The dual started at 141 pounds and saw junior All-American Cassio Pero (Chicago Heights, Ill.) post an 8-2 decision against T.J. Enright. Pero was in control of the match from the beginning and scored a takedown in every period. In the 149-pound bout, Troy Tirapelle (Clovis, Calif.) dropped a heartbreaking decision to J Jaggers, 9-7. In the first period, Jaggers scored a takedown to get an early lead against the Illini redshirt-freshman. In the second, the Buckeyes' eighth-ranked wrestler extended his lead by scoring on an escape, a takedown, and a three-point nearfall, but Tirapelle scored on a reversal at the end of the period to keep the match within reach. In the third period, Tirapelle came out with an escape and a takedown, but even adding a late takedown wasn't enough to recover from the deficit.
At 157, top-ranked Alex Tirapelle (Clovis, Calif.) added to Illinois' score by winning a major decision over Steve Sommer, 13-5. With no score in the first period, the Illini's senior All-American overwhelmed Sommer with six takedowns in the win. Eighth-ranked Mike Poeta (Highwood, Ill.) won his 165-pound match over Nathaniel Augustson via major decision, 14-5. The Illini's redshirt-freshman used his speed and strength to control the Buckeye senior and never let him score a takedown. At 174, Ohio State's Blake Maurer evened the season score against Donny Reynolds (Frankfort, Ill.) by pinning him in 2:44 of the first period. The two last met at the Las Vegas Invite in December.
The dual picked up at 184 as Pete Friedl (Orland Park, Ill.) edged Alex Picazo, 8-7. With the Illini senior All-American up 5-4 entering the third period, Picazo tied the score on an escape. After Friedl scored a takedown, Picazo tied the match again by scoring on a reversal as time expired. With 1:29 of riding time added to his score, the fourth-ranked Illini walked away the victor. At 197, Tyrone Byrd (Clinton, Ill.) won a decision over Corey Morrison, 6-1. The ninth-ranked Illini senior kept the pressure on Morrison by scoring a takedown in the first period and adding a two-point near fall in the second to control the match. In his second overtime in two days, heavyweight Matt Weight (Batavia, Ill.) dropped a decision against Kirk Nail, 4-2. With Weight down a point to start the third period, he scored two points on a reversal. Nail, then, tied the score right away with an escape to send the match into overtime. In the extra period, Nail scored a takedown with 14 seconds left to seal the win for the Buckeyes.
The highlight of the day saw All-American Kyle Ott pin Anner Arroyo with 36 seconds left in the first period. Ott (an Ohio native from Huber Heights) not only gave family and friends something to scream about, he sealed the victory for the Illini with the pin. With a 2-0 lead in the first period, the Illini senior used his explosive quickness to overwhelm the Buckeye freshman who was competing in his first match. At 133, Gabe Flores (Madera, Calif.) finally posted a Big Ten victory by winning a major decision over Reece Humphrey, 11-2.
The Illini return to Huff Gym for a Big Ten showdown against fourth-ranked Michigan on Friday, Feb. 2. The action starts 7 p.m.
#3 Illinois 27, Ohio State 12
St. John Arena-Columbus, Ohio-Jan. 30, 2006
141- Cassio Pero (ILL.) dec. T.J. Enright (OSU), 8-2 3-0
149- No. 8 J Jaggers (OSU) dec. Troy Tirapelle, 9-7 3-3
157- No. 1 Alex Tirapelle (ILL.) maj. dec. Steve Sommer (OSU), 13-5 7-3
165- No. 8 Mike Poeta (ILL.) maj. dec. Nathaniel Auguston (OSU), 14-5 11-3
174- Blake Maurer (OSU) pinned No. 6 Donny Reynolds (ILL.), 2:14 11-9
184- No. 4 Pete Friedl (ILL.) dec. Alex Picazo (OSU), 8-7 14-9
197- No. 9 Tyrone Byrd (ILL.) dec. Corey Morrison (OSU), 17-9
HWT- Kirk Nail (OSU) dec. Matt Weight (ILL.), 4-2 (sv) 17-12
125- No. 3 Kyle Ott (ILL.) pinned Anner Arroyo (OSU), 0:36 23-12
133- Gabe Flores (ILL.) maj. dec. Reece Humphrey (OSU), 11-2 27-12
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