Jan. 21, 2000

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The sixth-ranked University of Illinois wrestling team defeated No. 22 Indiana 31-9 Friday night at the University Gymnasium in Bloomington, Ind. The win marks the Illini's fourth consecutive dual victory over the Hoosiers with the Orange and Blue claiming five of the last six contests. Indiana leads the all-time series between the two schools with a 40-35-1 mark.The last Hoosier win came during the 1995-96 season when Indiana won 16-15 in Bloomington. With tonight's win, the Illini improved to 7-0 on the season and 1-0 in the Big Ten Conference. Indiana falls to 9-3 overall and 0-1 in the league.

The Illini jumped out to a 3-0 lead when heavyweight John Lockhart picked up a 5-3 decision over Michael Dixon. The Hoosiers knotted the score at 3-3 when fifth-ranked Pat Cassidy beat the Illini's ninth-ranked Ryan Escobar 8-7. Illinois would take the lead for good winning the next three weight classes. The Illini's David Stoltz won 7-6 at 133 pounds, No. 7 Carl Perry earned a 22-6 technical fall and No. 2 Adam Tirapelle had a 22-6 major decison to put the Illini up 15-3.

The 157-pound match proved to be the tightest of the evening. Indiana's Kevin Stanley, ranked 10th in the country, and the Illini's Griff Powell, ranked 11th, battled to a 1-1 tie before Powell surrendered a takedown in overtime to fall 3-1 and pull the Hoosiers to a 15-6 deficit.

Indiana forfeited its 165-pound match to the Illini's Matt Lackey. Ben King followed with a 12-4 Illini win and Nate Patrick registered his eighth pin of the season in 1:21 to extend the Illini lead to 31-6. In the night's only upset of the evening, the Illini's Pat Quirk, ranked sixth in the nation, dropped a 5-2 decision to Indiana's Viktor Sveda, ranked No. 14.

The Illini will continue its Big Ten season-opening roadtrip squaring off with Ohio State on Sunday in Columbus, Ohio. That dual is set to begin at Noon with the Illini taking on Brown immediately following the contest with the Buckeyes.

No. 6 Illinois 31, vs. No. 22 Indiana 9
University Gymnasium * Bloomington, Ind.
Wt. Decision
125 No. 5 Pat Cassidy (IND) defeated No. 8 Ryan Escobar (ILL), 8-7
133 No. 18 Dave Stoltz (ILL) defeated Gabe Cook (IND), 7-6
141 No. 7 Carl Perry (ILL) technical fall Jason Bader (IND), 22-6
149 No. 2 Adam Tirapelle (ILL) major decision Dan Cysewski (IND), 11-2
157 No. 10 Kevin Stanley (IND) defeated No. 8 Griff Powell (ILL), 3-1 (ot)
165 Matt Lackey (ILL) won by forfeit
174 Ben King (ILL) major decision Mingo Morrison (IND), 12-4
184 No. 4 Nate Patrick (ILL) pinned Brett Becks (IND), 1:21
197 No. 14 Viktor Sveda (IND) defeated No. 5 Pat Quirk (ILL), 5-2
Hwt No. 5 John Lockhart (ILL) defeated Michael Dixon (IND), 5-2