Dec. 6, 2007

Findlay/McKendree Notes in PDF Format

#18 Illinois vs. Findlay/McKendree

• Mike Poeta (157) regained the No. 1 national ranking he held for nine consecutive weeks last season, following his run to the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational title last weekend. Poeta earned decisions over then-No. 1 Gregor Gillespie (Edinboro) and No. 2 Craig Henning (Wisconsin) on his way to the crown and the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler award.

• Illinois placed sixth in its trip to the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational last weekend, but Poeta grabbed the title at 157. He was one of five Illini placewinners, leading a group that included Gabe Flores (5th, 125), John Dergo (6th, 174), Patrick Bond (5th, 197) and John Wise (4th, HWT).

• Illinois has an 18-match winning streak in home-opening duals, dating back to 1991-92.

• True-freshman Grant Paswall took off his redshirt in Las Vegas, and classmate Ryan Prater will join him in the lineup this weekend. With 141-pounder Troy Tirapelle battling an injury he sustained in Vegas, Prater will jump into the starting slate after going 7-1 and losing only to Tirapelle in the title bout of the Loras Open. Prater also won the Missouri Open fresh-soph title.

Illini Open Home Season
No. 18 Illinois opens its home season with a triangular meet against Findlay and McKendree. Findlay faced the Illini last year on Dec. 9 in Illinois' home-opener, with the Orange and Blue prevailing, 38-6. The Fighting Illini have won 18-straight home-openers, dating back to 1991-92. Jumping into the lineup this weekend will be true-freshman Ryan Prater at 141, while junior Troy Tirapelle recovers from an injury sustained at the Las Vegas Invitational.

Prater's insertion into the lineup gives Illinois true-freshman in consecutive weight classes, as rookie Grant Paswall is the current starter at 149 and wrestled well in Las Vegas. It is the second time in as many years that head coach Mark Johnson has had a pair of true-freshmen in the lineup, as Jimmy Kennedy and John Dergo wrestled last season as rookies.

In addition to their first look at the 2007-08 Illini, fans can take part in the youth wrestling clinic that will be held prior to Saturday's meet. Beginning at 10:30, children eighth grade and under can learn about different techniques and moves in a hands-on clinic put on by the Illinois coaches and wrestlers. Pre-registration is required by calling the UI wrestling office at 217.333.5853.

Poeta Named Big Ten Wrestler of Week
Junior All-American Mike Poeta (157) was named Big Ten co-Wrestler of the Week on Dec. 5 after he dominated the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Poeta defeated the Nos. 1 and 2 wrestlers in the country, winning the title as the third seed. He shared the honor with Michigan true-freshman Kellen Russell, who won the 141-pound title at Las Vegas despite being unseeded and unranked. It is Poeta's second career weekly honor, also winning the award after taking home the Midlands title last season.

Illini Finish Sixth at Las Vegas
Illinois finished sixth at the Las Vegas Invitational and had five wrestlers place at the event, largely because of injuries sustained by Jimmy Kennedy and Troy Tirapelle. Mike Poeta tore through the 157-pound bracket, earning three-straight technical falls in his first three bouts before defeating No. 15 Zac Fryling (West Virginia), No. 2 Craig Henning (Wisconsin) and No. 1 Gregor Gillespie (Edinboro) in the final three rounds on his way to being named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.

Heavyweight John Wise had a stellar tournament, defeating two higher-ranked wrestlers and finishing fourth. Wise, ranked 19th, pinned eighth-ranked Jon May (Nebraska) and decisioned No. 11 Mark Ellis (Missouri). Patrick Bond (197) also wrestled well for much of the weekend, winning four-straight matches - including two major decisions and a pin - on Friday to reach the semifinals. He then fought back from consecutive losses to ranked opponents with a 10-2 major decision over Edinboro's No. 17 Pat Bradshaw to take fifth.

Gabe Flores (125) had a solid tournament as well, winning his first three matches and finishing fifth. John Dergo (174) finished sixth after winning his first three matches and losing his last three.

Illini Placewinners
1st: Mike Poeta (157)
4th: John Wise (HWT)
5th: Gabe Flores (125), Patrick Bond (197)
6th: John Dergo (174)

Seven Illini Ranked in National Polls
Seven Illinois wrestlers are currently ranked by the National Wrestling Coaches Association and W.I.N. Magazine, led by returning All-American Mike Poeta, who is No. 1 by both organizations at 157.

Sophomore 125-pounder Jimmy Kennedy is No. 7 in the NWCA rankings and No. 8 by W.I.N., and senior Gabe Flores pulled in a No. 12 listing by NWCA and a No. 14 ranking by W.I.N. at 125.

Roger Smith-Bergsrud, at 165, was ranked No. 10 by NWCA and No. 13 by W.I.N., while sophomore John Dergo was slotted at No. 12 by NWCA and No. 13 by W.I.N. Patrick Bond took the No. 12 spot at 197 by NWCA and the No. 13 spot by W.I.N., while heavyweight John Wise was ranked No. 12 by NWCA and No. 14 by W.I.N.

Poeta Pins Henning at All-Star Classic
While the rest of his teammates were heading home from the Missouri Open, junior returning All-American Mike Poeta pinned No. 2 Craig Henning from Wisconsin at the NWCA All-Star Classic in just 2:22. After a slow open to the match, Poeta stacked up Henning and sat up after the Badger went for his head, earning the fall in the first period of a scoreless bout. It was Poeta's fifth win over a higher-ranked opponent. The match also marks the first of five possible times the duo could square off, with the other four possibilities being this weekend in Las Vegas, in the teams' dual on Feb. 8, at Big Ten Championships and NCAA Championships.

*Complete match notes available in the above PDF file.