All rankings courtesy of InterMat
MADISON, Wis. – The Illinois wrestling team fell short of defeating No. 23 Wisconsin, 20-18, on Sunday (Feb. 11).
Graduate student No. 30 (133 lbs.) Tony Madrigal put the first points on the board for the Illini with his second win of the weekend. He controlled Nicolar Rivera (WISC) for all seven minutes getting whatever offense he wanted winning in a decision 11-5. Madrigal is now 4-0 in his last four dual matches.
Redshirt sophomore No. 26 (141 lbs.) Danny Pucino also went 2-0 on the weekend for the Orange and Blue. In today's match up he won via tech. fall over Felix Lettini (WISC), 22-7 (6:55), to score five dual points and put the Illini up 8-4.
Junior (157 lbs.) Joe Roberts won over Luke Mechler (WISC) after getting headbutted on a takedown attempt in the third period he powered through to get the win in sudden victory, 4-1. This put Illinois up 11-8 at the intermission.
This isn't the first time Roberts has been headbutted this season and then came back to win in overtime. Against CMU in Huff Hall on Nov. 19, 2023, he defeated Johnny Lovett (CMU), 4-1, in a nearly identical match. The only difference is that match went to two overtime periods instead of the lone one today.
Redshirt junior No. 8 (174 lbs.) Edmond Ruth continues to be a backbone for the Fighting Illini lineup as he's been rock solid since the MSU dual. Today he picked up a top-15 win knocking off No. 12 Max Maylor (WISC), 8-5, to tie the dual at 14.
Junior (197 lbs.) Isiah Pettigrew returned to the lineup this weekend after missing a short stint due to injury; today he got his first major decision of the dual season. He defeated Josh Otto (WISC), 12-3, to give Illinois one last lead 18-17 heading into the heavyweight match. Redshirt freshman (285 lbs.) Peter Marinopoulos fought hard to the last whistle, but ultimately fell in a 12-6 decision. The Illini surrendered the lead and lost to the Badgers 20-18.
UP NEXT
Illinois wrestling is back in action on Friday, Feb. 16 to face Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. at 6 p.m. CT.
FULL RESULTS
| Weight |
Matchup |
Score |
| 125: |
#4 Eric Barnett (WISC) major dec. Justin Cardani (ILL), 8-0 |
ILL 0 I WISC 4 |
| 133: |
#30 Tony Madrigal (ILL) dec. Nicolar Rivera (WISC), 11-5 |
ILL 3 I WISC 4 |
| 141: |
#26 Danny Pucino (ILL) tech. fall Felix Lettini (WISC), 22-7 (6:55) |
ILL 8 I WISC 4 |
| 149: |
#22 Joseph Zargo (WISC) major dec. Jake Harrier (ILL), 19-6 |
ILL 8 I WISC 8 |
| 157: |
Joe Roberts (ILL) dec. Luke Mechler (WISC), SV-1 4-1 |
ILL 11 I WISC 8 |
| 165: |
#5 Dean Hamiti (WISC) pinned #33 Chris Moore (ILL), 2:49 |
ILL 11 I WISC 14 |
| 174: |
#8 Edmond Ruth (ILL) dec. #12 Max Maylor (WISC), 8-5 |
ILL 14 I WISC 14 |
| 184: |
#16 Shane Liegel (WISC) dec. #31 Dylan Connell (ILL), 2-0 |
ILL 14 I WISC 17 |
| 197: |
Isiah Pettigrew (ILL) major dec. Josh Otto (WISC), 12-3 |
ILL 18 I WISC 17 |
| 285: |
Gannon Rosenfeld (WISC) dec. Peter Marinopoulos (ILL), 12-6 |
ILL 18 I WISC 20 |
