Illinois wrestle off lineup is posted

[throw45]

Illinois Wrestling Kicks Off Season with Wrestle-Offs
Illini Look to Finalize 2006 Lineup; Dergo and Kennedy to Make Collegiate Debut

Nov. 2, 2006

Champaign, Ill. - The University of Illinois wrestling team will kick off its 2006-07 season this Friday, Nov. 3 with its annual wrestle-offs. Head coach Mark Johnson will begin his 15th year with the Illini and will look to a mixture of both youth and experience for a successful season.

Although Illinois lost five key grapplers after the 2005 season, five starters return in Gabe Flores (Madera, Calif., 125), 2005 All-American Cassio Pero (Chicago Heights, Ill., 141), Troy Tirapelle (Clovis, Calif., 149), Mike Poeta (Highwood, Ill., 157) and Donny Reynolds (Frankfort, Ill., 174), who were all national qualifiers. With openings in several weight classes, wrestlers have the opportunity to move up or fill in open weights. Wrestle-offs will be one of the key determinants for filling in openings in the 2006 lineup.

Fans will have an opportunity to see the future of Illinois wrestling. Freshmen John Deneen (125), Jimmy Kennedy (133), Matthew Lee (141), Joey Kotowski (149), John Dergo (184) and Mike Shaub (HWT), along with junior college transfer Dave Gleissner (184), are slated to make their collegiate debuts for the Illini.

Due to injuries, sophomore Mike Poeta (157) and senior Donny Reynolds (174) will not wrestle. The intrasquad matches will begin at 7 p.m. at Huff Hall.

Wrestle-Off Lineup
125: Gabe Flores (Jr.) vs. John Deneen (Fr.)
133: Jim Comfort (Sr.) vs. Dan Manzella (Sr.)
133/141: Jimmy Kennedy (Fr.) vs. Matthew Lee (Fr.)
141: Cassio Pero (Sr.) vs. Joel Karr (Sr.)
149: Troy Tirapelle (So.) vs. Dan Zeman (Jr.)
149/157: Joey Kotowski (Fr.) vs. Clint Arlis (R-Fr.)
165: Roger Smith-Bergsrud (So.) vs. Mark Lukaszewski (R-Fr.)
174: Matt Winterhalter (Sr.) vs. Nick Guida (R-Fr.)
184: David Gleissner (Jr.) vs. Pat Brownson (JR)
184/197: John Dergo (Fr.) vs. Jake Norman (R-Fr.)
197: Patrick Bond (R-Fr.) vs. Ben Zulauf (So.)
197/HWT: Matt Harding (Sr.) vs. John Wise (So.)
HWT: Mike Shaub (Fr.) vs. Andy Greenawalt (R-Fr.)

[lauden swain]

Thanks for the alert throw45. Where is Gomez? Look for Comfort to represent the Illini at 133 this year.
Kennedy is looking really good and is already being described as an ultimate mat rat. I hear that he works as hard as anybody and has already enjoyed a significant rate of improvement since his arrival in Champaign. I look for him to redshirt but I don't think that the final decision has been made.
I predict Tirapelle and Zeman to be the most interesting match at wrestle offs.

Lauden

[wrestlemaster22]

Poeta? did i miss him? where is he?

[admin]

Poeta? did i miss him? where is he?
He is injured.

[119Fan]

I believe Gomez is injured.

[superstrength]

So lets her it .. any prediction on who will be victorious at the wrestle offs?

[funk em up]

So lets her it .. any prediction on who will be victorious at the wrestle offs?


125: Gabe Flores (Jr.) vs. John Deneen (Fr.)Flores
133: Jim Comfort (Sr.) vs. Dan Manzella (Sr.)Manzella
133/141: Jimmy Kennedy (Fr.) vs. Matthew Lee (Fr.)Kennedy
141: Cassio Pero (Sr.) vs. Joel Karr (Sr.)Pero
149: Troy Tirapelle (So.) vs. Dan Zeman (Jr.)Tirapelle
149/157: Joey Kotowski (Fr.) vs. Clint Arlis (R-Fr.)Arlis
165: Roger Smith-Bergsrud (So.) vs. Mark Lukaszewski (R-Fr.)Smith-Bergsrud
174: Matt Winterhalter (Sr.) vs. Nick Guida (R-Fr.)Guida
184: David Gleissner (Jr.) vs. Pat Brownson (JR)Gleissner
184/197: John Dergo (Fr.) vs. Jake Norman (R-Fr.)Dergo
197: Patrick Bond (R-Fr.) vs. Ben Zulauf (So.)Bond
197/HWT: Matt Harding (Sr.) vs. John Wise (So.)Wise
HWT: Mike Shaub (Fr.) vs. Andy Greenawalt (R-Fr.)Shaub

[US8sleeper152]

Clint Arlis and Joey K wrestle..that shoould be good..

[admin]

I just found out that the Illinois wrestle offs are being broadcast over the internet. You'll need to create a free CSTV account to watch them. Look for the "Watch" links on the Illinois wrestling website (http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/ill-m-wrestl-body.html).

[funk em up]

Results so far

125: Gabe Flores (Jr.) vs. John Deneen (Fr.) Flores Tech
133: Jim Comfort (Sr.) vs. Dan Manzella (Sr.) Manzella Dec
133/141: Jimmy Kennedy (Fr.) vs. Matthew Lee (Fr.) Kennedy Major
141: Cassio Pero (Sr.) vs. Joel Karr (Sr.) Pero Dec 9-2
149: Troy Tirapelle (So.) vs. Dan Zeman (Jr.) Tirapelle Dec 10-8
149/157: Joey Kotowski (Fr.) vs. Clint Arlis (R-Fr.) Arlis Dec
165: Roger Smith-Bergsrud (So.) vs. Mark Lukaszewski (R-Fr.) Smith-Bergsrud Dec 9-6
174: Matt Winterhalter (Sr.) vs. Nick Guida (R-Fr.) Winterhalter Dec 2-1
184: David Gleissner (Jr.) vs. Pat Brownson (JR) Gleissner Dec 3-1 OT
184/197: John Dergo (Fr.) vs. Jake Norman (R-Fr.) Dergo Major
197: Patrick Bond (R-Fr.) vs. Ben Zulauf (So.) Bond Dec
197/HWT: Matt Harding (Sr.) vs. John Wise (So.) Wise Dec 4-3
HWT: Mike Shaub (Fr.) vs. Andy Greenawalt (R-Fr.) Greenawalt Dec 4-0

[US8sleeper152]

will any of the matches put up on line anywhere... just woundering...

[admin]

will any of the matches put up on line anywhere... just woundering...
The wrestle-offs were streamed live and should eventually be available through the Illini All-Access program, Illinois' on demand broadband channel. You'll just need to create a free CSTV account to watch them.