March 17, 2011

Updated Brackets & Team Standings

PHILADELPHIA - Fourth-seeded Jimmy Kennedy (141 pounds), seventh-seeded B.J. Futrell (133) and Eric Terrazas (149) all won their first-round matches at the 2011 NCAA Championships at the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday, with Terrazas' upset of No. 12 seed Desi Green (Buffalo) in overtime standing as the highlight. The Illini went 3-2 in the session as Jackson Morse (157) and Tony Dallago (184) both dropped their opening-round bouts. Action continues Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CT with the second round in the championship bracket and first round of consolation matches.

Futrell started his day against Edinboro's Eric Morrill and Futrell got in on a leg with 48 seconds left, rolling through for the takedown. He rode Morrill for most of the rest of the period but the Fighting Scot escaped as the first period buzzer sounded. Futrell started down in the second and escaped, the shot in with 50 seconds left in the period and finished on the edge to go up 5-1. He rode out Morrill and the Scot started down in the third. Morrill escaped after 35 seconds as Futrell locked up the riding-time advantage, but Morrill shot in and got a takedown on the edge to get within 5-4 with 1:11 left. Futrell escaped then got in on a shot and initiated a scramble that ended with the Illini sophomore scoring a takedown but Morrill scored a reversal to get within 8-6. But Futrell reversed him and added the riding-time point for an 11-6 win. He'll face Utah Valley's Flint Ray, who upset No. 10 seed Rollie Peterkin (Penn) in the first round in Friday evening's second round of action.

Kennedy scored a quick takedown against Utah Valley's Justin Morrill and rode him for 31 seconds before the Wolverine escaped to cut Kennedy's lead to 2-1. The Illini senior nailed a double-leg with 20 seconds left in the period and rode out Morrill to take a 4-1 lead to the second period. Morrill started down in the second and escaped after 20 seconds to get within 4-2. But Kennedy shot in on a leg and worked through for a takedown to go up 6-2. Kennedy rode him out and opted for a neutral start to the third period. Kennedy got in on a takedown but couldn't finish on the edge, then Morrill shot and Kennedy fought it off for a takedown. He cut Morrill loose and added the riding-time point for the 9-3 victory. Kennedy will take on Virginia Tech's Chris Diaz in the second round.

Terrazas got in on a shot with 1:15 left against Buffalo's No. 12 seed Desi Green but Green scrambled out of bounds to avoid giving up points. The pair finished out the period scoreless and Green started down in the second. Terrazas rode him for 35 seconds before giving up the escape point as Green went ahead 1-0. Green was given a stalling warning and the pair ended the period neutral. Terrazas started down in the third and escaped in five seconds to tie the match, 1-1. Neither man could land a shot and they went to overtime. Terrazas continued to push the pace in sudden-victory time and eventually connected on a shot on the edge and finished it for the winning takedown and a 3-1 victory. He will take on fifth-seeded Jamal Parks of Oklahoma State in Thursday night's second round.

Morse traded shots early with No. 7 seed Bryce Saddoris (Navy) but Saddoris landed a shot with 1:15 left in the first period to go up 2-0. Morse escaped after 39 seconds and the pair ended the period on their feet. Saddoris started down in the second period and scored a quick reversal to go up 4-1. He hit a tilt for three near-fall points and Morse escaped, but Saddoris gained control once again, going up 9-2. He rode out Morse and the Illini freshman chose a neutral start to the third period. Morse kept shooting and finally hit a takedown with 30 seconds to go, but Saddoris quickly escaped and hit a takedown of his own, adding the riding-time point for the 13-4 major decision, sending Morse to the consolation bracket to take on North Carolina's Corey Mock.

Dallago gave up a takedown on the edge to No. 7 seed Chris Perry (Oklahoma State) 36 seconds into the match and Perry rode him out for 1:40 before Dallago was able to work into a reversal. But Perry notched a reversal of his own to lead 4-2 after three minutes. Perry started down in the second and he worked out the back for a reversal to go up 6-2. Dallago escaped with a minute left in the period but the period ended with both wrestlers on their feet and Perry leading 6-3. Dallago started down and Perry cut him loose right away, bringing the Illini freshman within 6-4. But Perry shot in on a sweep single and converted a takedown from it for an 8-4 lead. Dallago escaped with 223 seconds left and Perry got a leg before finishing the takedown with eight seconds left. He added the riding-time point for an 11-5 win, sending Dallago to the consolation bracket to face West Virginia's Matt Ryan for the third time this season.

133: No. 7 seed B.J. Futrell, r-So., Park Forest, Ill., 26-7
First Round: Dec. Eric Morrill (Edinboro), 11-6
Second Round: vs. Flint Ray (Utah Valley)

141: No. 4 seed Jimmy Kennedy, r-Sr., Ingleside, Ill., 19-2
First Round: Dec. Justin Morrill (Utah Valley), 9-3
Second Round: vs. Chris Diaz (Virginia Tech)

149: Eric Terrazas, Jr., Wheaton, Ill., 25-9
First Round: Dec. No. 12 seed Desi Green (Buffalo), 3-1 SV1
Second Round: vs. No. 5 seed Jamal Parks (Oklahoma State)

157: Jackson Morse, Fr., Alto, Mich., 22-13
First Round: Maj. dec. by No. 7 seed Bryce Saddoris (Navy), 13-4
Consolation First Round: vs. Corey Mock (North Carolina)

184: Tony Dallago, r-Fr., Harrisburg, Pa., 17-15
First Round: Dec. by No. 7 seed Chris Perry (Oklahoma State), 11-5
Consolation First Round: vs. Matt Ryan (West Virginia)