Gophers heavyweight wrestler Gable Steveson showed over the weekend that he is indeed once again the man to beat in college wrestling,

Steveson, a former Apple Valley High School star, is competing again after taking several years off since winning an Olympic Games gold medal and an NCAA Championship in 2021.

Early indications are that he is back and perhaps better than ever.

On Sunday, Steveson dominated Taye Ghadiali of Campbell University in a dual match at Maturi Pavilion, winning by technical fall with a score of 20-4. Ghadiali, a returning All-American from last season, is ranked No 7 this season, to Steveson’s No. 1.

On Friday, Steveson made his season debut in a dual match in Fargo, N.D., also winning by technical fall over a nationally ranked opponent.

The eighth-ranked Gophers (3-0) beat Campbell 44-0 two days after blanking North Dakota State 39-0 to pull off back-to-back shutout victories for the first time since the 1997-98 season.