Feb. 6, 2000

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The sixth-ranked University of Illinois wrestling team defeated No. 12 Michigan State 25-6 Sunday afternoon at Huff Hall in Champaign. The win marks the Illini's third consecutive dual victory over the Spartans with the Orange and Blue claiming four of the last five contests. Michigan State has dominated the all-time series between the two schools with a 39-10-3 mark, but are only 2-5 against Illini head coach Mark Johnson-led teams. With today's win, the Illini improved to 12-0 overall and 5-0 in the Big Ten Conference. Michigan State falls to 7-3-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the league.

The dual started with an upset win at 174 pounds. The Illini's Ben King rode out No. 14 Will Hill in the 30-second double overtime match to put the Illini on the board 3-0. King has now won nine straight matches and 10 of his last 11 to improve to 13-7 on the year after starting the season 3-6.

"Ben's win was big because he had lost to Will Hill a few times before," Johnson said. "That was a big win for him and for our team. His win set this match in motion, is was great for the team's momentum."

No. 5 Nate Patrick then beat Joe Cotant of Michigan State 8-4 to extend the Illini lead to 6-0 before MSU's top-ranked Nick Muzashvili improved to 23-0 on the year with an 8-4 decision over the Illini's Pat Quirk, ranked 11th. The Illini's John Lockhart, ranked fifth, earned a 4-2 decision over No. 17 Matt Lamb and 12th-ranked Ryan Escobar won 5-2 to put the Orange and Blue up 12-3.

"Ryan Escobar really has a great feel for the mat," Johnson said. "He scrambles and feels it. He always seems to do the right thing and has been a pleasant surprise. He's been a great addition to this team. He's a tough kid and has gotten better as the year has gone on."

Michigan State then registered its second and final win of the contest at 133 pounds. Fourth-ranked Pat McNamara of MSU topped Dave Stoltz 4-2. Illinois' Carl Perry recorded an escape in the third period for a 3-2 win to improve to 16-3 on the season and push the Illinois lead to 15-6. Adam Tirapelle then picked up his team-leading 28th win of the season at 149 pounds. He won 17-6 to put the dual out of reach giving the Illini a 19-6 lead.

The Illini picked up two decisons in the final two matches. No. 12 Griff Powell avenged an earlier defeat at the hands of No. 7 Gray Maynard. Maynard beat Powell 9-0 at the Midlands but Powell earned a takedown in overtime for a 3-1 win and No. 19 Bill Zeman offered up the second Illini upset in a row, gaining a 6-5 decision over No. 13 Greg DeGrand to round at the scoring at 25-6.

The Illini win sets the stage for a Big Ten showdown in Iowa City next Friday night. Top-ranked Iowa moved to 15-0 and 5-0 in the Big Ten with a 41-3 win over Northwestern today and will host the Illini who beat the Hawkeyes 20-16 last season, snapping a 32-dual losing to the Hawkeyes. The dual is set to start at 7 p.m.

"Before you can go into Iowa and believe you can win, you have to beat a good team like Michigan State. This was our best performance of the year by far," Johnson said.

No. 6 Illinois 25, vs. No. 12 Michigan State 6
February 6, 2000
Huff Hall -- Champaign, Illinois
Dual started at the 174-pound match

Wt.	Decision
125	No. 12 Ryan Escobar (ILL) defeated Chris Williams (MSU), 5-2
133	No. 3 Pat McNamara (MSU) defeated Dave Stoltz (ILL), 4-2
141	No. 8 Carl Perry (ILL) defeated Mike Castilli (MSU), 3-2
149	No. 2 Adam Tirapelle (ILL) major decision Karl Nadolsky (MSU), 17-6
157	No. 12 Griff Powell (ILL) defeated No. 7 Gray Maynard (MSU), 3-1 (ot)
165	No. 19 Bill Zeman (ILL) defeated No. 13 Greg DeGrand (MSU), 6-5
174	Ben King (ILL) defeated No. 14 Will Hill (MSU), 2-1 (2ot)
184	No. 5 Nate Patrick (ILL) defeated Joe Cotant (MSU), 8-4
197	No. 1 Nick Muzashvii (MSU) defeated No. 11 Pat Quirk (ILL), 8-2
Hwt	No. 5 John Lockhart (ILL) defeated No. 17 Matt Lamb (MSU), 4-2