March 23, 2002
Matt Lackey's NCAA Championship Match - VIDEO
No. 2 seed, 165-pound Matt Lackey dropped a 4-2 decision to No. 1 seed Joe Heskett in the finals, to take second at the 2002 NCAA Championships. He becomes a two-time All-American after taking third last season. The University of Illinois team took 10th place with 47.5 points to record its sixth Top-10 finish in 10 years under head coach Mark Johnson.
In medal matches earlier in the day, senior John Lockhart took third place at heavyweight and senior Griff Powell finished eighth at 157.
"Overall I am very pleased with the effort of this team," head coach Mark Johnson said. "For this to be a rebuilding year for us, I think finishing in the Top-10 is a huge accomplishment. Obviously, today's finals ended on a disappointing note, but Matt had chances to score and we just came up short."
Lackey jumped on the board quickly in the first period with a takedown and Heskett escaped with only 40 seconds of riding time for a 2-1 score. Heskett chose the down position to begin the second and tied the match at 2-2 with an escape. Because of Lackey's strength on his feet, he chose neutral to start the third (Heskett had ridden out Lackey in their previous meeting this year). Following shots back and forth through the third, Heskett scored the final takedown with four seconds left on the clock for the 4-2 decision.
Lockhart won two straight matches in tie-break overtime to finish third in the heavyweight division. In his first match of the day, he defeated #4 Garrett Lowney of Minnesota, 2-1, followed by an identical score over #6 Jake Vercelli of Purdue. He finishes his Illinois career as a three-time All-American and a 123-26 all-time record.
Powell ended his four-year career by earning All-America honors and finishing eighth following a loss to Gray Maynard of Michigan State, 5-1. In his career, Powell was 102-48 as an Illini.
The University of Minnesota won its second straight NCAA title with 126 points followed by Iowa State thanks to winning three national titles in the finals. Among those winning titles was senior Cael Sanderson who finished his collegiate career with a perfect record and four NCAA titles.
165: #2 seed Matt Lackey (38-1), Jr. Moline, Ill.
First Round: Defeated Carl Fronhofer (Pitt), 5-2
Second Round: Defeated Charles Martelli (Mich.), 4-1
Quarterfinals: Defeated #7 Eugene Harris (Oregon), 3-1
Semifinals: Defeated #3 Tyrone Lewis (OK St.), 6-4 SV
Finals: Lost to #1 Joe Heskett (ISU), 4-2
Notes: Lackey faced Heskett this season in the finals at the Midlands Tournament and lost 4-2 ... Both wrestlers enter the match with identical 38-1 records ... Lackey defeated Lewis for the second time this season ... Lackey had won 23 straight wins before falling to Heskett and moved to 19th on the all-time Illinois win list ... His 38 wins this season are third on the single-season list.
HWT: #5 John Lockhart (34-6) Sr. Mahomet, Ill.
First Round: Defeated Eric Webb (Oregon), 3-2
Second Round: Lost to #12 John Testa (Clarion), 2-1 TB
Consolation Second Round: Defeated Matt Kenny (UNC), 4-2
Consolation Third Round: Boe Rushton (Boise St.), 3-1 SV
Consolation Fourth Round: Wins by forfeit over #3 Leonce Crump (Oklahoma)
Consolation Quarterfinals: Defeated David Rachul (Harvard), 6-3
Consolation Semifinals: Defeated #4 Garrett Lowney (Minn.), 2-1 TB
Placing Match: Defeated #6 Jake Vercelli (Purdue), 2-1 TB for third place
Notes: Lockhart has placed seventh (2000), first (2001) and third (2002) in his three-year career as a starter at Illinois ... His win over Vercelli gives him 123 career wins, good for second on Illinois' all-time win list.
157: #10 seed Griff Powell (24-9), Sr. Morton Grove, Ill.
First Round: Defeated Mitch Morgan (Boise St.), 9-3
Second Round: Defeated Adam Britt (VMI), 5-2
Quarterfinals: Lost to #2 Yoshi Nakamura (Penn), 5-3
Consolation Round: Defeated #8 Matt Anderson (Iowa), 4-1
Consolation Quarterfinals: Lost to #6 Ryan Bertin (Mich.), 2-1 TB
Placing Match: Lost to #9 Gray Maynard (MSU), 5-1 for eighth place
Notes: Finished his career 102-48 and as a 2002 All-American.
TEAM RESULTS
1. Minnesota (126.50)
2. Iowa State (104.00)
3. Oklahoma (101.50)
4. Iowa (89.00)
5. Oklahoma State (82.50)
6. Ohio State (64.50)
7. LeHigh (61.50)
8. Nebraska (54.00)
9. Michigan (51.00)
10. Illinois (47.50)
