Poeta Takes Second at NCAAs; Illini Finish in Eighth

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Poeta 1 of Only 10 3-Time All-Americans in School History; Illini Score 5th-Most Points in School History

ST. LOUIS - Top-ranked and second-seeded Mike Poeta came up just short in a battle of unbeaten wrestlers in the 157-pound championship, falling to top-seeded and second-ranked Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska), 5-1. Poeta takes second at the NCAA Championships for the second-straight year. As a team, Illinois finished eighth with 55 points, the best team finish since taking sixth in 2005 and head coach Mark Johnson's 10th top-10 finish in the Orange and Blue. The 55 points are the fifth-most ever scored by an Illini team at the NCAA tournament. And Poeta, Jimmy Kennedy (4th, 133) and John Wise (7th, HWT) give Illinois its most All-Americans since 2005.

"Mike Poeta had a great career, it's just disappointing that he couldn't finish it with a national championship," Johnson said. "He as great of a young man as I've coached. It's a disappointing way to finish what has been a good weekend for us."

In the first shot by either wrestler, Poeta got in on a single with 1:25 left but Burroughs fought him off and the pair went out of bounds. Burroughs got in on a leg near the edge and finished the takedown with one second left in the first to go up 2-0 after three minutes. Burroughs started down in the second and earned a caution for a false start. After Poeta was given a caution for a false start, the pair finally got a clean start and Burroughs got out in eight seconds to go up 3-0. The two had a short scramble that yielded nothing except a restart. Burroughs shot near the edge and Poeta fended him off to bring another restart with nine seconds left and the period ended with the Husker leading 3-0.

Poeta started down in the third and got out off the whistle to make it 3-1. Poeta shot near the edge and looked to have a leg but the pair went out of bounds. Burroughs shot and Poeta slapped him away with 1:18 left in the bout and Poeta took another shot, looked to have a leg, but Burroughs spun back around and nearly got the takedown before a stalemate was called. Burroughs took a shot that Poeta fended off and tried to turn the corner, but the Husker wouldn't let him and the two went out of bounds. Poeta took another shot that Burroughs fought off and after a final neutral restart, Poeta missed on a shot and Burroughs passed him through to get the winning takedown with one second left and win, 5-1.

Poeta finished second for the second-straight year and ends his career as a three-time All-American, also taking third in 2007. His 105 career wins rank 17th in school history and his career winning percentage of .882 ranks second in the Illinois record books. Poeta is only the 10th three-time All-American in school history, and his 2008 campaign ranks eighth in single-season winning percentage and ninth in single-season wins.

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Iowa 96.5
2. Ohio State 92.0
3. Iowa State 84.5
4. Nebraska 78.5
6. Cornell 73.5
5. Edinboro 72.0
7. Missouri 70.0
8. Illinois 55.0
9. Wisconsin 53.0
10. Maryland 47.5

WEIGHT-BY-WEIGHT RESULTS
125: B.J. Futrell (Fr., 25-14)
1st round: Dec. William Chamberlain (DUQ), 1-0
2nd round: Dec. by No. 1 seed, #1 Paul Donahoe (Edinboro), 13-7
Consolation round 3: Dec. by #14 Brad Pataky (PSU), 13-6
Futrell eliminated

133: No. 3 seed, #3 Jimmy Kennedy (Jr., 36-6)
Pigtail: Dec. by David Marble (BUCK), 7-5 (SV1)
Consolation round 1: Dec. Chris Notte (OKST), 11-6
Consolation round 2: Dec. Darius Little (NCST), 8-3
Consolation round 3: Dec. No. 7 seed, #7 Nick Fanthorpe (ISU), 6-0
Consolation round 4: Maj. dec. Kyle Hutter (ODU), 10-1
Consolation round of 12: Dec. No. 9 seed, #8 Lou Ruggirello (HOF), 5-3
Consolation quaterfinals: Dec. No. 4 seed, #5 Daniel Dennis (IOWA), 6-3
Consolation semifinals: Dec. by No. 6 seed, #6 Jayson Ness (MINN), 8-2
5th place: Tech. fall No. 12 seed, #11 Steve Bell (MARY), 16-0 (5:13)
Kennedy - 5th place

141: Ryan Prater (So., 13-17)
1st round: Dec. Tim Harner (LIB), 7-3
2nd round: Pinned No. 1 seed, #1 Kellen Russell (MICH), 4:00
Quarterfinals: Dec. by No. 8 seed, #3 Ryan Williams (ODU), 8-6
Consolation round of 12: Dec. by No. 2 seed, #2 Zach Tanelli (WIS), 3-2
Prater eliminated

157: No. 2 seed, #1 Mike Poeta (Sr., 17-1)
1st round: Maj. dec. Ryan Goodman (WVU), 14-5
2nd round: Maj. dec Joseph Knox (CHAT), 16-8
Quarterfinals: Dec. #16 Tyler Safratowich (MINN), 10-5
Semifinals: Dec. No. 3 seed, #4 Jordan Leen (CORN), 6-4
Championship: Dec. by No. 1 seed, #2 Jordan Burroughs (NEB), 5-1
Poeta - 2nd place

165: #16 Roger Smith-Bergsrud (Sr., 21-12)
1st round: Dec. by Rick Schmelyun (BLOOM), 6-3
Consolation round 2: Dec. Ryan Smith (OKLA), 2-0
Consolation round 3: Dec. Nick Amuchastegui (STAN), 6-5
Consolation round 4: Maj. dec. by Tyler Sherfey (BSU), 12-3
Smith-Bergsrud eliminated

174: #19 John Dergo (Jr., 17-10)
1st round: Dec. Alex Caruso (LEH), 3-1
2nd round: Dec. by No. 2 seed, #2 Mike Cannon (AMER), 6-3
Consolation round 3: Maj. dec. Shane Riccio (BUCK), 10-2
Consolation round 4: Dec. Shane Onufer (WYO), 5-3
Consolation Round of 12: Dec. by No. 8 seed, #7 Chris Heinrich (VIR), 6-1
Dergo eliminated

184: #12 Jordan Blanton (Fr., 27-11)
1st round: Dec. by Joe LeBlanc (WYO), 12-7
Consolation round 2: Maj. dec. by Rocco Caponi (VIR), 13-1
Blanton eliminated

197: Patrick Bond (Jr., 17-15)
1st round: Dec. by No. 3 seed, #6 Brent Chriswell (BSU), 9-2
Consolation round 2: Dec. John Hall (BU), 3-2
Consolation round 3: Maj. dec. by No. 8 seed, #8 Clayton Foster (OKST), 10-1
Bond eliminated

HWT: No. 9 seed, #8 John Wise (Sr., 25-9)
1st round: Dec. Ricardo Alcala (UCD), 9-5
2nd round: Dec. No. 8 seed, #19 Kyle Massey (WIS), 6-5
Quaterfinals: Dec. by No. 1 seed, #1 David Zabriskie (ISU), 3-2
Consolation Round of 12: Dec. David Marone (VT), 5-2
Consolation quaterfinals: Dec. by No. 4 seed, #3 Jared Rosholt (OKST), 7-5
7th place: Med. for. over #15 Zach Sheaffer (PITT)
Wise - 7th place