Dec. 29, 2007
No. 18 Illinois will enter the second session of the Midlands Tournament in fourth place. At the end of the first session, eight Illini wrestlers are in the quarterfinals. Seven grapplers will continue to give the Illini valuable team points as they fight through the wrestlebacks.
Starters Gabe Flores (125) Jimmy Kennedy (133), Mike Poeta (157), Roger Smith-Bergsrud (165), John Dergo (174) and John Wise (HWT) helped Illinois' cause by garnering bonus points in at least one of their matches in the first session. True-freshmen Ryan Prater (141) and Grant Paswall (149) also chipped in with bonus points in at least one of their bouts.
John Deneen (125), Joey Kotowski (149), Clint Arlis (157), Ben Friedl (174), Pat Brownson (184), Jake Norman (197) and Michael Shaub (HWT) are all alive in the wrestlebacks. 2003 NCAA Champ Matt Lackey is also in the consolation bracket looking to finish as high as third place.
The second session begins tonight at 7 p.m. at the Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston.
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Iowa - 50.0
2. Iowa St. - 44.0
3. Central Michigan - 41.0
4. ILLINOIS - 37.0
Indiana - 37.0
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
125: #12 No. 6-seed Gabe Flores
1st Round: Won by dec. Bobby Joyce (NU UN), 8-6
2nd Round: Won by maj. dec. T.J. Wunnicke (NIU), 10-2
Up Next - Quarterfinals: #5 No. 3-seed Charlie Falck (Iowa)
125: John Deneen
1st Round: Won by maj. dec. Curtis Schurkamp (SFSU), 8-0
2nd Round: Lost by maj. dec. No.8-seed Ben VomBaur (Wyo.), 15-6
Up Next - Wrestlebacks 3rd Round: Caleb Flores (N. Iowa)
133: #9 No. 2-seed Jimmy Kennedy
1st Round: Won by maj. dec. Zac Cunliffe, 9-0
2nd Round: Won by dec. Matt Maracher (American), 4-2
Up Next - Quarterfinals: No. 7-seed Eric Metzler (NU)
141: No. 6-seed Ryan Prater
1st Round: Won by maj. dec. Micah Carter (MSU), 12-2
2nd Round: Won by dec. Ryan Cubberly (C. Mich.), 5-2
Up Next - Quarterfinals: #13 No. 3-seed Carter Downing (Wyo.)
149: Grant Paswall
1st Round: Won by inj. def. #2 No. 1-seed Ryan Lang (NU)
2nd Round: Won by dec. Nick Walpole (IU), 7-2
Up Next - Quarterfinals: #19 No. 8-seed Don Fisch (Rider)
149: Joey Kotowski
1st Round: Lost by fall to Kurt Kinser (IU),
Wrestleback 2nd Round: Won by dec. Jeff Kastel (Elmhurst), 8-1
Up Next - Wrestleback 3rd Round: Kalen Knul (NIU)
157: #1 No. 1-seed Mike Poeta
1st Round: Won by dec. Emmanuel Brooks (Mizzou), 8-3
2nd Round: Won by maj. dec. Jason Welch (UN), 21-7
Up Next - Quarterfinals: Nick Bertucci (Purdue)
157: Clint Arlis
1st Round: Lost by maj. dec. to No. 2-seed Cyler Sanderson, 10-2
Wrestlebacks 2nd Round: Won by dec. Rob Morrison (Rider), 5-4
Up Next - Wrestlebacks 3rd Round: Brett Hakeman (Peacock WC)
165: #11 No. 7-seed Roger Smith-Bergsrud
Pigtail: Won by inj. def. Mike Combs (Triton)
1st Round: Won by dec. Steve Crozier (Air Force), 6-5
2nd Round: Won by dec. Andrew Sorenson (ISU), 5-2
Up Next - Quarterfinals: #2 No. 2-seed Mark Perry (Iowa)
165: Matt Lackey
1st Round: Lost by fall to Benjamin Hoover (UN), 5:25
Wrestleback 3rd Round: Ethan Headlee (Pitt)
174: #13 No 5-seed John Dergo
1st Round: Won by dec. Brock Whitmeyer (Mizzou), 5-0
2nd Round: Won by maj. dec. Nick Corpe (Purdue), 10-1
Up Next - Quarterfinals: Mike Miller (CMU)
174: Ben Friedl
1st Round: Won by dec. Michael Kummer (Great Falls), 7-6
2nd Round: Lost by dec. No. 7-seed Josh Chelf (UW LaCrosse), 6-3
Up Next - Wrestleback 4th Round: TBA
184: Pat Brownson
1st Round: Lost by dec. Phil Keddy (Iowa), 9-3
Wrestleback 2nd Round: Won by dec. D.J. Bruce (VT), 7-1
Up Next - Wrestleback 3rd Round: Dave Sullivan (Pitt)
197: Jake Norman
1st Round: Lost by dec. Andy Moore (UW LaC), 6-1
Wrestleback 2nd Round: Jon Oplinger (Drexel)
HWT: #11 No. 6-seed John Wise
1st Round: Won by tech. fall Dan Goodson (Peacock WC), 17-2 (2:58)
2nd Round: Won by dec. Dave Benner (NIU), 4-1
Up Next - Quarterfinals: No. 3-seed Bubba Gritter (CMU)
HWT: Michael Shaub
1st Round: Won by dec. Tony Stegamen (Air Force), 6-5
2nd Round: Lost by maj. dec. #1 No. 1-seed Dustin Fox (NU), 10-1
Up Next - Wrestlebacks 4th Round: TBA
