh by a 13-5 major decision.
Steveson will face Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson in the championship match. Hendrickson, the No. 2 seed, defeated Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet (Simley) 8-2 in the semifinals. The third-seeded Kerkvliet won the NCAA title last season.
The two victories pushed Steveson’s winning streak to 70 consecutive matches. Steveson is 103-2 in his Gophers career.
“When I hit the stage, bright lights, it’s time,” Steveson told reporters about the championship match. “There is no running from it, no backing down. I never backed down from a challenge once. Tomorrow is not the time for me to do it.”
Gophers 184-pounder Max McEnelly, the No. 3 seed, lost in the semifinals to fourth-seeded Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa 4-1 in overtime. McEnelly reached the semifinals with a 10-7 victory over Cornell’s Chris Foca. The loss was just the second of the season for McEnelly, who will wrestle in the consolation bracket Saturday.
Vance VomBaur of the Gophers lost in the 141-pound quarterfinals to Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez by a 17-5 major decision. VomBaur rebounded with a 5-3 victory over Rutgers’ Joseph Olivieri in the consolation fourth round before losing to C.J. Composto of Pennsylvania 8-6.
