@IlliniWrestling Travel to Wisconsin for Sunday Dual

[TomM]

@IlliniWrestling Travel to Wisconsin for Sunday Dual
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, January 29, 2016

SID Contact: Chad Beyler (O: 217.300.1449; C: 217.493.3777 or beyler2@illinois.edu

Link: http://fightingillini.com/news/2016/1/29/WREST_0129162101.aspx
FIGHTING ILLINI WRESTLING
@IlliniWrestling Travel to Wisconsin for Sunday Dual 

Match Live on BTN2Go at 12 p.m. CT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.—  The Orange and Blue enter Sunday's contest with the Badgers after a week away from competition. Sunday's match will begin at 12 p.m. central time and can be seen live on BTN2Go with a paid subscription.
Last time out, the Illini lost a tough match at home to top-ranked Penn State. Although the Illini won four of the ten bouts against the Nittany Lions, Coach Heffernan's squad managed bonus points in only one match, while Penn State earned extra tallies in five of their six victories. Three Fighting Illini entered the match undefeated on the season, but only one of them remained unscathed by the end of the day. Zane Ricahrds (19-0) won by decision over his fourth-ranked opponent of the Big Ten season, winning 8-2 over #6 Jordan Conaway. At 174 pounds, Zac Brunson hung tight with #2 Bo Nickal, but was taken down and pinned with just 11 seconds left in regulation. Meanwhile, Isaiah Martinez's 61-match win streak, seven as a red-shirt freshman, was snapped as he was pinned in the second period by #3 Jason Nolf. The loss dropped the Illini to 1-4 in Big Ten play, although each of the losses have come to top-10 opponents.
The Badgers enter the weekend not having competed since January 15 due to snowstorm Jonas postponing last weekend's matches against Rutgers and Maryland. Wisconsin is currently winless in Big Ten play (0-3) after running the gauntlet with matches against #1 Penn State, #2 Iowa, and #9 Ohio State to open their conference slate. The Wisconsin grapplers are led by two top-5 wrestlers in #3 Isaac Jordan (165) and #5 Ryan Taylor (133). The two All-Americans are a combined 16-2 on the season.

Probable Starters

#11 Illinois (10-4, 1-4)
Probable Wrestlers
125  -/-/- Francis Edelen (1-13), Fr.
133 2/2/2 Zane Richards (19-0, 5-0), r-Jr.
141  -/-/- Mousa Jodeh (3-5, 0-1), Fr.
149  -/-/- Kyle Langenderfer (6-8, 2-3), r-So.
157  2/2/1 Isaiah Martinez (19-1, 4-1), r-So.
165  6/4/7 Steven Rodrigues (18-1, 4-1), r-Sr.
174  4/2/2 Zac Brunson (14-1, 1-1), r-Jr.
184  -/16/14   Jeff Koepke (15-4, 3-2), r-Sr.
197  -/-/- Andre Lee (10-8, 0-5), r-Fr.
HWT -/-/- Brooks Black (14-5, 2-3), r-So.
Records are in overall, Big Ten format
Rankings are listed in Intermat, W.I.N., OpenMat

Wisconsin (1-4, 0-3)
Probable Wrestlers
125  -/-/- Johnny Jimenez (9-10, 0-3), Fr.
133  7/5/- Ryan Taylor (1-2, 1-1), r-Jr.
OR   -/-/- Jens Lantz (4-3, 0-0), r-Fr.
141  -/-/- Luke Rowh (7-11, 0-2), r-Fr.
OR   -/-/- Gabriel Grahek (3-5, 0-1), r-Fr.
149  -/-/- Andrew Crone (8-7, 0-2), r-So.
157  -/-/- T.J. Ruschell (7-10, 0-3), r-Jr.
165  3/3/3 Isaac Jordan (15-0, 3-0) r-Jr.
174  -/19/-    Ricky Robertson (10-7, 1-2)  r-So.
184  -/-/- Ryan Christensen (12-12, 0-3), r-Fr.
197  -/-/- Eric Peissig (3-10, 0-3), r-So.
OR   -/-/- Nic Veling (6-5, 0-0), r-Jr.
HWT  -/-/- Brock Horwath (11-9, 1-2), Sr.
Records are in overall, Big Ten format
Rankings are listed in Intermat, W.I.N., OpenMat

