Feb. 6, 2005
In an extremely close dual between the only two undefeated teams in the Big Ten, both Illinois and Michigan left undefeated. For the first time in school history, the Fighting Illini tied the Wolverines. Each team won five matches in the dual for the final 17-17 score at Cliff Keen Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich. This brings the series to 23-38-1, and 3-6-1 under head coach Mark Johnson.
Action began at 125 pounds, where second-ranked junior Kyle Ott (Huber Heights, Ohio) handily defeated Jim Shutich by major decision. Ott scored two takedowns and gave up two escapes to take the lead, 4-2, going into the second period. Shutich chose the down position, where Ott rode him to accumulate one minute advantage time before giving him the escape. Two more takedowns and a stalling point gave Ott a 9-4 lead heading into the third period. Ott chose the neutral position, and racked up takedowns for a 14-5 victory, giving the Illini a 4-0 lead. The 133-pound match was a meeting between former high school teammates from St. Edward's of Ohio, fourth-ranked Mark Jayne (Sr., Elyria, Ohio) and 14th-ranked Mark Moos. After a scoreless first period, Moos chose the bottom position in the second, where he was able to escape. Jayne scrambled out of a deep shot by Moos, and scored a takedown to take a 2-1 lead. Jayne chose the neutral position in the third, and scored a takedown in the beginning of the period. A Moos escape and riding time for Jayne put the final score at 5-2, making it 7-0 in favor of the Illini. In the 141-pound match, sophomore Cassio Pero (Chicago Heights, Ill.) gave the Illini their first loss, dropping a 7-2 decision to fifth-ranked Josh Churella, putting the Wolverines on the board with three points. The 149-pound match gave the Illini their second loss, as No. 12 Anton Dietzen (Sr., Elmhurst, Ill.) dropped a close decision to No. 7 Eric Tannenbaum, 5-2, bringing the team score to 7-6.
In the match-to-watch of the day, No. 2-ranked Alex Tirapelle (Jr., Clovis, Calif.) battled fourth-ranked Ryan Bertin for the seventh time in his career. Bertin scored the first takedown, and Tirapelle escaped in the first period, giving Bertin a 2-1 lead. Each wrestler escaped in the second and third periods, with the advantage to Bertin, 3-2. Tirapelle nearly had a takedown at the end of the match, but was unable to finish, giving Bertin the 3-2 decision, and the Wolverines their third straight victory of the meet.
After a 10-minute break, the action began again at 165 pounds, where senior Anthony Castillo (Western Springs, Ill.) lost by a technical fall, 17-1 (6:08), to second-ranked Ryan Churella. The match gave the Wolverines their fourth victory in a row, and a 14-7 lead over the Illini. At 174 pounds, fourth-ranked Pete Friedl (Jr., Orland Park, Ill.) broke the Michigan winning streak with a 6-3 decision over No. 14 Nick Roy, decreasing the Michigan lead to 14-10. Third-ranked at 184 pounds, Brian Glynn (Sr., Orland Park, Ill.) stepped up for the Illini with a 10-2 major decision over Joshua Weitzel, tying the meet up at 14-14. At 197 pounds, No. 9 Tyrone Byrd (Jr., Clinton, Ill.) defeated Willie Breyer by a decision, 4-2. Byrd scored the first takedown, taking a 2-1 lead. He chose the down position in the second period and was unable to escape, keeping the score at 2-1 going into the third. Breyer escaped in the third, tying the score 2-2, but Byrd was able to score a takedown with seconds left to secure the win. In a close heavyweight match, sophomore Mike Behnke (Villa Park, Ill.) dropped a 5-2 decision to Greg Wagner, ending the meet in a 17-17 tie.
The Fighting Illini return to action on Friday night when they play host to No. 19 Penn State at 7 p.m. at Huff Hall. The squad also hosts No. 17 Indiana at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13.
#2 Illinois (12-1-1, 3-0-1) vs. #5 Michigan (11-3-1, 3-0-1)
125: #2 Kyle Ott (ILL) major dec. Jim Shutich (MI), 14-5 4-0
133: #4 Mark Jayne (ILL) dec. #14 Mark Moos (MI), 5-2 7-0
141: #5 Josh Churella (MI) dec. Cassio Pero (ILL), 7-2 7-3
149: #7 Eric Tannenbaum (MI) dec. #12 Anton Dietzen (ILL), 5-2 7-6
157: #4 Ryan Bertin (MI) dec. #2 Alex Tirapelle (ILL), 3-2 7-9
165: #2 Ryan Churella (MI) tech. fall Anthony Castillo (ILL), 17-1 7-14
174: #4 Pete Friedl (ILL) dec. #14 Nick Roy (MI), 6-3 10-14
184: #3 Brian Glynn (ILL) major dec. Joshua Weitzel (MI), 10-2 14-14
197: #9 Tyrone Byrd (ILL) dec. Willie Breyer (MI), 4-2 17-14
Hwt: #3 Greg Wagner (MI) dec. Mike Behnke (ILL), 6-2 17-17
