The dual got off to a fantastic start for the home squad, as #2 Isaiah Martinez and #8 Jackson Morse each recorded second-period technical falls to give the Illini an early 10-0 lead. Martinez defeated Lou Mascola, 20-4, at 157 pounds, while Morse took down Tyler Manion by a score of 18-2 at 165 pounds. The technical fall by Martinez was his eighth of the season, adding to his NCAA Division I leading total.
The rest of the Illinois lineup continued to add to the double-digit lead, as the Illini would go on to win nine of the 10 weight classes. At 174, #8 Zac Brunson earned a 4-1 decision over Josh Snook, and #18 Nikko Reyes added a 6-2 victory over Tony Gardner in the 184-pound matchup. Jeff Koepke came away with a 4-3 decision over Rob Fitzgerald at 197 pounds, while Brooks Black also came away with a one-point win over All-American Spencer Myers at heavyweight. Black used an escape in the final seconds of the first tiebreaker to grab the upset.
At 125 pounds, #1 Jesse Delgado made his along awaited return to the Illinois lineup after being sidelined due to injury for over two months. Delgado faced Josh Polacek in what amounted to a feeling out process for the two-time defending NCAA and Big Ten champ. Delgado came away with a 3-2 decision.
#2 Zane Richards earned Illinois' third extra-point victory of the night in the 133-pound bout, defeating #16 Geoffrey Alexander, 14-4. #13 Steven Rodrigues earned a 3-2 decision over Shyheim Brown at 141 pounds for Illinois' final points of the night. In the bout's final matchup, Maryland's Ben Dorsay scored a last-second takedown on Kyle Langenderfer to win 3-1 and prevent the shutout.
The Illini will head to Purdue on Sunday, Feb. 1 for a 2 p.m. ET start. That contest will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.
Results:
157: #2 Isaiah Martinez (ILL) over Lou Mascola (MARY) (TF 20-4, 4:32)
165: #8 Jackson Morse (ILL) over Tyler Manion (MARY) (TF 18-2, 4:15)
174: #8 Zac Brunson (ILL) over Josh Snook (MARY) (Dec 4-1)
184: #18 Nikko Reyes (ILL) over Tony Gardner (MARY) (Dec 6-2)
197: Jeff Koepke (ILL) over Rob Fitzgerald (MARY) (Dec 4-3)
285: Brooks Black (ILL) over #13 Spencer Myers (MARY) (TB1 2-1)
125: #1 Jesse Delgado (ILL) over Josh Polacek (MARY) (Dec 3-2)
133: #2 Zane Richards (ILL) over #16 Geoffrey Alexander (MARY) (MD 14-4)
141: #13 Steven Rodrigues (ILL) over Shyhiem Brown (MARY) (Dec 3-2)
149: Ben Dorsay (MARY) over Kyle Langenderfer (ILL) (Dec 3-1)
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