Minnesota heavyweight capped 21-15 win over Wisconsin

Minnesota Gophers heavyweight Ben Berhow sealed a 21-15 win Sunday over the Wisconsin Badgers at the Sports Pavillion.

The No. 4 Gophers held an 18-15 lead before Berhow won a 3-2 decision over the 11th ranked Eric Bugenhagen.

Berhow, a 2006 graduate of Albert Lea High School and Minnesota state wrestling champion at heavyweight, filled in for an ill Tony Nelson. Berhow hadn’t wrestled since Dec. 11, according to the University of Minnesota.

After a scoreless first period, Bugenhagen scored an escape to pull ahead 1-0 entering the third period. But Berhow even the match with an escape in the final period and won with a takedown in the closing seconds.

That was really special. I’ll remember that the rest of my life,” Berhow told the school. “And with the great crowd…it’s fun wrestling for them.”

The win came in front of a sold-out crowd out 5,225 as the Gophers also picked up wins from Zach Sanders, Mike Thorn, Danny Zilverberg and Cody Yohn.

As of Jan. 12, Berhow was 10-2 this season and was outscoring opponents 16-4.