The dual started at 197 pounds with Jeff Koepke earning a 2-0 decision over Andrew Campolattano. A 2-1, sudden victory by No. 10 Billy Smith over Brooks Black tied the match after the heavyweight bout. Rutgers took its only lead of the dual after Sean McCabe beat Dominic Olivieri, 5-4, at 125 pounds.
Trailing 6-3, No. 3 Zane Richards got the Illini back on track at 133 pounds. Richards' 11-8 decision over Scott Delvecchio tied the contest, and No. 16 Steven Rodrigues 2-0 victory over #8 Anthony Ashnault gave Illinois a 9-6 lead. Ken Theobold downed Kyle Langenderfer, 5-2, at 141 pounds to tie the contest, but the Orange and Blue won the final four weight classes to seal the win.
At 157 pounds, No. 5 Isaiah Martinez won a convincing 19-6 bout against No. 18 Anthony Perrotti, a 2014 All-American. In the battle, Martinez recorded six takedowns and a two-point near-fall to earn his 12th extra-point win of the season. No. 8 Jackson Morse followed the lead of Martinez in the 165-pound rumble, earning a 10-2 major decision over Nick Gravina. No. 6 Zac Brunson's 8-2 win over No. 20 Phil Bakuckas at 174-pounds sealed the victory for the Illini, and No. 14 Nikko Reyes closed out the night with a convincing 12-4 major decision over Anthony Pafumi.
The Illini will be back in action on Sunday, Jan. 11 as they take on Indiana in Bloomington, Indiana. The dual is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET at University Gym.
Results:
197: Jeff Koepke (ILL) over Andrew Campolattano (RUTG) (Dec 2-0)
285: #10 Billy Smith (RUTG) over Brooks Black (ILL) (SV-2 2-1)
125: Sean McCabe (RUTG) over Dominic Olivieri (ILL) (Dec 5-4)
133: #3 Zane Richards (ILL) over Scott Delvecchio (RUTG) (Dec 11-8)
141: #16 Steven Rodrigues (ILL) over #8 Anthony Ashnault (RUTG) (Dec 2-0)
149: Ken Theobold (RUTG) over Kyle Langenderfer (ILL) (Dec 5-2)
157: #4 Isaiah Martinez (ILL) over #18 Anthony Perrotti (RUTG) (MD 19-6)
165: #8 Jackson Morse (ILL) over Nick Gravina (RUTG) (MD 10-2)
174: #6 Zac Brunson (ILL) over #20 Phil Bakuckas (RUTG) (Dec 8-2)
184: #14 Nikko Reyes (ILL) over Anthony Pafumi (RUTG) (MD 12-4)
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