Dramatics by 'grandpa' spark U

If Sunday was Ben Berhow's final college wrestling match, he certainly made it memorable.

The Gophers senior heavyweight won his match on a takedown in the final five seconds. And with Berhow's dramatic victory, the fourth-ranked Gophers edged No. 3 Wisconsin 21-15 in front of an announced crowd of 5,225 at the Sports Pavilion.

Normally, redshirt freshman Tony Nelson would have wrestled for the Gophers in the final match. But Nelson, 24-3 and ranked No. 9 nationally, had a staph infection on one of his legs.

So coach J Robinson turned to Berhow, a fifth-year wrestler with hip problems who calls himself the team's grandpa.

Berhow's veteran skills showed this day.

Wisconsin, trailing 18-15 before the heavyweight match, was on the verge of rallying for a tie. Berhow and the Badgers' Eric Bugenhagen were tied 1-1 when, with 10 seconds left in the third period, Bugenhagen shot and grabbed Berhow's right leg.

Berhow twisted out of Bugenhagen's grasp, spun behind him and took him down for a 3-1 lead. Bugenhagen got an escape as time expired to set the final score.

Bedlam ensued as Berhow walked to the edge of the mat and pointed to his family and girlfriend high up in the packed stands.

"They got here a little late; they were way, way back there. They didn't realize there would be such a big crowd," Berhow said.

Nor could they have predicted everyone would be standing and yelling for Berhow at the end of the dual meet.

"I've worked on my [spin] move," Berhow said. "It's usually not that fantastic looking. I wrestled to the last second -- that's what we are coached to do. And it worked out for me this time."

Robinson said he always has had confidence in Berhow.

The Gophers improved to 12-3 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten while the Badgers fell to 9-2-1 and 0-1-1. Wisconsin beat the Gophers 19-17 at the National Duals on Jan. 9 when the lineups were a bit different.

"They had some guys banged up [Sunday]," Berhow said. "We had some guys banged up. I was happy to step in and help."

Berhow, out of the lineup for the first match against Wisconsin, found out Saturday he would wrestle.

But Nelson should be healthy -- and back in his starting spot -- when the Gophers travel to Ohio State on Saturday. Three more conference dual meets follow, then the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.

Berhow will be ready, if needed.

Berhow's record is 11-3 this season, but before Sunday he had not wrestled since mid-December because of his hip and Nelson's success.

"We battle every day in the room," Berhow said. "We know what each other is capable of, and we have a deep respect for each other, too."

Nelson high-fived with Berhow after the victory. "I am really happy for him to get the win out there," Nelson said. "The crowd was wild."

Berhow, whose hometown is Hayward, Minn., seemed to savor the whole experience.

"[Sitting] is never easy because it is my senior year," he said. "But I did what I had to do for the team. And if I can make Tony a national champion, that will be great. That will be a reward for me.

Hawkeyes top No. 1 Penn State Iowa extended its unbeaten streak to 73 dual meets by upsetting top-ranked Penn State 22-13 on Sunday in State College, Pa.

The No. 8 Hawkeyes (11-0-1, 3-0 Big Ten) won six of 10 bouts, including the first three. Penn State fell to 13-1 and 2-1.

Matt McDonough, the defending NCAA champion at 125 pounds, scored a fall to spark Iowa's 12-0 lead after three bouts.

The Hawkeyes then won at 165, scored an upset by No. 16 Grant Gambrall over No. 6 Quentin Wright at 184 and added a major decision at 197.

Penn State coach Cael Sanderson, a four-time NCAA champ and former Iowa State coach, again was denied a victory over nemesis Tom Brands of Iowa.