Competitive juices are flowing

The Gophers advanced enough wrestlers to make a run at first-place Iowa, but there's a lot riding on today's morning session.

By MICHAEL RAND, Star Tribune

Last update: March 21, 2008 - 12:18 AM

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DAY 1 LEADERS 1. IOWA 29.5 POINTS • 2. NEBRASKA 26.5 • 3. IOWA STATE 25 • 4. Gophers/Central Michigan 24

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ST. LOUIS - If one theme could be taken from the Gophers' performance in Day 1 of the NCAA wrestling championships, it's that competition is subjective.

Minnesota wrestlers have an informal competition to see which pair of road roommates can score the most bonus points for pins, technical falls and major decisions. Jayson Ness and Mack Reiter -- roomies here in St. Louis -- both had a pin (including Ness' 19th of the season, one shy of tying the team record) and a major decision for a total of six points. They helped the Gophers to a team score of 24 points, tied for fourth place and 5.5 behind first-place Iowa.

Lest readers get the idea that wrestlers wrongly place individual goals over team priorities, that mentality is taught by coaches. Reiter took pride in the roommate competition, while Dustin Schlatter -- who rooms with his brother, C.P. -- laughed about it.

"I mean, come on," said Dustin, who won a pair of decisions at 149. "C.P. and I get about the same number of pins in a career that those guys get in a weekend."

It's in the eye of the beholder, just as is Minnesota's position as a threat to favored Iowa. The Gophers had plenty of highs Thursday, led by the lightweight lightning duo of Ness (125) and Reiter (133). They also had some costly lows -- C.P. Schlatter (No. 5 at 157) and Gabe Dretsch (No. 8 at 174) were knocked into the consolation bracket with 1-1 days, as was unseeded heavyweight Ben Berhow. Unseeded Justin Bronson (197) lost twice and is finished.

"There were more ups than downs," Gophers coach J Robinson said. "We still have eight alive, and that's huge."

This morning's session is essentially make-or-break. Manuel Rivera (141) and Roger Kish (184) joined Dustin Schlatter, Ness and Reiter in advancing to the quarterfinals. A victory in that round guarantees no worse than sixth place, ensuring an All-America finish and the points that come with that distinction.

But Minnesota will need upsets. Reiter will take on Michigan State's Franklin Gomez, a No. 1 seed who nearly lost in the second round but who defeated Reiter 7-4 this year; Rivera faces Oklahoma State's Nathan Morgan in a rematch of a 6-4 decision Rivera dropped this year; and Kish faces No. 1 seed Jake Varner of Iowa State.

Kish battled through lingering back and shoulder injuries Thursday, wearing a harness-type device in his two victories.

"I wanted to be mentally prepared," Kish said, "and let my body do the rest of the work."

Reiter said he feels like a "ball of energy," a sentiment shared by several teammates who have either missed time because of injury or underachieved during a season that started with the Gophers favored to repeat as NCAA champions.

"We didn't show up during the regular season," Reiter said. "But we're starting to show up now."

The wrestlers left in consolation rounds know they're finished if they lose once more. C.P. Schlatter, in particular, will need to rally from a tough defeat. He led 4-1 early in his second-round match against Stanford's Josh Zupancic, but Zupancic caught him on his back in the second period and rallied for a 5-4 victory.

Dustin Schlatter was getting ready to dole out some advice to his brother/roommate.

"Part of it is unspoken between us," Dustin said, "but obviously I'll say a few words to him."

It's not likely those words will involve the bonus-point competition.

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