Jan. 7, 2011

Final Stats

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - True-freshman Jackson Morse won his first match as a Fighting Illini at 157 pounds and No. 10 Illinois also got wins from No. 7 B.J. Futrell (133), Ben Friedl (174), Mario Gonzalez (197) and Pat Walker (HWT), but a pin at 149 in the night's final bout gave West Virginia an 18-15 win at Huff Hall.

"This is an extremely frustrating loss," said associate head coach Carl Perry, who was filling in for head coach Jim Heffernan. Heffernan wasn't on the bench because he was at the visitation for his father, James P. Heffernan Sr., who died suddenly on Tuesday. "We aren't doing the small things well and it's costing us. And we have some guys who need to reevaluate their goals and aim higher.

"On the positive side, Jackson Morse is good and is going to be great. It was good for him to get his first win. He can be a superstar before he's done here. Ben Friedl is still trying to get in shape after some injuries, but he did tonight what a lot of our guys didn't: fight hard for seven minutes. He got down early but he kept his composure, got a reversal and won his match."

The dual started at 157 pounds and after a restart early in the first period, West Virginia's Ryan Goodman left his leg out and Morse snatched it and scrambled through for takedown. Morse rode him out the rest of the period and started down in the second period. He got out quickly to go up 3-0 before shooting and getting a leg, finishing it for the takedown. Goodman chose neutral in the third and shot off the whistle, but Morse deflected the attack and scored for a 7-0 lead. He cut Goodman loose and shot, but Goodman circled behind for the takedown to cut Morse's lead to 8-3 after the Illini freshman escaped. Goodman got another takedown and cut Morse loose, but time ran out and Morse collected the 10-5 win after adding the riding-time advantage.

Conrad Polz drew first blood at 165, shooting early and scoring a takedown 10 seconds into the match. Jones quickly escaped and the two traded fruitless shots through the rest of the period. Polz started down in the second and escaped quickly to go up 3-1. But after a restart, Jones picked Polz' ankle and got a takedown to even the score. Polz escaped in 20 seconds and shot, but Jones blocked it and circled for the takedown and a 5-4 lead. He rode out Polz and started down in the third before escaping quickly. With 1:20 left in the match, Polz shot and took Jones' legs over his head, but a stalemate was ruled despite Polz appearing to have control. He took another shot after the restart and nearly scored, but action was stopped for a potentially dangerous hold. Polz continued to shoot but Jones slipped past and circled behind for the deciding takedown. He rode Polz out to adding riding time and win, 9-4, to even the team score, 3-3.

Friedl gave up an early takedown to Christian Mory at 174 but managed to work into a reversal with 25 seconds left in the period and score three near-fall points just before time expired. Friedl started down in the second and reversed Mory 40 seconds into the period to go up 7-2. He rode Mory out, then the Mountaineer started down in the third and Friedl rode him for the entire period, adding the advantage point for the 8-2 win and a 6-3 lead in the team score.

At 184, No. 19 Tony Dallago gave up a takedown with 32 seconds left in the first period, but he scored a reversal on the edge of the mat with less than 10 seconds left to even the score, 2-2. He started down in the second and escaped quickly, but Matt Ryan blocked a shot and scored a takedown, then flipped Dallago to his back for two near-fall points and a 6-3 lead after two periods. Ryan blocked another shot early in the third after choosing a neutral start. Dallago escaped but couldn't land a shot as Ryan added riding time for the 9-4 decision, tying the team score, 6-6.

Gonzalez gave up a takedown 1:09 into the match and was ridden out by Kyle Rooney at 197, but Gonzalez was awarded a point when Rooney locked his hands late in the first period. Gonzalez started down in the second and scored a reversal with 19 seconds left in the period to go up 3-2, but Rooney held over two minutes of riding time. Rooney started down in the third and escaped quickly, tying the score at 3, and Gonzalez nearly scored off a Rooney shot, but the Mountaineer held him off. Rooney took a half-shot that Gonzalez blocked and worked into a takedown on the edge. Gonzalez managed to maintain control and take the 5-4 win after Rooney earned the riding-time point, giving the Illini a 9-6 advantage.

At heavyweight, Walker shot off the whistle and got a quick takedown against Phil Mandzik before riding him for the rest of the period. Walker started down in the second period and escaped off the whistle before securing a takedown 16 seconds later. He cut Mandzik loose and scored a takedown just before the end of the period to go up 7-1 after five minutes. Mandzik started down in the third and Walker cut him loose after being unable to turn him. The two finished the match on their feet and Walker added the riding time point for an 8-2 win and a 12-6 team lead.

Logan Arlis gave up a takedown to Shane Young at 125 halfway through the first period and Young rode him out. Arlis started down in the second and couldn't get out, then Young chose neutral to start the third. He scored a takedown 15 seconds into the period and gained another point when Arlis was given his third caution on a restart with 44 seconds left in the match. Arlis escaped four seconds later and the pair ended on their feet with Young adding a riding-time point for a 6-1 win, bringing West Virginia within 12-9.

Seventh-ranked Futrell blocked an early shot by No. 15 Nathan Pennesi at 133 and circled behind for the takedown 16 seconds into the bout. Futrell rode him for 1:34 before Pennesi escaped, and the pair finished the period on their feet. Futrell started the second period down and escaped in 45 seconds to go ahead 3-1. Futrell tried to pick Pennesi's ankle, the Mountaineer blocked it, but Futrell circled behind for the takedown. He fended off Pennesi's late attacks and added a riding-time point for the 6-2 win and a 15-9 Illini lead.

At 141, John Deneen blocked an early shot by Mike Morales and the two traded attempts with Morales shooting late in the period but Deneen keeping his waistlock to avoid any scoring. Morales started down in the second and was awarded a penalty point for an illegal hold before reversing Deneen for a 3-0 lead after five minutes. Deneen started down in the third and Morales rode him out for the 4-0 win, cutting Illinois' lead to 15-12.

In the night's final match, No. 11 Eric Terrazas had a chance to lock up the victory, but Brandon Rader scored a takedown 37 seconds into the bout and put Terrazas on his back, pinning him 12 seconds later to give the Mountaineers a surprising 18-15 win.

The Illini have Sunday off before traveling to No. 21 Northwestern on Jan. 14. The match will be aired live on the Big Ten Network, with Tim Johnson and Lee Kemp calling the action.

Illinois 15 - West Virginia 18
125- Shane Young (West Virginia ) DEC Arlis, Logan (University Of Illinois) 6-1
133- Futrell, B.J. (University Of Illinois) DEC Nathan Pennesi (West Virginia ) 6-2
141- Mike Morales (West Virginia ) DEC Deneen, John (University Of Illinois) 4-0
149- Brandon Rader (West Virginia ) FALL Terrazas, Eric (University Of Illinois) 0:49
157- Morse, Jackson (University Of Illinois) DEC Ryan Goodman (West Virginia ) 10-5
165- Donald Jones (West Virginia ) DEC Polz, Conrad (University Of Illinois) 9-4
174- Friedl, Ben (University Of Illinois) DEC Christian Mory (West Virginia ) 8-2
184- Matt Ryan (West Virginia ) DEC Dallago, Tony (University Of Illinois) 9-4
197- Gonzalez, Mario (University Of Illinois) DEC Kyle Rooney (West Virginia ) 5-4
285- Walker, Pat (University Of Illinois) DEC Phillip Mandzik (West Virginia ) 8-2
*Match started at 157 pounds