Minnesota Scene: Two speedskaters from Rose Oval on U.S. team in world juniors

Kyle Ronchak of Arden Hills and Steven Hartman of Falcon Heights were named to the U.S. team that will compete in the junior world speedskating championships in March in Bjugn, Norway.

Ronchak earned his place on the team by winning the 1,000 meters and placing second in the 1,500 and the 500 at the U.S. junior long track speedskating championships in Milwaukee on Feb. 14-16. Hartman won the 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000 and was second in the 1,000.

Both skaters compete for the Midway Speedskating Club based at the John Rose Oval in Roseville.

The Gophers wrestling team, after winning the National Duals this week for the third year in a row to improve to 12-1, is ranked No. 1 in InterMat's dual meet rankings, ahead of Penn State (14-1) and Iowa (14-2).

But in the website's tournament strength rankings, the Nittany Lions and the Hawkeyes are first and second and Minnesota third.

In the individual rankings, the only Gopher in the top four at any weight is junior Nick Dardanes, second at 149. Four of his teammates are ranked No. 5: his brother Chris Dardanes at 141, junior Dylan Ness at 157, junior Scott Schiller at 197 and senior Tony Nelson at heavyweight.

• Ness was named the Big Ten wrestler of the week. He was 3-0, winning twice on pins at 157 pounds, as Minnesota won the National Duals for the third year in a row.

• The Gophers women's golf team finished seventh at the Central District Invitational in Sarasota, Fla., with a score of 11-over 875. That's the third best in school history. Sarinee Thitiratanakorn tied for 13th place with a 214. "We golfed three really good rounds this week, and we keep improving as the season progresses. That's what we want out of our kids," Gophers coach Michele Redman said.