Illinois Defeats Oklahoma and Cornell to advance to Final Four

[lauden swain]

You can substitute Pat Walker back into the lineup instead of Martin Smith. Mario will be back at 197.

[Mr. White]

You can substitute Pat Walker back into the lineup instead of Martin Smith. Mario will be back at 197.

You gotta love the fact that Smith continued to wrestle and contribute over the past few years. This has to be his last year of eligibility. I still remember him placing 4th at sectionals at heavyweight (a good sized heavyweight too), then shocking everyone the next year by going 215. He made it to state that year, didn't place or anything, but look at him now. 5 years with U of I and contributing at 197. I just think it's a good story of a guy who was never a star but just kept grinding at it.

[lauden swain]

Great win for Illinois. Not sure if they will match against Oklahoma State?

Could be very interesting against the top-ranked Cowboys (14-0). We don't match up real well but I don't think that there is "relative sure" victory for either side other than heavyweight. Oliver has been wrestling very well lately but Futrell took him the distance in 8-7 loss earlier in the year. You never know what you're going to get with Kindig and White.

The Illini are underdogs. I hope that the Cowboys are looking ahead to a possible rematch with the hated Hawkeyes and the Illini pull the upset. I see quite a few tight matches that could go either way.

Oklahoma State
125- Jon Morrison
133- Jordan Oliver
141- Josh Kindig
149- Jamal Parks
157- Albert White
165- Dallas Bailey
174- Chris Perry
184- Chris McNeil
197- Cayle Byers/Blake Rosholt
285- Alan Gelogaev

Illinois
125- Jesse Delgado
133- BJ Futrell
141- Daryl Thomas
149- Eric Terrazas
157- Jackson Morse
165- Conrad Polz
174- Jordan Blanton
184- Tony Dallago
197- Mario Gonzalez
285- Pat Walker

[justadad]

This may have been discussed before Im sorry if I missed it. Whatever happend to Benefiel, I thought he was a Cowboy now.

Could be very interesting against the top-ranked Cowboys (14-0). We don't match up real well but I don't think that there is "relative sure" victory for either side other than heavyweight. Oliver has been wrestling very well lately but Futrell took him the distance in 8-7 loss earlier in the year. You never know what you're going to get with Kindig and White.

The Illini are underdogs. I hope that the Cowboys are looking ahead to a possible rematch with the hated Hawkeyes and the Illini pull the upset. I see quite a few tight matches that could go either way.

Oklahoma State
125- Jon Morrison
133- Jordan Oliver
141- Josh Kindig
149- Jamal Parks
157- Albert White
165- Dallas Bailey
174- Chris Perry
184- Chris McNeil
197- Cayle Byers/Blake Rosholt
285- Alan Gelogaev

Illinois
125- Jesse Delgado
133- BJ Futrell
141- Daryl Thomas
149- Eric Terrazas
157- Jackson Morse
165- Conrad Polz
174- Jordan Blanton
184- Tony Dallago
197- Mario Gonzalez
285- Pat Walker

[215fan]

Perry/Blanton could be interesting to see.

[ionel]

I'll say this about Oklahome State as a wrestling venue. Only Iowa, and that's on a more contemporary basis, can "outdo" Okie State as an incredible wrestling venue. Yes, super power Penn State may eventually change things but for sheer tradition and history few come close to Iba-Gallagher Arena. With all those white satin jackets with NCAA champ schrolled on 'em walking around, that big ole' Cowboy mascot, knowledgeable fans (4-5 thousand or more in the stands) and the very best mat side announcer (Don Blasingame) at the mike, you have one very special place. Add to that the NCAA Hall of Fame next door, well it is something VERY special!

Ok, if you are truly an oldude and know something about history, you should know that there has never been an Iba-Gallagher Arena (IGA ??? ). It was simply Gallagher Arena, until they did the renovation/expansion in the mid/late 80s and added the Iba and it officially became Gallagher-Iba Arena. No true wrestling fan liked the Iba addition, even though the BB boys were "allowed" to play there. Actually, when built it probably was the best BB facility in the country. Moreover, only 2 of those 50 NCAA team championship banners hanging from the rafters were won by BB and Hank Iba.

Before the expansion it officially held a little over 6k and there were times 7-9k packed Gallagher for wrestling. I was at Iowa (CHA) for the dual ~month ago with a sellout and black-out event of 15.5k and Gallagher with 7k for wrestling was a much louder and more intense environment. That said though, Iowa and PSU probably have better current day crowds/environments. But IGA ???, used to shop there for groceries, never been there for wrestling.

[oldude]

Easy there "Ionel", never said I was an official "historian" only a long time (1961) fan of the sport. Additionally, if this forum was ever fact checked or verified it probably would have been "banned" long ago? That said, I have visited Gallagher-Iba (two actual rennovations '88 & '01, I believe) and was greatly impressed by what I saw. The place, new or otherwise, spelled or mispelled, is really impressive and talking to the late great Myron Rhoderick at the Hall of Fame (yes, next door) only added to the experience. Plus, my old man's name is on the wall in that building, "frosting on the cake"!

[ionel]

Easy there "Ionel", never said I was an official "historian" only a long time (1961) fan of the sport. Additionally, if this forum was ever fact checked or verified it probably would have been "banned" long ago? That said, I have visited Gallagher-Iba (two actual rennovations '88 & '01, I believe) and was greatly impressed by what I saw. The place, new or otherwise, spelled or mispelled, is really impressive and talking to the late great Myron Rhoderick at the Hall of Fame (yes, next door) only added to the experience. Plus, my old man's name is on the wall in that building, "frosting on the cake"!

Which wall? Is he on one of the photos at the 200/300 concessions level or down in the NCAA Hall of Champions, or were talking about his name is over in the Wrestling Hall of Fame. Was down there a couple weeks ago and will look for it on Sunday if in GIA, but won't be over in the WHoF.

Regarding the "fact checking," I thought everything on the internet had been checked, re-rechecked and checked again, thus all we read it true.