Overview

Head coach: Brandon Eggum (eighth season)

Assistants: Luke Becker, Trevor Brandvold, Zach Sanders

2023 NCAA tournament finish: 15th

2023 NCAA tournament points: 30.5

2023 NCAA tournament record: 18-19

2023 Big Ten tournament finish: 6th

2023 dual record: 12-3 (5-3)

Returning national qualifiers: 6 (Pat McKee, Jake Gliva, Brayton Lee, Andrew Sparks, Isaiah Salazar, Garrett Joles)

Returning All-Americans: 2 (Pat McKee, Brayton Lee)

Last NCAA champion: Gable Steveson (2022)

Highest NCAA team finish: 1st (2001, 2002, 2007)

Highest NCAA team finish under Eggum: 7th (2017, 2021)

Most place winners under Eggum: 4 (2017, 2019)

Last 10 NCAA Championships

2013: 3rd (J Robinson)
2014: 2nd (J Robinson)
2015: 8th (J Robinson)
2016: 17th (J Robinson)
2017: 7th (Brandon Eggum)
2018: 17th (Brandon Eggum)
2019: 8th (Brandon Eggum)
2020: Canceled (COVID)
2021: 7th (Brandon Eggum)
2022: 11th (Brandon Eggum)
2023: 15th (Brandon Eggum)

Summary

Minnesota will rely on balance during the upcoming season after losing the majority of its points to graduation and the transfer portal. Aaron Nagao, the highest finisher at the NCAA Championships (5th), transferred to Penn State, while eighth-place finisher Michael Blockhus graduated. 

That leaves no returning All-Americans from last year’s national tournament and eight returning points. It will take a team effort to replace 22.5 points from the team’s 15th-place finish. 

The Golden Gophers will turn to senior All-Americans Pat McKee (3rd in 2021, 5th in 2022) and Brayton Lee (6th in 2021) — along with four other national qualifiers — to carry the team. Sophomores Vance Vombaur and Drew Roberts have shown promise and will factor heavily into Minnesota’s success. So will Isaiah Salazar, who reached the round-of-12. 

Re-building is a term that gets thrown around loosely, but that’s where Minnesota is this season. The potential is there but proving it through a tough Big Ten schedule is always the challenge. 

Minnesota’s Projected 2023-24 Line-up

125: Patrick McKee, SR  (AA)
133: Jake Gliva, SR (NQ)
141: Vance Vombaur, SO
149: Drew Roberts, SO
157: Brayton Lee, SR (AA)
165: Blaine Brenner, SO
174: Andrew Sparks, JR (NQ)
184: Isaiah Salazar, JR (NQ)
197: Gabe Nagel, SO
285: Garrett Joles, SR (NQ)

125: Pat McKee, SR
2023 record: 14-9
2023 NCAA tournament record: 2-2

Minnesota needs McKee to recreate the magic from the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He has a combined 13-3 record over those two tournaments after losing early and reeling off wins on the backside.

The St. Michael, Minnesota, native scored 19.5 points at the 2021 NCAA Championships and 13.5 in 2022. Scoring 15 points in 2024 would be half the team points from the 2023 tournament. The Golden Gophers need McKee to have a consistent season and a successful national tournament for the team to place in the top 15 again. 

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Learn about Patrick McKee's fighter mentality

133: Jake Gliva, SR
2023 record: 10-7

Gliva was behind Nagao last year but went 2-3 during five varsity duals. He reached the 2022 NCAA Championships but didn’t win a match following a 13-15 season. This is Gliva’s final crack at the starting line-up so it’s an important time to make it count. Minnesota could use a point or two from Gliva at the national tournament. 

141: Vance Vombaur, SO
2023 record: 7-4

All-American Jake Bergeland graduated so that’s an opportunity for Vance Vombaur to have a breakout season. He posted a 6-4 win over two-time All-American Clay Carlson (South Dakota State) but he’ll need to do more than that to reach the national podium. This weight didn’t lose much so it will take a season-long effort. Vombaur can do it, though — and he could be a breakout wrestler in the line-up.

149: Drew Roberts, SO
2023 record: 15-4

There is every reason to believe that Roberts will be a solid addition to the line-up. He has wins over Paniro Johnson (Iowa State) and Manzona Bryant (formerly with Lehigh and now with Northern Colorado) — and dropped a 12-9 match to Wisconsin’s Garrett Model when he moved up to 157. Roberts needs to establish himself early to enter the top 24 at 149 pounds.

157: Brayton Lee
2023 record: 4-9

Lee can go with anyone in the country but getting healthy — and staying healthy — will define his senior campaign. He missed the NCAA tournament last year and was 17-2 the season prior, but missed the 2022 Big Ten Championships due to an injury. A sixth-place finish at the 2021 NCAA Championships has been the highlight of his career so far. Lee’s season could decide how the Golden Gophers finish in 2024. 

165: Blaine Brenner, SO
2023 record: 19-11

Brenner and Hunter Lyden will battle for this spot with no clear favorite at this point. Brenner competed in six tournaments last season at 149 and 157 pounds. This weight is wide open.  

174: Andrew Sparks, JR
2023 record: 17-11
2023 NCAA tournament record: 1-2

Sparks has two national tournaments under his belt and picked up his first win last season. He’s moving up a weight for his junior campaign and is currently ranked #20. His career started on fire when he defeated eventual two-time All-American Peyton Robb, 7-6, during a dual against Nebraska on January 8, 2021. 

184: Isaiah Salazar, JR
2023 record: 20-4
2023 NCAA tournament record: 2-2

Salazar reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships but lost his next two matches, which gave him a round-of-12 finish. A podium finish along with a couple of bonus point wins (he earned a major decision during his second match in 2023) will go a long way for this team. The Greeley, Colorado, native is currently ranked sixth to start the season. 

197: Gabe Nagel, SO
2023 record: 13-8

True freshman Gavin Nelson could see time here but let’s assume that Nagel will occupy the spot for now. Nagel competed in five tournaments last season but wasn’t in the varsity line-up. Nelson made the 2021 Cadet World team and was a highly-touted high school recruit. He could use his five varsity dates without burning a redshirt year, but the team might need him if he performs early. 

285: Garrett Joles, SR
2023 record: 16-16

Joles reached the 2023 NCAA Championships and won a match. He’s an undersized heavyweight who began the season at 197 and bumped up to heavyweight. Joles rarely gets blown out and keeps most matches close. The heavyweight field didn’t lose much so entering the rankings will be a tall task.