#4 Illinois Takes on #12 Wisconsin in Regular-Season Finale

[TomM]

For Immediate Release: Feb. 6, 2015
SID Contact: Paul Hurd, C: 563.571.0118; O: 217.300.1449
Link: http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-wrestl/spec-rel/020615aab.html
FIGHTING ILLINI WRESTLING
#4 Illinois Takes on #12 Wisconsin in Regular-Season Finale
Illini to hold senior recognition pre-meet
Notes | Coach Heffernan Press Conference | Coach Heffernan Interview
#4 Illinois vs. #12 Wisconsin
Sunday, Feb. 8 // 2:00 p.m. CT // Huff Hall // CHampaign, Ill.
"Senior Day"
Live Stream | Live Results | Listen Live
#4 Illinois Probable Wrestlers
125 1/1 Jesse Delgado, 4-0, Sr.
133 3/6 Zane Richards, 21-3, R-So.
141 13/12 Steven Rodrigues, 12-7, R-Jr.
149 -/- Kyle Langenderfer, 14-11, R-Fr.
157 2/3 Isaiah Martinez, 24-0, R-Fr.
165 8/9 Jackson Morse, 23-3, R-Sr.
174 8/9 Zac Brunson, 21-4, R-So.
184 18/20 Nikko Reyes, 20-8, R-So.
197 -/- Jeff Koepke, 15-11, R-Jr.
HWT -/- Brooks Black, 14-9, R-Fr.
OR -/- Christopher Lopez, 11-5, R-Jr.
*Rankings are listed in W.I.N./InterMat
Quick Hits
1.   Illinois leads the all-time series with Wisconsin, 39-26-3 (.596). Wisconsin squeaked out a 19-18 win over the Illini in last season's meeting between the two in Madison. Illinois won the last meeting in Huff Hall, 38-3, in 2012.
2.   The Illini will be recognizing Logan Arlis, Jesse Delgado, Jeff Koepke, Jackson Morse and Dominic Olivieri as part of its Senior Day recognition on Sunday. This group has compiled a combined record of 305-167 (.646) in their careers.
3.   After suffering three consecutive losses in the middle of January, Illinois has now won three straight matches. During this time, the Illini have outscored Northwestern, Maryland and Purdue, 84-21.
4.   Isaiah Martinez leads NCAA Division I in technicals falls this season ( and ranks sixth on the NCAA's initial Most Dominant Wrestler standings.
5.   Delgado (No. 1), Zane Richards (No. 3), Martinez (No. 2), Morse (No. and Zac Brunson (No. are all ranked in the top 10 of W.I.N. Magazine's individual rankings. Steven Rodrigues (No. 13) and Nikko Reyes (No. 18) are also recognized in their respective weight classes.
6.   Delgado and Morse each enter the weekend with 95 career wins, tied for 23rd on Illinois' all-time wins list. If both wrestlers crack the 100-win plateau, they would become the 21st and 22nd wrestlers in school history to accomplish the feat.
7.   Delgado and Morse also each have 19 pins in their careers, one win by fall away from jumping into the top 10 on the Illini career pins list.
Matchups to Watch
133: #3 Zane Richards vs. #7 Ryan Taylor
Richards is coming off an upset loss to #11 Danny Sabatello of Purdue. Taylor will be the seventh ranked wrestler that Richards has wrestled this season. Richards is 3-3 against ranked foes this season.
165: #8 Jackson Morse vs. #3 Isaac Jordan
Morse is 6-2 since the start of Big Ten competition. He is 3-3 against ranked opponents this season, but Jordan has the best ranking of anyone Morse has faced this season. Jordan is up from a weight class after wrestling at 157 pounds last season.
184: #18 Nikko Reyes vs. #14 Ricky Robertson
Reyes has won three straight matches entering his bout with Robertson. Reyes is just 1-8 against ranked opponents this season. Reyes is 5-3 in Big Ten duals, while Robertson is 6-1.

-ILLINI-
Paul Hurd
Athletic Communications Intern
Division of Intercollegiate Athletics | University of Illinois
SID Contact: XC, Track & Field, Wrestling, Swimming & Diving
Office: 217.300.1449 | Cell: 563.571.0118