Illinois Shuts Out NC State Wrestling, 40-0
Sophomore heavyweight Jainor Palma dropped a 5-2 decision to 14th-ranked Mike Behnke in the Wolfpack’s 40-0 loss on Saturday at No. 2 Illinois
Fighting Illini Score Big With Forfeit and Three Technical Falls
Second-ranked Illinois, boasting a loaded lineup featuring five returning All-Americans, wrestling like the No. 2 team in the country Saturday in Champaign, Ill., by putting a 40-0 whipping on NC State. Illinois, unbeaten in dual matches this season, improved to 6-0. NC State’s record evened at 3-3.
The Wolfpack, which started three freshmen and four sophomores, had its best shot at winning a bout in the first, fifth and last matches of the afternoon. Sophomore 125-pounder Garrett Cummings lost a 4-2 decision to second-ranked Kyle Ott in the opening bout of the day. At 157, freshman Kody Hamrah fell two points short of Cal Ferry, falling 9-7. Sophomore heavyweight Jainor Palma dropped a 5-2 decision to No. 14 Mike Behnke in the final match of the day.
Everything else was seven points or greater for the Illini, who got technical falls from 141-pounder Cassio Pero, fifth-ranked 174-pounder Pete Friedl and fourth-ranked 184-pounder Brian Glynn.
The road does not get any easier for the Wolfpack, at least not for another week. NC State hosts sixth-ranked Nebraska next Saturday at Reynolds Coliseum. The match starts at 7 p.m., and admission is free of charge.
Illinois 40, N.C. State 0
125 – No. 2 Kyle Ott (Ill.) dec. Garrett Cummings, 4-2
133 – Gabe Flores (Ill.) won by forfeit
141 – Cassio Pero (Ill.) tech fall Jeff Breese, 17-2, 7:00
149 – No. 19 Anton Dietzen (Ill.) dec. Alex Hernandez, 15-8
157 – Cal Ferry (Ill.) dec. Kody Hamrah, 9-7
165 – No. 13 Donny Reynolds (Ill.) maj dec. Ryan Nowicki, 8-0
174 – No. 5 Pete Friedl (Ill.) tech fall Kevin Gabrielson, 19-2, 5:35
184 – No. 4 Brian Glynn (Ill.) tech fall Jeremy Colbert, 16-0, 4:35
197 – No. 14 Tyrone Byrd (Ill.) dec. Zach Garren, 9-2
Hwt – No. 14 Mike Behnke (Ill.) dec. Jainor Palma, 5-
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