Series History Against Wisconsin: ILL Leads 40-26-3
Sunday's match will be the two school's 70th meeting, with Illinois holding a 40-26-3 advantage over the Badgers. The two teams met last season at Huff Hall as part of Senior Night on February 8. The #4 Illini closed out the regular season with a 20-15 victory over the 12th-ranked visitors. Jeff Koepke got Illinois on the board at 197 pounds, but the Illini trailed 12-6 at the match's midway point. Illinois rebounded with victories from Rodrigues, Langenderfer, Martinez, and Brunson to earn the comeback victory.

Weekend Matchups to Watch
Sunday's matchup at UW Field House will feature a pair of top-five matchups on mat, as well as two Illini looking to rebound after their first loss of the season.

133: #2 Zane Richards (ILL) vs. #5 Ryan Taylor (WIS)
As the only undefeated wrestler left on Coach Heffernan's squad, Zane Richards will look for his 20th win of the season, and fifth win over a ranked opponent. Although Richards owns top-5 wins over then #1 Cory Clark (Iowa) and #5 Jordan Conaway (Penn State), this will be the first of its nature away from Huff Hall. The junior enters the match with the second-most dual points among Illini starters (63), tailing Isaiah Martinez by just two points.
Taylor is 1-2 after missing time to begin the season, both of his losses coming against ranked opponents. In 2015, Taylor went 9-0 in conference duals, finished runner-up at Big Ten Championships, and placed seventh at NCAA Championships to earn All-America honors.
The two grapplers have faced-off in the final weekend of hte regular season in Champaign. Illinois defeated the Badgers 20-15, but No. 7 Taylor got the best of No. 3 Richards, with a 23-8 techical fall as time expired.
174: #4 Steven Rodrigues (ILL) vs. #3 Isaac Jordan (WIS)
Rodrigues enters the match against Jordan on a five-match winning streak, four of which came against Big Ten competition. The red-shirt senior, jumping up three weight classes in the offseason, is off to the best start of his career, surpassing his win total (17) from 2014-15. Rodrigues' lone defeat this season came at the hands of No. 2 Bo Jordan (Ohio State) on January 3 at Huff Hall, a 6-3 decision. Rodrigues is 13-1 in dual play, registering bonus points in eight of the 14 matches.
Isaac Jordan is the reigning Big Ten Champion at 165 pounds and a two-time All-American, the first of which came at 157 pounds. After going 26-4 last season, Jordan is a perfect 15-0 with three pins and a 3-0 mark against ranked opponents in 2015-16.

157: #2 Isaiah Martinez vs. T.J. Ruschell (WIS) // 174: #2 Zac Brunson vs. #19 Ricky Robertson (WIS)
Although only one of these matchups features two ranked grapplers, Martinez and Brunson are both coming off disappointing defeats against #1 Penn State. For Martinez, it was his first loss since he red-shirted during his first year on campus. The loss to #3 Jason Nolf snapped a 61 match win streak and was the first time Martinez had been pinned in college. For Brunson, the loss snapped his 14-match winning streak to begin the season and was the first loss by pin in over a year. The duo will look to get back in the win column this weekend as they face T.J. Ruschell (157) and #19 Ricky Robertson (165), respectively.

--
Sent by:
Chad Beyler
Athletics Communication Intern
Division of Intercollegiate Athletics | University of Illinois
SID Contact: Men's & Women's Track/XC, Wrestling, Assistant Volleyball
Office: 217-300-1449 | Cell: 217-493-3777
beyler2@illinois.edu

[wrastle63]

This will be a very interesting dual with a LOT of swing matches! Hopefully the Badgers win more swing matches than they lose.

[Micah]

125 WI 4-0 pretty sure JJ is a soph.
133 WI 7-0 Taylor is due for a big win
141 WI 7-3
149 WI 7-6
157 IL 11-7 where is Lubeck or the kid from SP? Are they not wrestling? 
165 IL 11-10
174 IL 14-10
184 IL 17-10
197 IL 20-10
285 IL 23-10

149 is going to be very interesting! Favor IL but Crone will be right there.

