Gophers Wrestling Dominates Rutgers; Gable Steveson: ‘Sadly’ Match Cut Short

The Minnesota Gophers wrestling team showed why it’s ranked eighth in the country, dominating No. 12 Rutgers 28-9 on Sunday. Gable Steveson stole the show, but four other Gophers also delivered dominant performances.
“I’m proud of the guys, and how they showed up and took care of business,” Steveson said.
Gable Steveson ‘sad’ after another win by fall?
Steveson did something Sunday that lifted me out of my seat. Not out of fandom, but out of pure appreciation of athletic excellence. He moved tenth-ranked heavyweight Yaraslau Slavikouski like Ikea furniture damn near off the mat on a double leg takedown early in the third period.
6️⃣0️⃣ straight wins 👏
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 2, 2025
Watch Gable Steveson finish off his latest victory with this powerful move for his second pin of the season.#B1GWrestling on @BigTenNetwork 📺 pic.twitter.com/Mreb0Vr8j0
Win No. 60 in a row for Gable Steveson comes as a dominant top-10 pin 📌#B1GWrestling x @GopherWrestling pic.twitter.com/mqa0i0SdPk
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 2, 2025
It was a ferocious fall that rightfully received a standing ovation. But Steveson wished the match — which you can watch more of below — had gone the distance.
“I wanted to go the three periods today. Sadly it got cut short, but we’ve been prepared to go three periods and nothing less. And I want to be out there for seven minutes and let the other people see me for seven minutes.”
Gable Steveson after his 60th straight collegiate wrestling victory
This is why I love wrestling. You, me, and everyone else see the W as the finish line. But wrestlers see the value in wrestling every available minute in preparation for future minutes. They value practice. Speaking of practice…
Gopher wrestling recruits have been solid
A lot of credit should also go to Gophers head coach Brandon Eggum and his staff for putting this loaded roster together, developing the undergraduates, and preparing the team for competition. Undefeated redshirt freshman from Waconia, Max McEnelly, said as much after the rout of Rutgers.
“Our coaches preached to us going out there and just scoring points – not worrying about the wins and losses – but to focus on the way you want to wrestle. And the way we want to wrestle is going out there and scoring points every single time and just lighting up that scoreboard.”
-Max McEnelly, four-time Minnesota state high school wrestling champion
The Gophers did just that, getting on the scoreboard early and often. All four Minnesota Gophers who scored first won their matches in routs.
Future of Minnesota Gophers wrestling looks bright
The University of Minnesota has nine wrestlers ranked in the top-25, and that excludes Steveson because he hadn’t wrestled enough matches to qualify at the time.
Redshirt sophomore Clayton Whiting (No. 24 at 174 pounds) had a comeback victory over No. 28 Jackson Turley in a match that was as close as you’d expect given their national rankings. Whiting claimed a 4-2 victory on a violent takedown with 40 seconds remaining and managed to keep his feet despite losing leverage in the closing seconds.
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The fourth-ranked McEnelly was clinical in his 18-4 major decision over No. 18 Shane Cartagena-Walsh. Only an educated act of desperation saved Cartagena-Walsh from a first-period fall. But the match was never close, and it set the tone for the rest of the team.
No. 4 Max McEnelly wins the top-20 battle at 184 lbs via a 18-4 major decision 😤#B1GWrestling x @GopherWrestling pic.twitter.com/OtTSTDnQkO
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 2, 2025
McEnelly has won twice as many matches as Steveson without taking a loss (14-0). He’s won matches every which way but pin fall, and he was so close to scoring his first on Sunday. McEnelly said Steveson has been a huge help on and off the mat, and Steveson credits McEnelly for staying in-state.
“I think he made the best decision coming here. And for all the young kids thinking they want to go out-of-state or thinking that the out-of-state program is going to do them better, think about staying in-state and maybe you can flourish like he has and how I have.”
-Gable Steveson, Olympic Gold medalist seeking third NCAA Championship
Will Gable Steveson run into someone who can “see” him for seven minutes? I wouldn’t bet on it happening before the Big Ten Wrestling Championships on March 8-9. The Minnesota Gophers wrestling team hosts Iowa on Feb. 14. Here is Gable’s entire condensed match from Sunday.
Olympic Champion Gable Steveson (Minnesota) faced 2024 All-American Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) today on Big Ten Network. Steveson showcased his elite athleticism, picking up the fall.
— Saturday Night Lights Wrestling (@WrestlingSNL) February 2, 2025
Condensed Match: pic.twitter.com/HPvKyFve0i
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