Oct. 9, 2006

Champaign, Ill. -

All five returning starters for the Illinois wrestling squad find themselves ranked in the Top-20 by Amateur Wrestling News and RevWrestling.com. As a team, the Fighting Illini also sit in the Top-20 at No. 18. The returning starters for Illinois are Gabe Flores (125), Cassio Pero (141), Troy Tirapelle (149), Mike Poeta (157) and Donny Reynolds (174).

Poeta is Illinois' highest ranked wrestler at No. 3. The sophomore from Highwood, Ill. will fill the spot vacated by Alex Tirapelle at 157 pounds. Flores (Madera, Calif.), who also moves down a weight class as he takes over for Kyle Ott at 125 pounds, is ranked No. 7. Senior Donny Reynolds (Frankfort, Ill.) earns a No. 9 ranking, Tirapelle (Clovis, Calif.) is ranked No. 10 and senior Cassio Pero (Chicago Heights, Ill.) is ranked 16th.

RevWrestling.com 2006-07 Preseason Team Rankings

1.	Minnesota
2.	Oklahoma State
3.	Missouri
4.	Iowa State
5.	Michigan
6.	Northwestern
7.	Iowa
8.	Oklahoma
9.	Penn State
10.	Ohio State
11.	Cornell
12.	Penn
13.	Harvard
14.	Indiana
15.	Hofstra
16.	Michigan State
17.	Edinboro
18.	ILLINOIS
19.	Cal Poly
20.	Wisconsin
21.	Central Michigan
22.	Cal Davis
23.	Arizona State
24.	Nebraska
25.	West Virginia