Feb. 8, 2006
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Champaign, Ill.--After back-to-back Big Ten losses against No. 4 Michigan and No. 16 Northwestern over the weekend, the Fighting Illini wrestling team look end their losing skid. The squad will have to get ready in a hurry as they head to Iowa City on Friday to take on rival and seventh-ranked Iowa at 7 p.m. Then, on Sunday, the grapplers host No. 18 Michigan State at Huff Gym at 1 p.m. Fans can listen to Friday's match against Iowa on WDWS-AM 1400 as well as listen and watch the dual on fightingillini.com.
#6 Illinois (8-2, 3-2) @ #9 Iowa (9-6, 3-3)
With both teams on a two-match losing streak, Friday night's stakes couldn't be bigger. Last season's 25-7 victory was only the second Illini dual win over Iowa in the last 43 years. The Hawkeyes have six wrestlers in the Top-25: No. 14 Alex Tsirtsis (141), No. 2 Ty Eustice (149), No. 7 Joe Johnston (157), No. 3 Mark Perry (174), No. 7 Paul Bradley (184) and No. 19 Ryan Fuller (Hwt.).
Matchups to Watch-157 and 184 pounds:
#1 Alex Tirapelle vs. #7 Joe Johnston and #4 Pete Friedl vs. #7 Paul Bradley-The Illini seniors are unbeaten against their Hawkeye counterparts this season. The four All-Americans met at the All-Star Classic, then Tirapelle and Johnston met again in the finals of the Midlands Tournament.
#6 Illinois (8-2, 3-2) vs. #18 Michigan State (4-5, 2-2)
On Sunday, the Illini head home to face Michigan State at Huff Gym. Illinois has won the last two duals against the Spartans and are 7-3 in head coach Mark Johnson's 14-year career at Illinois. The last time the two teams saw each other was the 2003-2004 season. The Spartan lineup features four wrestlers in the Top-25: No. 3 Nick Simmons (125), No. 5 Andy Simmons (141), No. 15 Darren McKnight (149) and No. 5 R.J. Boudro (174).
Matchup to Watch-125 pounds:
#6 Kyle Ott vs. #3 Nick Simmons-Ott went 1-1 against Simmons last season. Simmons beat Ott in the Big Ten finals, but Ott got his revenge in the NCAA semis. So far this season, Ott is 0-2 against ranked opponents in the Big Ten. He lost a 4-0 decision to No. 1 Joe Dubuque (Indiana) and was pinned by No. 8 John Velez (Northwestern).
Probable Starting Lineups
#6 Illinois
125: #6 Kyle Ott, Sr. (7-2, 3-2)
133: Gabe Flores, So. (6-4, 2-3)
141: Cassio Pero, Jr. (13-6, 3-2)
149: Troy Tirapelle, R-Fr. (20-7, 3-2)
157: #1 Alex Tirapelle, Sr. (19-1, 5-0)
165: #7 Mike Poeta, R-Fr. (20-4, 4-1)
174: #16 Donny Reynolds, Jr. (19-6, 3-2)
184: #6 Pete Friedl, Sr. (17-3, 3-2)
197: #8 Tyrone Byrd, Sr. (20-4, 5-0)
Hwt: Matt Weight, Jr. (15-10, 2-3)
#9 Iowa
125: Lucas Magnani, Jr. (10-12, 3-3)
133: Daniel Dennis, Fr. (13-14, 0-6)
141: #14 Alex Tsirtsis, So. (15-9, 4-2)
149: #2 Ty Eustice, Sr. (19-1, 5-1)
157: #7 Joe Johnston, Sr. (20-5, 4-2)
165: Eric Luedke, Jr. (16-10, 4-2)
or Cole Pape, Sr. (7-7, 0-0)
174: #3 Mark Perry, So. (12-2, 3-0)
or Ben Stedman, Jr. (8-11, 1-2)
184: #7 Paul Bradley, Sr. (9-5, 3-3)
197: Dan Erekson, Fr. (13-11, 2-4)
HWT: #19 Ryan Fuller, Jr. (9-4, 4-0)
#18 Michigan State
125: #3 Nick Simmons, Jr. (24-0, 4-0)
133: Jeff Wimberley, R-Fr. (10-15, 1-3)
141: #5 Andy Simmons, Jr. (25-3, 3-1)
149: #15 Darren McKnight, Sr. (18-10, 1-3)
157: Tony Greathouse, Jr. (13-10, 1-3)
165: Greg Goidosik, So. (11-7, 1-2)
174: #5 R.J. Boudro, Sr. (21-3, 4-0)
184: Joe Williams, So. (7-9, 1-2)
or John Murphy, R-Fr. (14-9, 0-1)
197: Jeff Clemens, Sr. (14-12, 1-3)
285: Max Lossen, Sr. (11-11, 1-3)
