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Edition:
September 02, 2010
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SCHOOL/SPORTS
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Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Gophers' Gabe Dretsch in fourth NCAA mat tournament
Frazee senior has goal of national championship in sight
 | | Gabe Dretsch defeated Iowa’s Jay Borschal 6-3 in the Big Ten. Photo by Steve Nunn |
• by John W. Dermody
Gabriel Dretsch is hoping his last hurrah results in some final "hoorays" in St. Louis this week.
The Frazee senior, a starter for the University of Minnesota wrestling team in each of his four seasons, will be competing in his fourth NCCA Division I Wrestling Tournament beginning today (Thursday). The event concludes Saturday at the Scottrade Center.
In an interview Sunday, Dretsch said, "I'm excited going into the tournament...I'll probably be about an 8-seed."
The son of Gayle and Mike Dretsch added, "I've had a good four years, but haven't reached my personal goal. My goal is to be a national champion. This is my last tournament; I've gotta' give it everything!"
With a 28-10 season record and career mark of 108-52, the 174-pound competitor won 2nd place in the recent Big Ten tournament. He is ranked 8th in one national poll, 7th in another in his weight division. In his previous Big Ten finishes, he was 7th, 4th and 4th.
His dual meet slate finished at 13-6 and the caliber of the opposition was second to none across the nation.
Tangling with the best
His list of accomplishments is impressive, as is a roster of those elite 2007-2008 opponents.
For example, in those 38 matches, 22 of his foes (some of whom were wrestled multiple times) have qualified for the NCAA championships. Since Dec. 29, he faced an incredible 15 ranked athletes, including eight from the top 10. He has won four of his last five against ranked opponents.
Highly-ranked foes he toppled in that span included: Iowa's No. 2-ranked Jay Borschal 6-4 (in the Big Ten Tournament semi-finals), No. 3-ranked Brandon Sinnott of Central Michigan 6-3, No. 7-ranked Brandon Mason of Oklahoma State 5-3, Northwestern's Nick Hayes 7-4 and ... Dergo of Illinois 7-2. The latter two wrestlers were each ranked 15th about a week apart in February.
Dretsch said practice has gone well for the Golden Gopher team, the defending national champions. Even though the squad was edged for the Big Ten title by Iowa, national polls nevertheless have the U of M club tabbed as the team most likely to nip the Hawkeyes.
The national championship in 2007 was the third for the Golden Gophers. They won with 98 points, followed by Iowa State with 88.5. The U of M's only champion was heavyweight Cole Konrad. The other team titles were in 2001 and 2002. The last seven NCAA trophies have been won by either Minnesota or Oklahoma State.
Nine Gophers qualified for NCAA
That chance may depend on how healthy fellow seniors C. P. Schlatter and Roger Kish are for the scuffle near the Gateway Arch. Both finished 6th two weeks ago because they had to step aside due to nagging injuries.
The durable senior, one of six upperclassmen facing their last wrestling struggles, commented, "I feel strong and healthy...the best I've ever felt going into the national tournament."
While this campaign has been relatively problem-free, that hasn't always been the case for Dretsch. He has gone through five surgeries over the years, and may face another one following this season. Some have involved knee difficulties but most setbacks have been due to glitches targeting a shoulder.
"Last year, I had my shoulder problem, with surgery on a biceps tendon."
He said he always wanted to wrestle for the university, so he "walked-on," with little assurance of aid. More than once, Coach J. Robinson and his assistants have referred to the former Hornet state champion as the type of hard-nosed, physical athlete they love to have on the team.
Robinson, incidentally, has led the team to a top 10 finish in 15 of his 21 years as head coach.
Qualifying nine for the event in St. Louis, the Gophers have not had fewer than eight wrestlers in the Big Show in the past 12 years; three times, all 10 athletes made the tournament.
Wants the top spot
Finishing 2nd in the Big Ten to No. 1-ranked Steve Luke, Michigan, was a significant accomplishment. However, he doesn't want to settle for any type of consolation prize. Being an All-American would be gratifying, but, "I want a national championship. You gotta' have a lot of heart...do something unexpected. It's do or die this time of year."
He said all team members know they have to "step it up," especially if someone gets upset.
The senior mat standout is one of nine Gophers in the tournament, including fellow seniors Kish, C. P. Schlatter, Manuel Rivera (141 pounds), Justin Bronson (197) and Mack Reiter (133). Kish at 184 was 3rd last year and C. P. Schlatter at 157 was 6th.
Sophomore Jayson Ness, at 125, was 5th last year, junior Dustin Schlatter, a champion in 2006, finished 3rd at 149 last time. Freshman heavyweight Ben Berhow is the other entrant. Seven of the nine qualifiers were part of the team that won the title last year at Auburn Hills, Mich.
Ness, Dustin Schlatter and Rivera also were 2nd-place finishers during the recent Big Ten battle.
Evaluate, work hard
Dretsch said after a championship season like the team had in 2007, a wrestler must step back and "evaluate yourself...see where your strengths and weaknesses were, then work on them in the off-season."
In that manner, he stated, "I've become a more solid wrestler all-around."
Every member of the Gopher crew has a role and will be motivated going into the event starting today, the veteran continued. After starting for Frazee as an 8th grader, winning a state individual crown and a team championship, Dretsch is in his 10th consecutive year of serious competition, including a red-shirt freshman campaign at the university.
Saying he might want to coach sometime, his immediate future is to finish his degree in wildlife management. Then he will set aside some time to take it easy, perhaps gain back some weight.
"Right now, my body won't be too upset when it's over. I may do some more wrestling...we'll see how it goes...maybe gain some weight before cutting back to 185. Give myself some rest."
And down the road, he reiterated, he may need his sixth surgery.
Good times as a Gopher
Dretsch said his teammates "are a fun group of guys to hang out with," plus there are always former Gopher national champions and Olympians in the wrestling room to work out with. There is no loafing if a team wants to win.
While the University of Minnesota grapplers will lose six starters, he said there is a good freshman crop set to start next year.
Looking back at accomplishments for the squad and for himself in the past four years, he acknowledged winning the NCAA title, plus two national dual team tournament crowns, and a pair of Big Ten championships have all been very satisfying.
"It's nice to have those under your belt," he emphasized.
"I've been lucky to have the opportunities I've had."
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