The Gophers wrestlers are rated No. 3 in InterMat's national rankings, but could go either up or down based on two big road duals this weekend.
Minnesota is at No. 5 Cornell at 5:30 p.m. Friday in Ithaca, N.Y. Two days later, they face No. 2 Penn State, the defending NCAA champion, at 11 a.m. at State College, Pa. That match will air live on the Big Ten Network.
The Gophers' strength is a lineup with no obvious weaknesses. They have a wrestler rated in the top 10 by InterMat at every weight from 125 to heavyweight.
Two of the Gophers' wrestlers, both seniors, are rated No. 2 at their weights. They are Zach Sanders at 125 pounds and Sonny Yohn at 197. Just behind them, at heavyweight, is sophomore Tony Nelson, rated No. 3. So the Gophers are especially strong at the lightest weight and two heaviest.
Here are the other rated Gophers:
No. 5: freshman Dylan Ness at 149
No. 6: sophomore Kevin Steinhaus at 184
No. 7: sophomore Dave Thorn, 133
