Flores (Madera, Calif.) became the first Illini placewinner of the evening when top-seeded Nick Simmons (Sunkist) medically forfeited out of the tournament. The win gave the Illini senior his second trip to the medal stand in his career. He finished seventh as a redshirt-freshman. Kennedy (Ingleside, Ill.) also made his second trip to the medal stand with a fourth-place finish. Last year's runner-up at 133 fell to Nick Fanthorpe (Iowa St.), 4-1.
At 157, after a scoreless first period, Poeta (Highwood, Ill.) took a 1-0 lead with an escape. Then, moments later, extended his advantage with a takedown. Kocher cut into the lead with an escape as the period came to a close. In the third, Kocher added another escape but Poeta fought him off to defend his title.
"I'm not happy with how close the match was." Poeta said. "I wanted to come out there and dominate but Kocher's a good wrestler and he wasn't going to let me do that. I can't change my focus, though. I have to come out and dictate the flow of every match."
At 174, sophomore John Dergo (Morris, Ill.) finished in sixth place after he dropped a 3-1 decision to Mike Miller (CMU). Earlier in the day, Roger Smith-Bergsrud (165) and John Wise (HWT) each won their seventh place matches.
"This is a great accomplishment for Mike." Said head coach Mark Johnson. "To win this tournament two years in-a-row is a very hard thing to do. However, it is only another step in the ladder towards the NCAA tournament championship."
The Illini are back in action on January 11, 2008 when they compete in the Virginia Duals in Hampton, Va.
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