Updated Brackets
ST. LOUIS – Five Fighting Illini wrestlers advanced to the second round of NCAA Championships, as 18,157 attended session I at Scottrade Center on Thursday afternoon. Seeded Illini (1) Isaiah Martinez, (8) Zane Richards, (10) Zac Brunson and (11) Emery Parker each held their seed, while Kyle Langenderfer pulled the upset against (13) John Van Brill (Rutgers) at 157 pounds.
Session II begins at 6 p.m. central time, broadcast live on ESPN and streamed on ESPN3.com and in the WatchESPN app.
157-pounder Kyle Langenderfer got revenge against John Van Brill after dropping two matches to the Rutgers grappler earlier this season with a 10-4 victory in the opening round. The Illini redshirt junior never trailed in the match, taking a 2-0 lead late in the first period with a takedown. After Van Brill tied the match 2-2 with a pair of escapes, Langenderfer opened the third period with a reversal to regain the lead. The Mokena, Illinois native then delivered the big blow, a takedown and four back points to seal the victory.
Top-seed Isaiah Martinez (165 pounds) and No. 10 seed Zac Brunson (174) each picked up major decision victories in their opening round matches. Martinez improved to 28-0 on the season with a 14-4 major decision over Northern Illinois' Shaun'Qae McMurtry, while Brunson posted a 12-0 shutout against Purdue's Jacob Morrissey.
Both victories marked the second of the season against their respective opponents this season. Martinez earned a tech fall against McMurtry 22-7 at Huff Hall on January 22, while Brunson defeated Morrissey 13-1 on February 12 for his 100th career victory.
No. 11 seed Emery Parker won his NCAA Championships debut, defeating Gardner Webb's Hunter Gamble by a 6-2 count, to advance in the 184-pound bracket.
The No. 8 seed at 133 pounds, Zane Richards got his hand raised by way of a medical forfeit from Alex Madrigal (Old Dominion) to advance to the second round. The 108th career win moves Richards into a tie for 13th place on Illinois' all-time wins list, tying former Illini B.J. Futrell.
Travis Piotrowski (125) and Eric Barone (149) dropped their opening round matches and will look to advance in the consolation bracket in Thursday second session.
Thursday Night Second Round Matches:
133: (8) Zane Richards (ILL) vs. (9) Scott Parker (Lehigh)
157: Kyle Langenderfer (ILL) vs. (4) Tyler Berger (Nebraska)
165: (1) Isaiah Martinez (ILL) vs. (16) Nick Wanzek (Minnesota)
174: (10) Zac Brunson (ILL) vs. Jake Residori (SIUE)
184: (11) Emery Parker (ILL) vs. (6) Myles Martin (OSU)
Thursday Night Consolation Matches:
125: Travis Piotrowski (ILL) vs. Ibrahim Bunduka (George Mason)
149: Eric Barone (ILL) vs. (8) Patricio Lugo (Edinboro)
Illini Notes
- Kyle Langenderfer got revenge against No. 13 seed John Van Brill (Rutgers) after dropping his first two matches this season against the Scarlett Knight.
- Zane Richards' forfeit victory gives him 108 for his career, tying former Illini B.J. Futrell for 13th all-time.
- Zac Brunson's victory over Jacob Morrissey (Purdue) is the 104th of his career, taking sole possession of 22nd place all-time. Brunson defeated Morrissey on Feb. 12 for his 100th career win.
- Emery Parker earned a victory in his first NCAA Championships match, defeating Hunter Gamble (Gardner-Webb), 6-2
- Martinez is 11-0 all-time at NCAA Championships after winning his opening round match 14-4 over Shaun'Qae McMurtry (NIU).
- Martinez and Brunson defeated their opponents for the second time this season. Martinez won 22-7 over Shaun'Que McMurtry on Jan. 22 at Huff Hall, while Brunson beat Jacob Morrissey 13-1 on Feb. 12 at Huff Hall.
- The win is the 95th of Martinez's career, putting him three shy of Illinois' top-25 all-time wins list.
Match-By-Match Results (number in parentheses indicates seed)
125 // Travis Piotrowski // Freshman // 0-1
|
| Round |
Result |
| Round 1 |
Lost by tech fall (10) Jack Mueller (Virginia), 16-1 |
| Cons. Round 1 |
vs. Ibrahim Bunduka (George Mason) |
133 // (8) Zane Richards // R-Senior // 1-0
|
| Round |
Result |
| Round 1 |
Won by med. forfeit vs. Alex Madrigal (Old Dominion) |
| Round 2 |
vs. (8) Scotty Parker (Lehigh)
|
149 // Eric Barone // R-Freshman // 0-1
|
| Round |
Result |
| Round 1 |
Lost by fall (9) Justin Oliver (Central Michigan), 4:47 |
| Cons. Rd. 1 |
vs. (8) Patricio Lugo (Edinboro) |
157 // Kyle Langenderfer // R-Junior // 1-0
|
| Round |
Result |
| Round 1 |
Won by dec. (13) John Van Brill (Rutgers), 10-4 |
| Round 2 |
vs. (4) Tyler Berger (Nebraska) |
165 // (1) Isaiah Martinez // R-Junior // 1-0
|
| Round |
Result |
| Round 1 |
Won by major dec. Shaun'Qae McMurtry (NIU), 14-4 |
| Round 2 |
vs. (16) Nick Wanzek (Minnesota) |
174 // (10) Zac Brunson // R-Senior // 1-0
|
| Round |
Result |
| Round 1 |
Won by maj. dec. Jacob Morrissey (Purdue), 12-0 |
| Round 2 |
vs. Jake Residori (SIUE) |
184 // (11) Emery Parker // R-Sophomore // 1-0
|
| Round |
Result |
| Round 1 |
Won by dec. Hunter Gamble (Gardner-Webb), 6-2 |
| Round 2 |
vs. (6) Myles Martin (Ohio State) |
