The national champion University of Minnesota wrestling team visited the  White House and received a tour of the Oval Office from President George W.  Bush on Sunday, Dec. 10. Minnesota is the first collegiate wrestling program  ever to be invited to the White House.    "It¹s great not only for the team, but wrestling as a whole," Head Coach J  Robinson said. "I don¹t think a wrestling team has ever gone to the White  House before. It was just another first for this team."    Following dual meet wins over Virginia Tech and James Madison on Saturday,  Dec. 9, the Golden Gophers traveled to Washington D.C. and spent most of  Sunday touring national monuments before a team dinner. On Sunday, the  Golden Gophers arrived at the White House and received a full tour followed  by a meeting with President Bush, where they took a group photo. The squad  then spent 25 minutes with the President, when he invited the team into the  Oval Office. The 10 All-Americans from the 2000-01 national champion team,  coaching staff and several support staff members were on hand.    "This was an unbelievable experience," senior All-American Chad Erikson  said. "It¹s such a great honor to be allowed to tour the White House and to  meet with President Bush. I was blown away. It¹s great for collegiate  wrestling and for our program to have this opportunity."    "With all the stuff that he has to worry about, just knowing that he  recognizes that we¹re good at what we do, it¹s a great honor," senior  All-American Owen Elzen said.    The Golden Gophers stormed through the 2000-01 season, going 19-1 in dual  meets and winning team titles at the Midlands Championships, the National  Duals and Big Ten Championships. The lone blemish on Minnesota¹s record was  a 25-12 loss to Oklahoma State in an early-season home dual meet with a  shorthanded Golden Gopher lineup. Gold Country rebounded from the setback to  win 14-straight dual meets to end the regular season, including a 20-12 win  over the Cowboys in the title meet of the National Duals.    In dominating fashion, Minnesota captured the conference¹s dual meet title  with its undefeated 8-0 campaign in Big Ten competitions. Then, at the Big  Ten Championships, Jared Lawrence (149 lbs.) and Garrett Lowney (Hwt.) won  individual titles to lead the Golden Gophers to a 24-point team victory over  conference-upstart Illinois and perennial champion Iowa. All 10 Maroon and  Gold wrestlers advanced to the much-anticipated national tournament.    At the NCAA Championships, Minnesota claimed the team title, utilizing a  full-team effort with each Golden Gopher grappler placing in the top eight  to earn All-America honors. It was the first time in the 71-year history of  the NCAA Championships that 10 wrestlers from the same team had earned the  prestigious All-American honor in one NCAA tournament. In addition, no team  in the history of the national tournament had won the team title without a  finalist, but Gold Country captured the national crown despite not placing a  single wrestler in the championship matches. It truly was a memorable year.    The Golden Gophers returned from their trip Monday evening. They return to  wrestling action December 29-30 at the Midlands Championship in Evanston,  Ill. Minnesota hosts Oregon State on January 6 at the Sports Pavilion.