[wrastle63]

ill favor Crone and think Brock pulls off a W

[GoodGod]

If Ervin is out at 41 I'd favor Grahek or Rowh with bonus points possible.

[vsmf2010]

149 is going to be very interesting! Favor IL but Crone will be right there.

AC split 2 matches with him last year. Beating him at Midlands and losing in the dual. In the dual I believe he got thrown early and came back but lost 6-5. I do not see him ever losing to him again. He has improved quite a bit in the last year.

[Micah]

If Ervin is out at 41 I'd favor Grahek or Rowh with bonus points possible.

Gulibon only beat that Fr 6-1 doubt the Badgers get bonus at 141.  I know Grahek is not offensive enough to get bonus points not sure about Rowh.  A pin is much more likely than bonus.  I could see the Badgers getting this weight.  To win the dual they will need this match, 149 and HWT.  I don't think 2-3 will get the job done.

[cross-face]

125 WI 4-0 pretty sure JJ is a soph.
133 WI 7-0 Taylor is due for a big win
141 WI 7-3
149 WI 7-6
157 IL 11-7 where is Lubeck or the kid from SP? Are they not wrestling? 
165 IL 11-10
174 IL 14-10
184 IL 17-10
197 IL 20-10
285 IL 23-10

149 is going to be very interesting! Favor IL but Crone will be right there.

Is there a reason you favor IL at 165?

[jets152]

125 WI 4-0 pretty sure JJ is a soph.
133 WI 7-0 Taylor is due for a big win
141 WI 7-3
149 WI 7-6
157 IL 11-7 where is Lubeck or the kid from SP? Are they not wrestling? 
165 IL 11-10
174 IL 14-10
184 IL 17-10
197 IL 20-10
285 IL 23-10

149 is going to be very interesting! Favor IL but Crone will be right there.

Is there a reason you favor IL at 165?

Micah appears to have Wisconsin favored at 165..

[GoodGod]

If Ervin is out at 41 I'd favor Grahek or Rowh with bonus points possible.

Gulibon only beat that Fr 6-1 doubt the Badgers get bonus at 141.  I know Grahek is not offensive enough to get bonus points not sure about Rowh.  A pin is much more likely than bonus.  I could see the Badgers getting this weight.  To win the dual they will need this match, 149 and HWT.  I don't think 2-3 will get the job done.

Thats why I said possible, not likely

[cross-face]

125 WI 4-0 pretty sure JJ is a soph.
133 WI 7-0 Taylor is due for a big win
141 WI 7-3
149 WI 7-6
157 IL 11-7 where is Lubeck or the kid from SP? Are they not wrestling? 
165 IL 11-10
174 IL 14-10
184 IL 17-10
197 IL 20-10
285 IL 23-10

149 is going to be very interesting! Favor IL but Crone will be right there.

Is there a reason you favor IL at 165?

Micah appears to have Wisconsin favored at 165..

My bad. I guess I needed more coffee.

[Micah]

125 WI 4-0 pretty sure JJ is a soph.
133 WI 7-0 Taylor is due for a big win
141 WI 7-3
149 WI 7-6
157 IL 11-7 where is Lubeck or the kid from SP? Are they not wrestling? 
165 IL 11-10
174 IL 14-10
184 IL 17-10
197 IL 20-10
285 IL 23-10

149 is going to be very interesting! Favor IL but Crone will be right there.

Is there a reason you favor IL at 165?

Micah appears to have Wisconsin favored at 165..

My bad. I guess I needed more coffee.

I definitely have IJ winning at 165.  I know the IL kid is ranked high but I don't think the match will be close.  I think Jordan might get a MD.

[Micah]

RT will be fine just needs more matches, hopefully he is still able to qualify this weight for B10s.  No RR hope it's not weight issues or an injury this late.

[leg turk]

RT will be fine just needs more matches, hopefully he is still able to qualify this weight for B10s.  No RR hope it's not weight issues or an injury this late.

They said on the live blog he was sick this week.