University of Illinois
Northern Iowa Open
Northern Iowa Open on Tap for Illini Wrestling
December 2, 2016 | Wrestling
Martinez, Black make season debut
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini wrestling continues their nonconference schedule this weekend with the Northern Iowa Open in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Saturday, December 3. The meet will be held at the UNI-Dome beginning at 9 a.m. and will feature eight ranked teams, including three in the top-10. For the Illini, the meet will also mark the season debuts for No. 1 Isaiah Martinez and No. 8 Brooks Black.
| #7 Illinois @ Northern Iowa Open | |
|---|---|
| When | Saturday, December 3 // 9 a.m. CT |
| Where | UNI Dome // Cedar Falls, Iowa |
| Meet Information | Meet Notes | Live Stats | Live Stream ($) | Tickets |
| 2016-17 Information | Record Book | Quick Facts | Weight Class Preview | Schedule | Twitter |
| Illinois Probables | ||
| Wt. Class | Wrestlers | Record |
| 141 | Mousa Jodeh | 6-4 |
| 149 | Brock Ervin | 9-2 |
| 157 | Carver James | 0-0 |
| 157 | Nick Gasbarro | 3-4 |
| 165 | #1 Isaiah Martinez | 0-0 |
| 174 | #8 Zac Brunson | 8-1 |
| 174 | Xavier Montalvo | 6-2 |
| 184 | Emery Parker | 9-1 |
| HWT | #8 Brooks Black | 0-0 |
| Competing Unattached | ||
| Pos. | Wrestlers | Record |
| 125 | Jake Silzer | 7-2 |
| 125 | Travis Piotrowski | 3-2 |
| 125 | David Rivera-Kohr | 2-2 |
| 133 | Dylan Duncan | 7-2 |
| 133 | Francis Edelen | 1-4 |
| 141 | Dylan Thurston | 5-4 |
| 157 | Ryder Punke | 9-3 |
| 165 | Danny Gallo | 3-4 |
| 197 | Wesley Kibler | 9-2 |
Quick Hits
*Four Illini are currently ranked in their respective weight classes according to WIN Magazine: #2 Zane Richards (7-0), #1 Isaiah Martinez (0-0), #8 Zac Brunson (8-1), #6 Brooks Black (0-0). The team checks in at #7 in the latest Tournament Power Index.
*Seniors Richards and Brunson represented the Illini at the 51st annual 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 (89), Brunson (83) 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.
*Five Illini have won individual titles so far thjs season, as Richards (133), Ervin (149), Brunson (174) and Emery Parker (184) each won their respective brackets at the Brand Open. Richards and Kyle Langenderfer (157) added Joe Parisi titles on Nov. 19
Illini Weight Class Preview: Northern Iowa Open
Saturday's UNI Open will feature some of the top talent in collegiate wrestling, as eight ranked teams are set to compete. No. 2 Iowa and No. 6 Missouri join No. 7 Illinois in the top-10, while No. 11 Wisconsim, No. 14 South Dakota State, No. 15 Minnesota, No. 19 Northern Iowa and No. 20 Iowa State are also in the field. In addition to the high level wrestling, the meet will also serve as a Toys for Tots drive, as fans are encouraged to bring toys to donate to the program.
Weight Classes to Watch:
165
Arguably the most anticipated weight class at the UNI Open, 165 pounds will feature the top three ranked wrestlers in the country. Isaiah Martinez makes his season debut as he wrestlers at 165 pounds for the first time. Martinez will be challenged by defending NCAA runner-up Isaac Jodran (Wisconsin) and All-American No. 4 Daniel Lewis of Missouri. Northern Iowa features a pair of ranked grapplers in the weight class in No. 12 Cooper Moore and No. 19 Bryce Steiert.
174
Three grapplers enter the UNI Open ranked in the top-10, including a potential rematch of the Big Ten semifinal between No. 6 Alex Meyer and No. 8 Zac Brunson. Last March, Brunson pinned Meyer on his home mat in Iowa to advance to the Big Ten final. In addition to the two Big Ten wrestlers, 2016 All-American Lelund Weatherspoon of Iowa State is ranked 10th entering the weekend. Minnesota's No. 14 Nicholas Wanzek and South Dakota State's No. 16 David Kocer are also ranked.
HWT
Like his teammate Martinez, No. 8 Brooks Black will be making his season debut on Saturday. The redshirt junior is coming off of a very strong finish to his sophomore season where he beat four ranked wrestlers to end the campaign. Black will get an early litmus test on Saturday as the bracket features three other wrestlers ranked in the top-10. Wisconsin's Connor Medberry enters as the favorite at No. 2, while No. 5 Sam Stoll (Iowa) and No. 7 Michael Kroells (Minnesota) are also ranked ahead of Black.
Illini Notes
Richards and Langenderfer Collect Titles at Joe Parisi Open
Zane Richards (7-0) and Kyle Langenderfer (9-1) each notched individual titles at the Joe Parisi Open for the Fighting Illini, both grapplers going undefeated in their respective brackets. In total, the Illini grapplers had seven place finishes, as well as five others by unattached Illinois wrestlers.
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.
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.
