Scoresheet | Highlights | Coach Heffernan Interview | Morse Interview

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Illinois wrestling team opened the Big Ten portion of its season on Friday night against conference newcomer Rutgers. The fifth-ranked Illini gave the Scarlet Knights a rude welcome to the league, beating them 24-9 and winning seven of ten weight classes.

"We've wrestled seven duals and two tournaments so they have been in those close matches," head coach Jim Heffernan said of his wrestlers' ability to win tough matches. "It's something we talk about as the competition gets better. The deeper into the Big Ten season we get and in the postseason, those are challenges you are going to have. You are going to have some close matches against good guys and you got to know how to win."

The dual started at 197 pounds with Jeff Koepke earning a 2-0 decision over Andrew Campolattano. A 2-1, sudden victory by No. 10 Billy Smith over Brooks Black tied the match after the heavyweight bout. Rutgers took its only lead of the dual after Sean McCabe beat Dominic Olivieri, 5-4, at 125 pounds.

Trailing 6-3, No. 3 Zane Richards got the Illini back on track at 133 pounds. Richards' 11-8 decision over Scott Delvecchio tied the contest, and No. 16 Steven Rodrigues 2-0 victory over #8 Anthony Ashnault gave Illinois a 9-6 lead. Ken Theobold downed Kyle Langenderfer, 5-2, at 141 pounds to tie the contest, but the Orange and Blue won the final four weight classes to seal the win.

At 157 pounds, No. 5 Isaiah Martinez won a convincing 19-6 bout against No. 18 Anthony Perrotti, a 2014 All-American. In the battle, Martinez recorded six takedowns and a two-point near-fall to earn his 12th extra-point win of the season. No. 8 Jackson Morse followed the lead of Martinez in the 165-pound rumble, earning a 10-2 major decision over Nick Gravina. No. 6 Zac Brunson's 8-2 win over No. 20 Phil Bakuckas at 174-pounds sealed the victory for the Illini, and No. 14 Nikko Reyes closed out the night with a convincing 12-4 major decision over Anthony Pafumi.

The Illini will be back in action on Sunday, Jan. 11 as they take on Indiana in Bloomington, Indiana. The dual is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET at University Gym.

"That's what we are facing for the next month," said Heffernan in regards to the short turn around. Every weekend we are going to have two dual meets and they are all competitive teams."

#5 Illinois 24, Rutgers 9
197: Jeff Koepke (ILL) over Andrew Campolattano (RUTG) (Dec 2-0)
285: #10 Billy Smith (RUTG) over Brooks Black (ILL) (SV-2 2-1)
125: Sean McCabe (RUTG) over Dominic Olivieri (ILL) (Dec 5-4)
133: #3 Zane Richards (ILL) over Scott Delvecchio (RUTG) (Dec 11-8)
141: #16 Steven Rodrigues (ILL) over #8 Anthony Ashnault (RUTG) (Dec 2-0)
149: Ken Theobold (RUTG) over Kyle Langenderfer (ILL) (Dec 5-2)
157: #4 Isaiah Martinez (ILL) over #18 Anthony Perrotti (RUTG) (MD 19-6)
165: #8 Jackson Morse (ILL) over Nick Gravina (RUTG) (MD 10-2)
174: #6 Zac Brunson (ILL) over #20 Phil Bakuckas (RUTG) (Dec 8-2)
184: #14 Nikko Reyes (ILL) over Anthony Pafumi (RUTG) (MD 12-4)