A familiar high school rivalry took center stage in Columbus, Ohio, as Minnesota’s Max McEnelly and Ohio State’s Ryder Rogotzke squared off once again—this time with Big Ten implications. McEnelly’s dominant 15-5 major decision at 184 pounds sealed a dramatic 20-17 victory for the No. 7 Gophers over the No. 4 Buckeyes on Friday night.
From High School Showdown to College Spotlight
The last time these two wrestlers met, it was under the bright lights of the Minnesota high school state championship in 2023, where McEnelly narrowly defeated Rogotzke 3-2 for the 195-pound title. Two years later, their rematch helped decide a high-stakes Big Ten dual—and McEnelly once again came out on top.
Now ranked No. 4 at 184 pounds, McEnelly remains undefeated at 16-0 this season, while Rogotzke, who started the season at 197 pounds, dropped to 5-5.
Gophers Rally in a Back-and-Forth Battle
Minnesota started strong, jumping to a 7-0 lead after victories by Isaiah Salazar (197 pounds) and heavyweight Gable Steveson. Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist and the No. 1-ranked heavyweight, extended his winning streak to 61 matches with a 13-4 major decision.
However, Ohio State stormed back, winning four straight matches to take a 14-7 lead. The Gophers responded with dominant performances from Tommy Askey (157 pounds) and Andrew Sparks (165 pounds), whose 18-1 technical fall victory pushed Minnesota ahead 16-14.
The Buckeyes momentarily reclaimed the lead (17-16) when Carson Kharchla (174 pounds) secured a decision victory, setting the stage for the final showdown between McEnelly and Rogotzke.
McEnelly’s relentless attack and superior conditioning led to a commanding 15-5 major decision, clinching the dual victory and extending the Gophers’ winning streak to five matches.
What’s Next for Minnesota?
With their 9-1 overall record (5-1 Big Ten), the Gophers continue to prove they’re among the nation’s top wrestling programs. Their next test comes Sunday at Maturi Pavilion, where they’ll face Purduein another critical Big Ten matchup.
