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No. 16 South Dakota State edges No. 7 Minnesota, 18-14, for first win over Gophers in 51 years

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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling

Bennett Berge of South Dakota State defeats Gavin Nelson of Minnesota, 2-1.

Bennett Berge of South Dakota State defeats Gavin Nelson of Minnesota, 2-1.

Photo Gallery by The Guillotine: #16 South Dakota State 18, #7 Minnesota 14


MINNEAPOLIS – For the first time since 1974, the South Dakota State wrestling program topped Division I power Minnesota. The Jackrabbits defeated the Gophers, 18-14, on Tuesday night at Williams Arena, in a dual that came down to the final bout.


At 285 pounds, South Dakota State’s Luke Rasmussen earned a last-second reversal and two-point nearfall to defeat Minnesota’s Koy Hopke, 7-5, in a battle of nationally ranked heavyweights to cap the event.

SDSU was put in position to take the dual thanks to a 2-1 decision from All-American Bennett Berge over Gavin Nelson at 197 pounds. The Jackrabbits trailed 14-12 going into the 197-pound match. Berge is a two-time U20 World medalist for Team USA in men’s freestyle.


Four more Jackrabbits earned upset wins over higher-ranked opponents throughout the dual—Brady Roark at 125 pounds, Julian Tagg at 141 pounds, Cael Swensen at 157 pounds and Moses Espinoza-Owens at 174 pounds.


2025 U20 World champion Mac McEnelly led the Gophers with a 20-5 technical fall over Brock Fettig at 184 pounds. Also scoring wins for Minnesota were Chris Cannon at 133 pounds, Drew Roberts at 149 pounds and Andrew Sparks at 165 pounds.

South Dakota State returns to action next week at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, while Minnesota faces No. 22 Little Rock at Homestead High School in Mequon, Wisconsin, on Dec. 4.


No. 16 South Dakota State 18, No. 7 Minnesota 14  

Nov. 25, 2025 | Minneapolis | Williams Arena | Attendance: 2,808

125: #21 Brady Roark (SDSU) dec. #4 Jore Volk (MINN), 6-4 | MINN 0, SDSU 3

133: Chris Cannon (MINN) dec. Cale Seaton (SDSU), 8-1 | MINN 3, SDSU 3

141: #12 Julian Tagg (SDSU) dec. #9 Vance VomBaur (MINN), 5-1 | MINN 3, SDSU 6

149: Drew Roberts (MINN) dec. Avery Allen (SDSU), 4-2 | MINN 6, SDSU 6

157: #21 Cael Swensen (SDSU) dec. #15 Charlie Millard (MINN), 7-5 | MINN 6, SDSU 9

165: #9 Andrew Sparks (MINN) dec. Marcus Espinoza-Owens (SDSU), 2-0 | MINN 9, SDSU 9

174: #27 Moses Espinoza-Owens (SDSU) dec. #20 Ethan Riddle (MINN), 4-1 | MINN 9, SDSU 12

184: #3 Max McEnelly (MINN) TF Brock Fettig (SDSU), 20-5 (5:42) | MINN 14, SDSU 12

197: #7 Bennett Berge (SDSU) dec. #19 Gavin Nelson (MINN), 2-1 | MINN 14, SDSU 15

285: #20 Luke Rasmussen (SDSU) dec. #13 Koy Hopke (MINN), 7-5 | MINN 14, SDSU 18