“The big thing was that we won the swing matches at 149 and 197, and we pulled out an upset at 157,” Illinois head coach Jim Heffernan said. “Dooley got pinned by that guy at a tournament two weeks ago, so it was huge for him to bounce back and get a big win tonight.”
The night started with an exhibition between Illinois’ Daryl Thomas and Missouri’s Luke Cherep. Thomas gained control early and dominated Cherep for a 13-6 decision.
At 125 pounds, Missouri’s Alan Waters got a leg on the edge of the mat and Arlis sprawled out. But Waters gained control of Arlis’ head, too, to earn the takedown. Waters rode him out for the 2-0 lead after a period. Arlis deferred and Waters started down to start the second period. Waters got out quickly and scored another takedown to go up 5-0. Arlis started down in the third and Waters scored a two-point near-fall before Arlis kicked out. Arlis scored a late takedown and was looking for a pin but couldn’t finish it as he dropped an 8-3 decision.
B.J. Futrell started the scoring at 133, getting a leg from Nathan McCormick and finishing it on the edge of the mat. After putting on a ride of over one minute, McCormick escaped, but Futrell once again picked McCormick’s ankle and took him down for a 4-1 lead after one period. Futrell started down in the second and scrambled through for a reversal to go up 6-2 after McCormick escaped. Futrell added another takedown in the second period and rode out McCormick for an 8-2 lead after five minutes. McCormick started down in the third and escaped quickly. The two wrestlers ended the period on their feet with Futrell adding the riding-time point for a 9-3 win, tying the match at 3-3.
No. 2 Jimmy Kennedy took an early shot and connected, eventually working it into a takedown after breaking No. 17 Todd Schavrien’s defensive hold. Schavrien escaped after Kennedy rode him for 45 seconds and the two finished the period on their feet with Kennedy leading 4-1. Kennedy started down in the second and Schavrien rode him hard, keeping control for the entire period. Schavrien then started down in the third and escaped to cut Kennedy’s lead to 4-2, but Kennedy gained control of Schavrien’s legs on the edge of the mat for the deciding takedown with 35 seconds left. Schavrien escaped but Kennedy held on for the 6-3 win to give the Illini a 6-3 lead.
Eighty seconds into the match at 149, Eric Terrazas earned a penalty point after Missouri’s Kyle Bradley made an unsportsmanlike contact after the whistle had blown. Terrazas then got in on a double-leg and finished it for a takedown. Terrazas rode him out for a 3-0 lead with over a minute of riding time after one period. Bradley started down in the second and Terrazas rode him hard for the whole period, racking up 3:16 of riding time. Terrazas chose neutral to start the third but Bradley scored a takedown with 42 seconds left in the match. He cut Terrazas loose and Terrazas shot in on a single-leg, which he finished for a takedown with five seconds left for the 7-2 win after adding the riding-time point.
Kyle Dooley shot in on a double-leg and planted Missouri’s No. 20 Dan Gonsor on the edge of the mat for a takedown. Gonsor escaped and had Dooley’s leg, but the Illini sophomore kept hold of the Tiger’s foot to force a stalemate. Doolely then worked through another takedown on the edge for a 4-1 lead with 90 seconds left in the first period. Gonsor escaped but the pair ended the period on their feet with Dooley leading 4-2. Dooley chose neutral to start the second, but Gonsor shot just 15 seconds into the period. Dooley fended it off for another stalemate, holding onto his lead. The two finished the period on their feet and Gonsor chose top position to start the third. Dooley was given a stalling warning with 63 seconds left, but he escaped Gonsor’s grasp and when the Tiger chased him, he got both ankles and scored a takedown on the edge of the mat for a 7-2 lead. He was called for stalling, giving Gonsor a point, but he rode out the Tiger for a 7-3 win that increased the Illini margin to 12-3.
Conrad Polz had two good shots early in the first period, but No. 13 Zach Toal fended off both of them to keep the bout scoreless. After a blood timeout late in the first period, Toal shot off the whistle and got a takedown, but Polz escaped quickly. Polz started down in the second and got out in 17 seconds to tie the match 2-2. Toal picked Polz’ ankle and got the takedown but Polz escaped quickly to make Toal’s lead 4-3. Toal started down in the third and escaped in 15 seconds to go ahead 5-3. Toal added a takedown with 35 seconds left, Polz escaped and Toal countered a late shot by Polz to make the final score 10-4 with the riding-time point.
No. 3 Jordan Blanton scored a takedown with two minutes left in the first period against Patrick Wright. Wright escaped and the two finished the period neutral before Blanton started down in the second. Blanton escaped and the pair wrestled neutral the rest of the period. Wright started down in the third and got out quickly. He got in on Blanton’s legs but the Illini junior kept hold of one of Wright’s legs as time ran out during the scramble, with Blanton winning 3-2 to increase Illinois’ lead to 15-6.
Redshirt-freshman Tony Dallago fended off a couple of early shots from Missouri’s Dorian Henderson and nearly landed a takedown, but Henderson circled behind him and got a takedown of his own. Dallago scrambled free to make the score 2-1. Henderson started down in the second and reversed Dallago as the Illini tried to earn near-fall points. Henderson scored two near-fall points and Dallago escaped, but Henderson scored another takedown off a restart. Dallago started down in the third and escaped, but Henderson knocked him back and covered him for another takedown. Dallago escaped and Henderson scored another takedown. Dallago escaped and Henderson blocked a shot, scrambling into position. He added the riding-time point for the 15-5 win, cutting Illinois’ lead to 15-10.
Redshirt-freshman Mario Gonzalez came out as the aggressor against Missouri’s Jake Glore, scoring a takedown with 1:30 left in the first period after winning a scramble. Gonzalez rode him out and started down in the second. He quickly reversed Glore and rode him out for a 4-0 lead after two periods. Glore chose neutral to start the third and Gonzalez took him down with 30 seconds left before riding him out for the 7-0 win, locking up Illinois’ team victory as the Illini went ahead 18-10.
Missouri’s third-ranked Dom Bradley and Pat Walker wrestled a scoreless first period before Bradley started down in the second period and escaped. The two wrestled neutral through the second period and started neutral in the third before Bradley scored a takedown and rode out Walker for a 3-0 win.
The Illini return to action as a team on Dec. 3-4 at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, but Blanton will wrestle at the NWCA All-Star Classic on Nov. 21.
Results:
125: Alan Waters (MU) dec. Logan Arlis (ILL), 8-3 (0-3)
133: B.J. Futrell (ILL) dec. Nathan McCormick (MU), 9-3 (3-3)
141: #2 Jimmy Kennedy dec. #17 Todd Schavrien (MU), 6-3 (6-3)
149: Eric Terrazas (ILL) dec. Kyle Bradley (MU), 7-2 (9-3)
157: Kyle Dooley (ILL) dec. #20 Dan Gonsor (MU), 7-3 (12-3)
165: #13 Zach Toal (MU) dec. Conrad Polz (ILL), 10-4 (12-6)
174: #14 Jordan Blanton (ILL) dec. Patrick Wright (MU), 3-2 (15-6)
184: Dorian Henderson (MU) maj. dec. Tony Dallago (ILL), 15-5 (15-10)
197: Mario Gonzalez (ILL) dec. Jake Glore (MU), 7-0 (18-10)
HWT: #3 Dom Bradley dec. Pat Walker (ILL), 3-0 (18-13)
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