Illinois Wrestlers Dominate Purdue, 32-6
Victory Brings Fighting Illini to 3-0 in Conference Action
The second-ranked Fighting Illini wrestling team remained undefeated in the Big Ten (3-0) action with a victory over Purdue in the first of two away duals this weekend. The Boilermakers didn’t have a chance as the Illini claimed victories in all but two matches. This brings the Illini to 10-3 against the Boilermakers under head coach Mark Johnson. The Illini also improve to 12-1 overall this season.
The meet started at heavyweight, where sophomore Mike Behnke (Villa Park, Ill.) got the Illini rolling with a decision over Jake O’Brien in a close match. After a scoreless first period, Behnke got a quick escape in the second to take the lead, 1-0. O’Brien escaped in the third period to tie the match up 1-1 and bring it into overtime. Neither wrestler scored in the first minute of overtime, but Behnke’s reversal in the first 30-second period secured the Illini win, 3-1. Second-ranked Kyle Ott (Jr., Huber Heights, Ohio) followed up in dominating fashion at 125 pounds, defeating Brandon Tucker by technical fall, 25-10 (6:55). Fourth-ranked Mark Jayne (Sr., Elyria, Ohio) then brought the team score to 14-0 by pinning Sean Schmaltz in 3:43 during the 133-pound match. At 141 pounds, sophomore Cassio Pero (Chicago Heights, Ill.) was off to a rocky start in the first period. He gave up a pair of takedowns to Ben Sprunger, but worked his way back in the next two periods to win the match convincingly by a 15-8 decision, bringing the team score to 17-0.
In the highly anticipated 149-pound match, senior Anton Dietzen (Elmhurst, Ill.) dropped a close 5-4 overtime decision to Doug Withstandley. Dietzen was able to score a reversal in the first of two 30-second periods in overtime, but was outscored by Withstandley, who got an escape and takedown in the second. Second-ranked Alex Tirapelle (Jr., Clovis, Calif.) retaliated with an Illini win at 157 pounds over Colton Salazar. Tirapelle scored the first takedown early in the match and accumulated some riding time, heading into the second period with a 2-0 lead. He continued to control the match, and finished with a 13-5 major decision over Salazar. Senior Anthony Castillo (Western Springs, Ill.) wrestled at 165 pounds, where he brought the team score to 24-3 with a 6-5 decision over John DeCeault.
Fourth-ranked Pete Friedl (Jr., Orland Park, Ill.) brought Illinois fans to their feet with a 19-3 technical fall over Barry Jackson in 6:00, increasing the Illini lead to 29-3. In an exciting 184-pound match, third-ranked senior Brian Glynn (Orland Park, Ill.) defeated No. 15 Ben Wissel in overtime. Each wrestler escaped during the match, bringing the score to 1-1 at the end of regulation. Glynn scored a takedown in the first period of overtime, winning the match 3-1. At 197 pounds, ninth-ranked Tyrone Byrd (Jr., Clinton, Ill.) lost a close decision to Nathan Moore, 6-4.
The Fighting Illini next travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., Sunday where they face the University of Michigan Wolverines.
#2 Illinois (12-1, 3-0) vs. Purdue (7-9, 1-3), 32-6
Hwt: Mike Behnke (ILL) dec. Jake O’Brien (PUR), 3-1ot 3-0
125: #2 Kyle Ott (ILL) tech. fall Brandon Tucker (PUR), 25-10 (6:55) 8-0
133: #4 Mark Jayne (ILL) pinned Sean Schmaltz (PUR), 3:43 14-0
141: Cassio Pero (ILL) dec. Ben Sprunger (PUR), 15-8 17-0
149: #11 Doug Withstandley (PUR) dec. #12 Anton Dietzen (ILL), 5-4ot 17-3
157: #2 Alex Tirapelle (ILL) major dec. Colton Salazar (PUR), 13-5 21-3
165: Anthony Castillo (ILL) dec. John DeCeault (PUR), 6-5 24-3
174: #4 Pete Friedl (ILL) Barry Jackson (PUR), 19-3 (6:00) 29-3
184: #3 Brian Glynn (ILL) dec. #15 Ben Wissel (PUR), 3-1ot 32-3
197: #16 Nathan Moore (PUR) dec. #9 Tyrone Byrd (ILL), 6-4 32-6
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