CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Following an exciting 18-17 win on criteria against Nebraska on Friday night as part of the 'Great Escape' match, the Orange and Blue return to Huff to host Northwestern on Sunday, January 7 at 1 p.m. Admission to the dual is free, while a stream can be found via subscription to BTN Plus or FloWrestling.
| Illinois Probables |
|
Northwestern Probables |
|
| Wt. Class |
Wrestler |
Record |
Wrestler |
Record |
| 125 |
#15 Travis Piotrowski (So.) |
11-2 |
#12 Sebastian Rivera (r-Fr.)
-OR- Dylan Utterback (Fr.) |
16-1
1-6 |
| 133 |
#20 Dylan Duncan (r-Fr.) |
10-4 |
Colin Valdiviez (Fr.) |
12-7 |
| 141 |
Mike Carr (r-Fr.) |
5-3 |
Alec McKenna (r-So.) |
10-9 |
| 149 |
Eric Barone (r-So.) |
6-7 |
#9 Ryan Deakin (r-Fr.) |
20-3 |
| 157 |
#13 Kyle Langenderfer (r-Sr.) |
5-6 |
Shayne Oster (So.) |
9-9 |
| 165 |
#2 Isaiah Martinez (r-Sr.) |
4-0 |
Michael Sepke (Gr.) |
9-10 |
| 174 |
David Riojas (Fr.) |
2-6 |
Johnny Sebastian (r-Jr.) |
16-7 |
| 184 |
#12 Emery Parker (r-Jr.) |
12-1 |
Mitch Sliga (r-Sr.) |
13-6 |
| 197 |
Andre Lee (r-Jr.) |
6-7 |
Zack Chakonis (r-So.)
-OR- Regis Durbin (r-Jr.) |
9-9
2-6 |
| HWT |
Deuce Rachal (r-Jr.) |
7-8 |
#19 Conan Jennings (r-Jr.) |
14-6 |
Quick Hits
*The Orange and Blue enter Sunday's match with an eight-match winning streak at Huff Hall that dates back to Feb. 7, 2015 against Northwestern.
*Illinois holds a six-match winning streak against its in-state rival Northwestern, dating back to 2012. Last year, the Orange and Blue defeated the Wildcats, 28-15, at Welsh Ryan Arena.
*Emery Parker became the 11th Illini to win a Midlands title, going 5-0 last weekend in Hoffman Estates to win the 184-pound championship. Parker defeated two-time All-American Nate Jackson, 8-2, in the title bout.
*Emery Parker won his seventh straight match of the season on Friday night, using an 8-0 run in the final minute of the third period, six off back points, to upset No. 6 Taylor Venz (Nebraska)
*Redshirt freshman Mike Carr recorded his first win over a ranked opponent, doing so in his Huff Hall debut against No. 8 Chad Red Jr. by a score of 6-3.
*Isaiah Martinez currently ranks 24th on Illinois' all-time wins list with 102 career wins. Recording his 100th win at Fresno State on November 17, Martinez is one win behind Griff Powell (103) and three wins behind a trio of Illini -- Kevin Puebla (105), current Illini assistant coach Mike Poeta (105) and John Dergo (105) -- for 20th place.
*Isaiah Martinez has won each of his four matches this season by tech fall, outscoring his three opponents 93-31. Of his 102 career victories, 43 have come by tech fall.
Match Notes
Takedown Cancer
On Sunday, the Illini will host 'Takedown Cancer' Day. Fans are encouraged to wear pink, while pink Illinois t-shirts will be tossed out by Illini starters during introductions.
Series History: ILL leads 47-32-2
Illinois has dominated its Land of Lincoln brethren during the last six years, winning the six contests by an average of 13 points. Last season, the Illini defeated the Wildcats in Evanston by a score of 28-15. Two years ago, at Huff Hall, Brooks Black pinned Conan Jennings at heavyweight to win it for the Illini, 25-24.
Last Time Out
The Illini are coming off their most exillerating win of the young season, defeating No. 20 Nebraska, 18-17, on criteria. Illinois and Nebraska split the 10 matches, neither team earning a fall, but the Orange and Blue held the advantage in totla points scored by a count of 51-49. Spurring the victory were a pair of top-10 upsets by Mike Carr (141) and Emery Parker (184). Carr used his Huff Hall debut to pick off No. 8 Chad Red Jr., 6-3, while Parker extended his winning streak to seven matches with an 8-0 final minute to earn the come-from-behind victory over No. 6 Taylor Venz, 9-7.
Illini to Watch
184: #12 Emery Parker
Fresh off his Midlands title and a win over No. 6 Taylor Venz (Nebraska) Friday night, Emery Parker will look to continue his seven-match winning streak on Sunday as he battles Northwestern's Mitch Sliga. Leading the team with 12 wins on the season, Parker draws Northwestern's Mitch Sliga who enters the weekend 13-6 on the season and is ranked 24th by TrackWrestling. The two Land of Lincoln grapplers met last season in Evanston, a match that Parker won in come-from-behind fashion, 5-3.
125: #12 Travis Piotrowski
Coming off of a 3-2 showing at Midlands last weekend, Travis Piotrowski will look to bolster his resume as he takes on No. 12 Sebastian Rivera. Rivera enters with just one loss on the season, while Piotrowski hasn't dropped a match outside of the holiday tournament last weekend. Piotrowski enters the match tied for the team lead with three dual wins, including a 1:04 pin at Fresno State.
133/141: #20 Dylan Duncan/Mike Carr
Two of the newest Illini to the lineup this season, Duncan and Carr both begin their collegiate careers after successful stints in high school. Coming off a fifth-place finish at Midlands, Duncan was a two-time IHSA state champion at Montini Catholic and ranked as the No. 46 recruit nationally. A South Fayette, Pennsylvania product, Carr went undefeated (89-0) in his final two seasons at South Fayette High School on his way to claiming two PIAA state titles. Carr knocked off No. 8 Chad Red Jr. (Nebraska) on Jan. 5 in his Huff Hall debut.
Illini Notes
Home Cooking
The Illini have now won eight straight home matches after an 18-17 win over Nebraska on Friday evening. The eight victories dates back to a February 7, 2015 dual against Northwestern where the Illini defeated the Wildcats, 25-24. In the eight matches, Illinois has defeated a pair of ranked foes, No. 13 Michigan (1/20/17) and No. 20 Nebraska (1/5/18).
Parker Thriving at 184 Pounds
Illinois' leading scorer with 12 wins, Emery Parker is wrestling as well as anyone on the Illini of late. The redshirt junior has won seven straight matches, including two top-10 opponents and a two-time All-American. The 2017 Midlands champion has just one blemish on his record through 13 matches and is coming off a 30-win season in 2016-17 as a first-time starter.
Tech Support
Isaiah Martinez has boosted the Illini in each of its four duals with a tech fall in all four contests. In the four victories, Martinez owns a 93-31 advantage in points scored and leads the team with 20 dual team points. Martinez owns 43 tech falls in his career, his most common victory of the 102 career wins.
Up Next
After the two home duals this weekend, the Illini head back out on the road for dual against No. 14 Minnesota on Sunday, January 14. The dual begins at 1 p.m. central time and can be streamed on BTN Plus and FloWrestling.
For complete coverage of Fighting Illini wrestling, go to FIGHTINILLINI.com and follow @IlliniWrestling on Twitter and Instagram.
