Dec. 10, 2009
Printable Notes for Findlay/McKendree duals 
#20 Illinois vs. Findlay / McKendree
Dec. 12 // Huff Hall // Champaign, Ill.
• After a strong freshman year, sophomore No. 9 Jordan Blanton is enjoying his move down to 174 pounds this season with a 6-1 start and four pins. His four falls are halfway to his total of eight from a year ago. Blanton is expected to return this weekend from an injury he suffered at Sprawl & Brawl.
• No. 7 John Dergo also has started strong in his move up to 184, holding an 11-2 record, with both losses coming to top-7 opponents. Dergo won a title at the Lindenwood Open and finished second at the Las Vegas Invitational, defeating top-seeded and third-ranked Mike Pucillo (Ohio State) on the way. His two losses on the season have come to No. 2 Max Askren (Missouri) and No. 7 Kirk Smith (Boise State).
• Junior John Deneen has performed admirably after being thrust into the starting role at 125 because of an injury to B.J. Futrell. Deneen scored a major decision over Missouri's Troy Dolan before going 2-1 at Sprawl & Brawl. He's 4-3 on the season with two major decisions.
• Injuries have been a big story already for the Fighting Illini, as four starters were missing at the Las Vegas Invitational. B.J. Futrell (125 pounds) and No. 9 Jordan Blanton (174) are expected to be available for this weekend's duals against Findlay and McKendree, and No. 16 Ryan Prater (141) may see the mat on Saturday. Eric Terrazas (149) won't wrestle this weekend but may be available for Midlands at the end of the month.
• Sophomore 149-pounder Eric Terrazas battled through a tough freshman year but has burst out to a fast start this season before breaking his foot over Thanksgiving break. He's 9-0 with a first-place finish at the Lindenwood Open and a dual win over Missouri's Brandon Wiest. Terrazas didn't get his first dual win against a Division I opponent until Feb. 20 last season.
Illinois (2-2) Probable Lineup
125: B.J. Futrell (3-1), So., Park Forest, Ill. OR John Deneen (4-3), Jr., Marengo, Ill.
133: Daryl Thomas (9-5), r-Fr., Edwardsville, Ill.
141: #16 Ryan Prater (3-1), Jr., Plainfield, Ill. OR Vince Vercelli (0-2), So., Wilmington, Ill.
149: Jake Beechy (1-6), So., New Lenox, Ill.
157: Clint Arlis (7-2), Sr., Batavia, Ill. OR Kyle Dooley (6-6), r-Fr., Monticello, Ill.
165: #19 Conrad Polz (10-5), r-Fr., Orland Park, Ill.
174: #9 Jordan Blanton (6-1), So., Richmond, Ill.
184: #7 John Dergo (11-2), Sr., Morris, Ill.
197: Patrick Bond (6-3), Sr., Chesapeake, Va.
Hwt: Pat Walker (8-9), r-Fr., Lombard, Ill. OR Martin Smith (7-6), So., Quincy, Ill.
#20 Illini Host Findlay, McKendree
For the third-straight year, No. 20 Illinois will host McKendree and Findlay for three duals contested simultaneously on Saturday at Huff Hall. Illinois topped McKendree 39-9 last year and 31-9 in 2007, while beating Findlay 32-6 last season and 30-10 in 2007. McKendree is currently ranked No. 3 in NAIA, while Findlay is No. 19 in NCAA Division II. McKendree finished third at the NAIA National Championships last year thanks to national titles by 165-pounder Aaron Winning and 197-pounder Andrew Sanchez. Wade Lowe at 133 is a two-time NAIA All-American and Kyle Williams at 141 also earned All-America honors last season for the Bearcats.
After having four starters on the shelf for the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational last weekend, three - B.J. Futrell (125), No. 16 Ryan Prater (141) and No. 9 Jordan Blanton (174) - are expected to be in action this weekend.
Illini Notch Early Pins
Nearing the halfway point of the season, Illinois already has registered 21 pins by non-redshirting wrestlers, on pace to reach the top 10 in school history for single-season pins. The tenth-best entry on that list is 37 pins, which the Illini are well within range of. Leading the way so far is No. 7 John Dergo (184) with a career-high five falls and No. 9 Jordan Blanton (174) with four. No. 18 Patrick Bond, Conrad Polz, B.J. Futrell and Marty Smith all have two pins.
The Redshirts are Coming!
After seeing Roger Smith-Bergsrud and John Wise graduate and with senior Jimmy Kennedy redshirting this season, the Illini have turned to a trio of redshirt-freshmen to fill the classes of 133, 165 and heavyweight. Daryl Thomas, of Edwardsville, Ill., Conrad Polz, of Orland Park, Ill., and Pat Walker, of Lombard, Ill., have compiled a 27-19 record thus far. Thomas finished second at the Lindenwood Open to 2009 NAIA champion Ray Stephens before dropping a close bout at Missouri. Polz was 4-2 at Lindenwood prior to his near miss at Missouri and Walker went 4-2 at Lindenwood and 3-2 at the Eastern Michigan Open.
Dergo, Blanton Switch Spots in Lineup
After both John Dergo and Jordan Blanton had strong seasons in 2009, few would've predicted the move they have executed for 2010 - switching weight classes. Dergo has bumped up to 184 pounds - where he wrestled as a true freshman, going 24-12 and placing fifth at the Big Ten Championships - and Blanton has dropped to 174 after going 27-11 with a fourth-place Big Ten finish at 184 a year ago. So far the results bear out the switch, as Blanton is 6-1 with a tournament title and a win over a ranked opponent, and Dergo is 11-2 with a tournament title, a second-place finish at the Las Vegas Invitational and a hard-fought loss to No. 2 Max Askren (Missouri).
Dergo Leads #20 Illinois at Las Vegas
Ninth-ranked John Dergo finished second at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, a career-best finish, and downed top-seeded and third-ranked Mike Pucillo (Ohio State) in the semifinals before dropping an overtime championship bout to No. 7 Kirk Smith (Boise State). Both Daryl Thomas (133) and No. 17 Conrad Polz (165) went 3-2, bowing out on the first day, and No. 17 Patrick Bond (197) reached the quarterfinals with a pair of wins before dropping consecutive bouts to see his run end on the first day of the tournament. The Illini finished 19th out of a 44-team field.
