Oct. 4, 2007

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Seven Illinois wrestlers were listed in preseason rankings released by W.I.N. Magazine and Amateur Wrestling News. Junior 157-pounder Mike Poeta leads the list with a No. 2 ranking by W.I.N. and a No. 3 slotting by AWN. As a team, the Fighting Illini are ranked No. 14 in the nation by W.I.N. AWN has yet to release its team rankings.

In addition to Poeta, sophomore Jimmy Kennedy was ranked No. 5 (AWN) and No. 6 (W.I.N.) at 133, while junior Roger Smith-Bergsrud came in at No. 7 (W.I.N.) and No. 8 (AWN) at 165. Senior Gabe Flores was No. 9 by AWN and No. 10 by W.I.N. at 125, and Sophomore Patrick Bond was listed No. 11 by AWN and No. 12 by W.I.N. at 197.

The polls were split on sophomore John Dergo, with W.I.N. ranking him 13th at 174 and AWN placing him 16th at 184. Dergo will wrestle at 174, dropping down a class from where he wrestled in 2006-07. Troy Tirapelle also will move down a class this season and he is ranked No. 15 at 141 pounds by W.I.N.

125
Gabe Flores - No. 9, AWN // No. 10, W.I.N.

133
Jimmy Kennedy - No. 5, AWN // No. 6, W.I.N.

141
Troy Tirapelle - No. 15, W.I.N.

157
Mike Poeta - No. 2, W.I.N. // No. 3, AWN

165
Roger Smith-Bergsrud - No. 7, W.I.N. // No. 8, AWN

174
John Dergo - No. 13, W.I.N. (174) // No. 16, AWN (184)

197
Patrick Bond - No. 11, AWN // No. 12, W.I.N.