University of Illinois
NCAA Championships Session 2
Flores, Kennedy, Poeta Advance to Quarterfinals
March 20, 2008 | Wrestling
March 20, 2008
2008 NCAA Championships Session 2 
ST. LOUIS - No. 2 seeds Jimmy Kennedy (133) and Mike Poeta (157), and No. 6 seed Gabe Flores advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships with wins Thursday night, in front of 15,170 fans at the Scottrade Center. All seven Illini remained alive in the tournament as No. 9 seed Patrick Bond (197), Roger Smith-Bergsrud (165), John Dergo (174) and John Wise (HWT) reached Friday morning's consolation second round.
Sixth-seeded Flores led off the evening session's action for the Illini, taking on No. 11 seed David Tomasette (Hofstra). After taking a shot to the face and using some injury time early, Flores got put into the Iranian position but a stalemate was called before advantage was gained. After the period ended scoreless, Flores started down in the second. After 45 seconds, Flores was able to power his way out for the escape and 1-0 lead. Near the end of the period, Tomasette got a leg and put Flores into the Iranian position again, but the Illini dodged a takedown before the buzzer. Tomasette started down in the third and Flores worked for the tilt, getting two near-fall points with 1:10 left in the bout. But Tomasette sprung out and got the reversal 20 seconds later, cutting Flores' lead to 3-2. Tomasette allowed the optional restart, giving Flores a 4-2 lead, then he got a leg and put Flores in the Iranian position once again, but neither wrestler gained an advantage and a stalemate was called with 12 seconds left. Flores fended off late offense from Tomasette for the 4-3 win to advance to the quarterfinals, where he will face third-seeded Paul Donahoe of Nebraska. Flores holds a victory over Donahoe earlier this season, but it was a medical forfeit by the Husker at the Las Vegas Invitational.
At 133, No. 2 seed Jimmy Kennedy scored a takedown with 1:45 left in the first period on Missouri's unseeded two-time All-American Tyler McCormick and rode him out the rest of the period for a 2-0 lead. Kennedy started down in the second and escaped in 35 seconds for a 3-0 margin, which was where the period ended. The pair started neutral in the third and Kennedy got a leg, then put McCormick into the Iranian position, where he was able to work into a takedown for the 5-0 lead. McCormick got an escape at the buzzer, but Kennedy won, 6-1, to give Illinois two quarterfinalists. Kennedy will face Cornell's seventh-seeded Mike Grey in Friday morning's quarterfinal round.
No. 2 seed Mike Poeta kicked off his 2008 NCAA Championships against No. 17 Newly McSpadden (Oklahoma State). Poeta scored a takedown 1:14 into the bout, but McSpadden escaped 23 seconds later to bring the score to 2-1. The two finished the period on their feet before Poeta started down in the second period. He escaped in six seconds for a 3-1 lead, then McSpadden was called for stalling with 16 seconds left in the period. The Cowboy started down in the third and escaped in 29 seconds, cutting Poeta's lead to 3-2 and preventing the Illini from securing the riding time point with only 46 seconds of advantage. Poeta held off late offense from the Cowboy to take the 3-2 win and move into the quarterfinals, where he'll face Missouri's 10th-seeded Michael Chandler.
John Dergo faced No. 4 seed Jay Borschel (Iowa) in his second-round match and the two wrestled to a scoreless first period. Dergo started down in the second and escaped, but Borschel scored a takedown then got three back points with a cradle to take a 5-1 lead. Borschel then started down in the third and escaped quickly before gaining control after a scramble for the takedown. He then turned Dergo and got the pin at 6:06 to send the Illini into the consolation second round, where he'll face Chris Henrich (Virginia).
