University of Illinois
Lindenwood Joe Parisi Open
Illini Wrestling Competes at Joe Parisi Open Saturday
November 18, 2016 | Wrestling
Tournament begins at 9 a.m. central time
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini wrestling heads to their second competition of the season, as the Illini compete at the Lindenwood Joe Parisi Open on Saturday, November 19 in St. Charles, Missouri. The tournament will feature. Coach Heffernan will send out 11 grapplers this weekend, while 10 others will wrestle unattached. Along with the Illini, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri and Iowa will also be in the field.
| #8 Illinois @ Lindenwood Joe Parisi Open | |
|---|---|
| When | Saturday, November 19 // 9 a.m. CT |
| Where | Robert F. Hyland // St. Charles, Missouri |
| Meet Information | Meet Notes | Live Stats | Live Stream ($) |
| 2016-17 Information | Record Book | Quick Facts | Weight Class Preview | Schedule | Twitter |
Illinois Probables
133 Zane Richards
141 Mousa Jodeh
149 Brock Ervin, Eric Barone
157 Kyle Langenderfer, Nick Gasbarro
174 Zac Brunson, Xavier Montalvo
184 Emery Parker
197 Andre Lee, Danny Hicks
HWT Brooks Black, Deuce Rachal
Quick Hits
*Four Illini are currently ranked in their respective weight classes according to WIN Magazine: #2 Zane Richards (133), #1 Isaiah Martinez (165), #6 Zac Brunson (174), #7 Brooks Black (HWT). The team checks in at #8 in the Tournament Power Index.
*Seniors Richards and Brunson represented the Illini at last weekend's NWCA All-Star Classic by earning two decision victories. Illinois' all-time record in the event improves to 12-8.
*A Two-time NCAA and Big Ten champion at 157-pounds, Martinez will move up to 165 pounds this season and will look to become the first Illini to win Big Ten and NCAA titles at two weight classes.
*Three Illini are approaching the school's top-25 career wins list: Richards (85), Brunson (78) and Martinez (67) each will aim to surpass former Illini Tony Dallago, Kirk Azinger and Seth Brady who are tied for 25th with 91 wins. Alex Tirapelle holds the school record with 128 wins.
*Martinez needs just seven matches to qualify for the Illinois career win-percentage rankings. His current career win-percentage of 0.985 would pass former Illini Matt Lackey's 0.896 school record.
*Brunson returns for his senior season after his career-high 9 pins led the team and ranked in the top-10 in the NCAA.
*Black finished the 2015-16 season with three wins over ranked opponents at Big Ten and NCAA Championships, highlighted by an upset of #6 Denzel Dejournette (Appalachian State) in the first round of NCAA Championships.
*Four Illini won individual titles at the Kaufman Brand Open, as Richards (133), Ervin (149), Brunson (174) and Emery Parker (184) each won their respective brackets.
Fighting Illini Headlines
Coach Heffernan Inks Two to Class of 2017
Illinois Wrestling Head Coach Jim Heffernan finalized two national letters of intent Monday afternoon, as the program will welcome 125-pounder Justin Mejia and 165-pounder Johnny Mologousis for the 2017-2018 season. Both signees have Illini ties, as Mejia wrestles under Illinois all-time wins leader, Adam Tirapelle at Clovis High School and Mologousis is coached by All-American Griff Powell at Lyons Township High School.
#10 Illini Tally Four Individual Titles at Kaufman Brand Open
Four Fighting Illini wrestlers won individual crowns, as Head Coach Jim Heffernan's squad began the 2016-17 season at the Kaufman Brand Open in St. Louis, Missouri. Zane Richards (133), Zac Brunson (174), Brock Ervin (149) and Emery Parker (184) each won their respective weight class brackets to pace the Illini. True freshman Wesley Kibler also took home an individual crown, as the St. Joseph, Illinois native won the 197-pound amateur bracket.
B.J. Futrell Wins 65KG Title at Bill Farrell; Kennedy Defeats Martinez in 70kg Semis
Former Illini wrestler B.J. Futrell won the 65kg/143lbs weight division at the Bill Farrell Open, defeating former Ohio State wrestler Hunter Stieber in the gold medal match, 12-10. Also competing at Bill Farrell was current Illini Isaiah Martinez and former Illini Jimmy Kennedy. Kennedy defeated Martinez in the semifinal round by a 10-9 decision before dropping the tournament final to Jordan Oliver.
Richards, Brunson Win at All-Star Classic
Fighting Illini wrestlers earned a sweep of their two matches at the 51st annual All-Star Classic in Cleveland, Ohio, as seniors Zane Richards (133) and Zac Brunson (174) each earned decisions. Richards defeated Nebraska's Eric Montoya by a decision of 9-7, while Brunson took down Ethan Ramos of North Carolina by decision, 5-4. The two victories improve the all-time mark by Illinois wrestlers at the Classic to 12-8.
Grapplers Ranked 10th in Preseason Poll
WIN Magazine tabbed Coach Jim Heffernan's Fighting Illini at No. 10 to begin the season. In addition to the team ranking, five Illini starters are mentioned amongst the top-20 in their respective weight classes. Reigning Big Ten and NCAA champion Isaiah Martinez leads the group with a No. 1 ranking at 165 pounds, while No. 2 Richards (133), No. 8 Zac Brunson (174) and No. 9 Brooks Black (HWT) each rank in the top-10. Andre Lee makes his WIN Magazine debut at No. 18.
Former Head Coach Mark Johnson Honored by Varsity "I"
The Varsity "I" Association also will induct Mark Johnson as an honorary member for his long-standing loyalty, service and contributions to Illinois athletics. Retiring in 2009, Johnson is the most successful wrestling coach in program history, coaching seven individual national champions and 45 All-Americans, as well as winning the 2005 Big Ten team title.
Lindsey Durlacher Enters Greco-Roman Hall of Champions
Former Fighting Illini wrestling Lindsey Durlacher was inducted into the Alan and Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions on Saturday, October 22. Durlacher was a two-time All-American at Illinois and a bronze medalist at the 2006 World Championships in Guangzhou, China. He was inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame in 2007.
