Illini Wrestling Dominates Wildcats in Home Finale, 29-6
Illinois Breaks Single-Season Dual Win Record, Jayne Posts Career 100th Victory
The third-ranked University of Illinois wrestling team wrapped up its home season, Thursday night, in fine fashion with a 29-6 victory over the 18th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats at Huff Hall. In front of a the second-largest crowd in school history, 2,048, the Illini recorded their 15th dual win of the season to set a new Illinois single-season record. Senior Mark Jayne also went out on top with a 13-5 major decision over Daniel Quintela to become the 13th wrestler in school history to post 100 career wins. The team improved to 15-1-1 overall 6-0-1 in the Big Ten.
The match began with the marquee bout of the day at 174 pounds. Illini junior Pete Friedl (Orland Park, Ill.) won an important match, which determines who claims the No. 1 seed at the Big Ten tournament. Fourth-ranked Friedl beat up on previously undefeated and third-ranked Jake Herbert, 11-4, at 174. The bout was the first of five against ranked wrestlers from Northwestern. At 184 pounds, senior third-ranked Brian Glynn (Orland Park, Ill.) remained undefeated in conference action with a 9-4 win over No. 18 Mike Tamillow. The Illini then saw the first of two losses on the night with a tight overtime decision at 197. No. 13 Tyrone Byrd (Jr., Clinton, Ill.) scored the first takedown in the match, but allowed 14th-ranked Matt Delguyd to score in the last 30 seconds to tie the match 3-3. After one scoreless overtime period, Delguyd rode Byrd for the first 30 seconds of the second period, and got an escape in his half to earn the tie-breaking point.
At heavyweight, sophomore Matt Behnke (Villa Park, Ill.) came up with the upset of No. 15 Dustin Fox, 5-3. Behnke got two takedowns in the third period to solidify the win. The second loss came at 125 pounds as No. 10 John Velez of Northwestern got the winning takedown over No. 2 Kyle Ott (Jr., Huber Heights, Ohio) with only six seconds left in the match to win 5-3. Illinois’ gap closed to 9-6. However, the team went on to win the final five matches. Jayne (Sr., Elyria, Ohio), in the milestone match, scored at will over Daniel Quintela, racking up five takedowns and nearly two minutes of riding time in the 13-5 major decision at 133.
As has become customary with 19th-ranked Cassio Pero (Chicago Heights, Ill.), the sophomore wrestled in an action-packed match, winning 11-4 over Ryan Lang. Pero gave up a takedown early, but bounced back to get his own offensive score getting Lang to his back for the quick near fall points. He added two takedowns in the second and another in the third. Senior Anton Dietzen (Elmhurst, Ill.) was also victorious in his final career bout at home, nearly shutting out Jimmy Kim, 9-1, for the major decision at 149 pounds. Third-ranked Alex Tirapelle (Jr., Clovis, Calif.) was leading 8-0 on Mike Kimberlin before getting him locked on his back for the fall in 6:22. At 165 pounds, sophomore 11th-ranked Donny Reynolds (Frankfort, Ill.) got the decisive takedown in the last six seconds to defeat Nick Hayes, 5-2.
The No. 3 Illini hope to close out the regular season on a winning note when they head to Minneapolis to take on No. 10 Minnesota on Sunday, at 2 p.m. Illinois defeated the Gophers earlier in the season, 20-15, in the semifinals of the National Duals Tournament.
174: #4 Pete Friedl (ILL) dec. #3 Jake Herbert (NU), 11-4 (3-0)
184: #3 Brian Glynn (ILL) dec. #18 Mike Tamillow (NU), 9-4 (6-0)
197: #14 Matt Delguyd (NU) dec. #13 Tyrone Byrd (ILL), 4-3 2 ot (6-3)
Hwt: Mike Behnke (ILL) dec. #15 Dustin Fox (NU), 5-3 (9-3)
125: #10 John Velez (NU) dec. #2 Kyle Ott (ILL), 5-3 (9-6)
133: #3 Mark Jayne (ILL) major dec. Daniel Quintela (NU), 13-5 (13-6)
141: #19 Cassio Pero (ILL) dec. Ryan Lang (NU), 11-4 (16-6)
149: #12 Anton Dietzen (ILL) major dec. Jimmy Kim (NU), 9-1 (20-6)
157: #3 Alex Tirapelle (ILL) won by fall Mike Kimberlin (NU), 6:22 (26-6)
165: #11 Donny Reynolds (ILL) dec. Nick Hayes (NU), 5-2
Wrestling Gear