No. 9 seed Patrick Bond faced No. 8 seed Craig Brester (Nebraska) and Brester scored the first takedown 1:40 into the first period, then got a two-point near-fall as the period ended. The two started neutral in the second and Bond got a takedown 35 seconds in, but Brester escaped 12 seconds later to make the score 5-2 in the Husker's favor after two periods. Brester started down in the third and escaped, then held Bond at arm's length the rest of the period. With the riding time point, Brester won, 7-2, forcing Bond into a consolation match against XXX
Roger Smith-Bergsrud looked to avoid elimination against Virginia Tech's Matt Epperly and he started off with his signature blast double-leg takedown for a 2-0 lead. Epperly escaped, but Smith-Bergsrud spun around him for another takedown. Epperly managed to escape before the buzzer and the Illini led 4-2 after one period. Epperly started down in the second and escaped, Smith-Bergsrud hit another takedown and Epperly escaped to make the score 6-4 after two periods. Smith-Bergsrud started down in the third and escaped, but Epperly made the Illini's lead 7-6 with a takedown. Smith-Bergsrud managed an escape and held on for the 8-6 win to stay alive in the consolation bracket. He will face Penn's Zack Shanaman in the consolation second round on Friday morning.
In Illinois' final bout of the first day, John Wise (HWT) took on Penn's Trey McLean in a consolation first round match. McLean pushed the pace early, but Wise scored the takedown 23 seconds into the first period. Wise worked for the tilt but couldn't get it, instead riding out McLean the rest of the period, racking up 2:37 of riding time. Wise started down in the second and escaped in three seconds for a 3-0 lead and the two wrestled the rest of the period on their feet. After a neutral start to the third period, McLean shot and Wise defended it before spinning behind him for the takedown. Wise rode him out and won, 6-0, with the riding time point, the Pittsfield, Ill., native's first career victory at the NCAA Championships. He will face Joe Fendone (Edinboro) in the consolation second round.
TEAM STANDINGS 1. Iowa 29.5 2. Nebraska 26.5 3. Iowa State 25.0 4. Central Michigan 24.0 Minnesota 24.0 6. Missouri 23.0 Oklahoma State 23.0 8. Ohio State 22.0 9. Cornell 17.5 Penn State 17.5 16. ILLINOIS 13.5
WEIGHT-BY-WEIGHT RESULTS
125: No. 6 seed, #6 Gabe Flores
First Round: dec. Nicholas Bedelyon (Kent State), 6-4
Second Round: dec. No. 11 seed, #11 Dave Tomasette (Hofstra), 4-3
Up Next - Quarterfinals: No. 3 seed, #3 Paul Donahoe (Nebraska)
133: No. 2 seed, #2 Jimmy Kennedy
First Round: maj. dec. David Marble (Bucknell), 12-2
Second Round: dec. #19 Tyler McCormick (Missouri), 6-1
Up Next - Quarterfinals: No. 7 seed, #4 Mike Grey (Cornell)
157: No. 2 seed, #2 Mike Poeta
First Round: Bye
Second Round: dec. #17 Newly McSpadden (Oklahoma State), 3-2
Up Next - Quarterfinals: No. 10 seed, #12 Michael Chandler (Missouri)
165: #20 Roger Smith-Bergsrud
First Round: dec. by No. 9 seed Trevor Stewart (Central Michigan), 4-2
Consolation First Round: dec. Matt Epperly (Virginia Tech), 8-6
Up Next - Consolation Second Round: Zack Shanaman (Penn)
174: #15 John Dergo
First Round: dec. #16 Philip Moricone (Edinboro), 5-1
Second Round: pinned by No. 4 seed, #4 Jay Borschel (Iowa), 6:06
Up Next - Consolation Second Round: Chris Henrich (Virginia)
197: No. 9 seed, #9 Patrick Bond
First Round: dec. Thomas Shovlin (Penn), 3-1 (SV1)
Second Round: dec. by No. 8 seed, #8 Craig Brester (Nebraska), 7-2
Up Next - Consolation Second Round: Jason Trulson (Arizona State)
HWT: #13 John Wise
First Round: dec. by No. 12 seed Mark Ellis (Missouri), 5-4
Consolation First Round: dec. Trey McLean (Penn), 6-0
Up Next - Consolation Second Round: Joe Fendone (Edinboro)
