CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Junior Travis Piotrowski started the dual off with a pin of Devin Schnupp in the 125-pound match, but the Illini would fall to Penn State on Senior Day, 39-9, at Huff Hall Sunday afternoon. Redshirt senior Emery Parker won his last match at Huff Hall in the 184-pound bout, defeating Mason Manville by decision, 7-3.
Junior Travis Piotrowski didn't take long to achieve his first victory by fall of the season. Piotrowski got on the offensive quickly against opponent Devin Schnupp, recording a takedown in the first 13 seconds to take a 2-0 lead. Not long after the takedown, Piotrowski had turned Schnupp on his back, and was awarded the pin 1:06 into the 125-pound bout. The pin today is the first win by fall of the season for Piotrowski and the fourth of his career. Piotrowski finishes the regular season with a record of 16-8, and a mark of 6-3 in Big Ten duals.
Redshirt senior and nationally-ranked No. 5 Emery Parker wrestled in front of the home crowd for the final time of his career Sunday afternoon in the 184-pound bout against Mason Manville. After a scoreless first period, Parker got on the board quickly in the second frame with an escape. Seconds after the escape, Parker picked up his first takedown of the match to extend his lead to 3-0 over Manville. He would tack on another takedown in the period, and take a 5-2 lead into the third. Parker closed the match out with his third takedown of the bout with 20 seconds to go, and would go on to win the matchup with Manville by decision, 7-3. Parker finishes the season with a record of 14-2, going 7-2 against Big Ten opponents. Parker ends his career 13-1 in home matches.
Prior to the start of the dual, the Illini honored six individuals for Senior Day at Huff Hall. Illinois paid tribute to the dedication and accomplishments of redshirt seniors Emery Parker, Andre Lee and Deuce Rachal, redshirt juniors Carver James and Tim McCarthy and graduate student Colin Carr.
The Illini will now take a few weeks to prep for Big Ten Championships. Big Ten's this year will be hosted by the University of Minnesota, and will be held on Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10 in Minneapolis.
Full Results:
125: #12 Travis Piotrowski (ILL) Fall Devin Schnupp, 1:06: ILL 6, PSU 0
133: Sam Stossel (PSU) dec. Josh Contreras (ILL), 6-4: ILL 6, PSU 3
141: #2 Nick Lee (PSU) tech. fall Abdullah Assaf (ILL), 17-2: PSU 8, ILL 6
149: #12 Brady Berge (PSU) major dec. Christian Kanzler (ILL), 15-4: PSU 12, ILL 6
157: #1 Jason Nolf (PSU) inj default #9 Eric Barone (ILL), 5:25: PSU 18, ILL 6
165: #1 Vincenzo Joseph (PSU) major dec. Nick Gasbarro (ILL): PSU 22, ILL 6
174: #1 Mark Hall (PSU) Fall Carver James (ILL), 2:20: PSU 28, ILL 6
184: #5 Emery Parker (ILL) dec. Mason Manville (PSU), 7-3: PSU 28, ILL 9
197: #1 Bo Nickal (PSU) tech. Fall Matt Wroblewski (ILL), 19-3: PSU 33, ILL 9
285: #3 Anthony Cassar (PSU) Fall Deuce Rachal (ILL), 2:20: PSU 39, ILL 9
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