Jan. 10, 2004
The top-ranked Illinois wrestling team got its second win of the day, thrashing Drexel, 38-3, to improve to 3-0 on the season. Another three Illini got falls, including a major upset at 125 pounds as unranked true-freshman Dan Manzella pinned 17th-ranked Rob Rebmann.
Beginning the dual at 141 pounds, Michael Martin (r-Fr., Norfolk, Va.) allowed only one escape in his 9-1 major decision over Chris Renninger to give the Illini an opening-match 4-0 lead. Martin scored a takedown in the first period and built a 4-0 lead with a reversal in the second. Renninger escaped, but Martin countered with another takedown to end the second. A final takedown in the third solidified the 9-1 win. Sophomore Cal Ferry (Machesney, Ill.) got his first win of the day with a 3-2 decision over Mark Cartella which came down to the wire. Ferry and Cartella exchanged escapes, heading into the final minute of the match where Ferry got a takedown with :45 remaining.
No. 1-ranked Alex Tirapelle (So., Clovis, Calif.) remained undefeated with a pin in 4:10 over John Niedrich to improve Illinois' team score to 13-0 after the 157-pound weight class. Tirapelle jumped to a 5-0 lead with a takedown and three near fall points before getting the fall. At 165 pounds, Anthony Castillo (Jr., Western Springs, Ill.) got down early giving up a takedown in the first minute of the match, but rebounded with two takedowns and two escapes to win 6-2 over Steve Beard.
Wrestling up a weight class at 174 pounds, senior Ben Hay (Sandwich, Ill.) lost a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to Nick Kozar. Kozar got a takedown in the first period, but Hay couldn't get the offensive score in the final seconds. Junior Brian Glynn (Orland Park, Ill.) dominated Josh Fisk with a 15-3 major decision at 184 pounds. He led after one period, 4-2 with two takedowns, and scored a total of eight points in the second period with five points in near falls. At 197 pounds, senior No. 10 Jason Potter (St. Charles, Ill.) jumped to a 6-1 lead and staved off a late comeback to upset ninth-ranked Chris Jones, 8-7.
Illinois led 23-3 heading into the final three matches, when the Illini made a big scoring push with 15 points. Mike Behnke (r-Fr., Villa Park, Ill.) got the only takedown of the match in a 4-2 decision over Albert Shenko at heavyweight. In the biggest upset of the day, Manzella (Chicago, Ill.) pinned 17th-ranked Rebmann in 4:34. Manzella was up 3-0 before he got a takedown that sent Rebmann directly to his back and took the next 10 seconds to get the fall. At 133 pounds, redshirt-freshman Cassio Pero was up 14-1 before getting the fall in 5:35. He gave up his only point on an escape in the third after building up his lead on seven back points.
The Illini will look to make a clean sweep when they take on UNC-Greensboro in the final dual of the day at 5 p.m. ET
#1 Illinois (3-0) defeated Drexel (2-5)
141: Michael Martin (ILL) major dec. Chris Renninger (DU), 9-1 - 4-0
149: Cal Ferry (ILL) dec. Mark Cartella (DU), 3-2 7-0
157: #1 Alex Tirapelle (ILL) won by fall John Niedrich (DU), 4:10 - 13-0
165: Anthony Castillo (ILL) dec. Steve Beard (DU), 6-2 - 16-0
174: Nick Kozar (DU) dec. Ben Hay (ILL), 3-2 - 16-3
184: #6 Brian Glynn (ILL) major dec. Josh Fisk (DU), 15-3 - 20-3
197: #10 Jason Potter (ILL) dec. #9 Chris Jones (DU), 8-7 - 23-3
Hwt: #11 Mike Behnke (ILL) dec. Albert Shenko (DU), 4-2 - 26-3
125: Dan Mazella (ILL) won by fall #17 Rob Rebmann (DU), 4:34 - 32-3
133: Cassio Pero (ILL) won by fall Dan Dodge (DU), 5:35 - 38-3
