CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The 15th-ranked Fighting Illini wrestling team opens Big Ten action on Friday, December 1 in Iowa City as they battle No. 7 Iowa at Carver Hawkeye Arena. Coming off their first dual win of the season two weeks ago in Fresno, California, the Illini will look to make it two in a row. The dual can be streamed online with subscription to either BTN Plus or FloWrestling.
Quick Hits
*Friday's dual marks the 78th all-time meeting between the Illini and the Hawkeyes, a series that dates back to 1920. Iowa leads the all-time series 50-26-1.
*Illinois is 4-4 all-time in Big Ten openers under head coach Jim Heffernan. The Illini dropped a close match in last year's opener at Rutgers by a score of 19-17.
*The Illini are seeking their first win against the Hawkeyes since February 10, 2006 when the Orange and Blue defeated Iowa 24-13 in Iowa City.
*Illinois and Iowa combine for 10 ranked wrestlers in the latest InterMat rankings, headlined by five in the top-10. The Illini's Isaiah Martinez (165) and Iowa's Brandon Sorensen (149) both come in ranked No. 2.
*Isaiah Martinez recorded his 100th career win two weeks ago at Fresno State. Doing so in just his 102nd career match, Martinez became the fastest Illini to reach the century mark. 41 of his 100 win have come by tech fall. Martinez's next win will move him into a tie for 24th on the all-time list with Jesse Delgado (101).
*Sophomore Travis Piotrowski (125) and redshirt senior Kyle Langenderfer (157) are both coming off Roadrunner Open titles, as both wrestlers finished a perfect 4-0 in Bakersfield, California.
*Illinois returns eight of its ten starters from last season's 11th place finish at NCAA Championships, including All-American Isaiah Martinez and NCAA qualifiers Travis Piotrowski, Eric Barone, Kyle Langenderfer and Emery Parker.
Meet Notes
Sizing Up the Hawkeyes
Always a national power, Iowa wrestling again features a number of ranked wrestlers, including four in the top-10. Coach Brands' squad is led by senior, and three-time All-American, Brandon Sorensen at 149 pounds. Sophomores Michael Kermerer (157 pounds) and Cash Wilcke (197 pounds) join junior Sam Stoll (HWT) in the top-10 with three combined trips to NCAA Championships. Redshirt freshman Alex Marinelli is ranked No. 14 at 165 pounds, while senior Phillip Laux is tabbed 18th at 133 pounds.
Series History: Iowa Leads 50-26-1
A series that dates back to 1920, Iowa leads the all-time series against the Orange and Blue and has won the last seven contests. The most recent meeting came two years ago, an Iowa victory by a score of 26-12. Illinois' last win against Iowa came in Iowa City with a 24-13 win on February 10, 2006.
Matches to Watch
165: #2 Isaiah Martinez vs. #14 Alex Marianelli or Joey Gunther
Fresh off of his 100th career win and trip to Poland for U-23 World Championships, Martinez returns to the collegiate scene against redshirt freshman, and 14th ranked, Alex Marianelli or Joey Gunther. Marianelli was a four-time Ohio state champion in high school and ended his career with back-to-back undefeated seasons. Martinez and Marianelli faced off last year at Midlands, Marianelli wrestling unattached, as the Illini got the best of the Hawkeye newcomer by way of a 14-5 major decision in the quarterfinals. Gunther and Martinez have no previous meetings.
157: #17 Kyle Langenderfer vs. #3 Michael Kermerer
The two ranked grapplers will cross paths collegiately for the first time after Langenderfer had a bounce-back season in 2016-17 and Kermerer broke on to the scene with a runner-up finish at Big Ten Championships and a third-place finish at NCAA Championships. One of three senior leaders on the Illinois squad, Langenderfer has won four matches in a row, each coming in route to his Roadrunner Open title culminating wit ha 9-4 decision of Wisconsin's Andrew Crone. Langenderfer will be Kermerer's first ranked opponent of the season after going 4-0 across four dual meets.
133: #15 Dylan Duncan vs. #18 Phillip Laux
After nearly upsetting a top-10 foe in his first collegiate dual at Missouri, Duncan went 4-1 on the California trip. Looking for his first win over a ranked opponent, Duncan will wrestle Iowa senior Phillip Laux in his Big Ten debut. Laux enters the match undefeated (6-0) after winning the Luther College Open and sweeping each of his first three dual matches. Last season, the Hawkeye senior went 10-8, including a 2-1 mark in Big Ten duals.
For complete coverage of Fighting Illini wrestling, go to FIGHTINILLINI.com and follow @IlliniWrestling on Twitter and Instagram.
