Highlighting the dual was a breakthrough performance by redshirt sophomore Tom Kelliher at 125 lbs. Entering the dual, Kelliher displayed a 2-3 record on the season. Earning his first major decision of his career, Kelliher notched the Badgers’ (8-1-1, 0-0-1 Big Ten) only victory by bonus points with an 11-0 win over Logan Arlis. Wisconsin trailed 15-12 entering the bout, but Kelliher’s victory was the turning point of the match as he earned the Badgers’ four points to take a 16-15 lead on the Fighting Illini (2-2-1, 1-1-1 Big Ten).
Illinois opted to begin the dual at 149 lbs. where UW had to forfeit the match, awarding Eric Terrazas a victory and giving the Illini a 6-0 lead to start competition.
Redshirt freshman Shawn Perry then earned Wisconsin its first win by defeating Jackson Morse by a 9-4 decision. Morse struck first with a takedown 20 seconds into the bout, but Perry responded with an escape and a takedown of his own. Perry scored two additional takedowns, an escape and 3:21 of riding time to bring the Badgers within two points of Illinois.
At 165 lbs., No. 2 junior Andrew Howe then faced Conrad Polz. After wrestling for 30 seconds, Howe asked for an injury timeout. He then went back on the mat, but was quickly pulled from the match by his coaches, giving Polz a win by injury default and awarding the Illini six points. Illinois took a 12-3 lead as a result of the forfeit.
Illinois earned its first non-forfeit victory of the matchup at 174 lbs. where redshirt freshman Kalvin York fell to Ben Friedl by a 6-5 decision. Entering the third period, Friedl had a 5-2 lead over York. York was able to notch an escape with 29 seconds to go and a takedown to tie the match with two seconds remaining, but Friedl’s riding time of 2:39 gave him the victory. Friedl’s win extended Illinois’ lead to 15-3, its largest of the day.
No. 4 junior Travis Rutt then defeated Joe Barczak by a 4-1 decision, beginning a run of five-straight victories for UW. Rutt took an early lead with a takedown in the first period, but did not score in the second period. He registered an escape right off the restart of the third period and earned 1:39 of riding time to clinch the victory. The win narrowed the Illini lead to 15-6.
Redshirt freshman Derrick Borlie then brought the Badgers within six points of Illinois with an 8-3 decision over Tony Dallago at 197 lbs. Borlie scored three takedowns and a reversal in his fifth-consecutive victory of the season.
After Kelliher helped the Badgers’ lead Illinois, 16-15, the 133 lbs. matchup featured the only bout with two ranked wrestlers between No. 3 redshirt sophomore Tyler Graff and No. 7 B.J. Futrell. The wrestlers sized each other up for the majority of the bout, but Graff capitalized in the third period, registering two takedowns and two escapes. Graff earned a 7-3 victory over Futrell, adding 2:03 of riding time and extending Wisconsin’s lead to 19-15.
In the final match of the dual, Illinois tied the team score, 19-19, with a four-point tech fall by Thomas over redshirt freshman Danny Arnel. The tech fall was only worth four points instead of five because Thomas did not score any nearfall points in the bout. Arnel recorded 10 escapes in the match.
The Badgers remain winless against the Illini in their last 14 meetings, having been outperformed 12-0-2.
Wisconsin returns to action at the UW Field House on Friday, Jan. 21, to take on No. 16 Nebraska, where Howe will face No. 1-ranked Jordan Burroughs, the first wrestler to defeat him in the past two seasons.
Results:
149: #12 Eric Terrazas (ILL) by forfeit (6-0)
157: Shawn Perry (UW) dec. Jackson Morse (ILL), 9-4 (6-3)
165: Conrad Polz (ILL) by injury default (12-3)
174: Ben Friedl (ILL) dec. Kalvin York (UW), 6-5 (15-3)
184: #4 Travis Rutt (UW) dec. Joe Barczak (ILL), 4-1 (15-6)
197: Derrick Borlie (UW) dec. Tony Dallago (ILL), 8-3 (15-9)
HWT: #18 Eric Bugenhagen (UW) dec. Pat Walker (ILL), 2-1 (15-12)
125: Tom Kelliher (UW) maj. dec. Logan Arlis (ILL), 11-0 (15-16)
133: #3 Tyler Graff (UW) dec. #7 B.J. Futrell (ILL), 7-3 (15-19)
141: Daryl Thomas (ILL) tech. fall Danny Arnel (UW), 25-9 (6:56) (19-19)
Dan Gable Open
Several Badgers also competed at the UW-Oshkosh Dan Gable Wrestling Open at the Kolf Sports Center in Oshkosh, Wis. UW earned five championship titles and three second-place finishes.
The Wisconsin title winners include freshman Shane McQuade (125 lbs.), freshman Thomas Glenn (141 lbs.), freshman Frank Cousins (174 lbs.), sophomore Jackson Hein (197 lbs.) and redshirt freshman Cole Tobin (Heavyweight).
Freshmen Matt Cavallaris (125 lbs.) and Dylan iczkowski (174 lbs.) lost to teammates in the championship round, while freshman Ben Cox (165 lbs.) dropped a 2-1 decision to Ryan Renon of Lakeland College.
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