Wisconsin Badgers
Illinois
Badgers fall in final conference dual of the season
February 08, 2015 | Wrestling
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Feb. 8, 2015
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.-- After Wisconsin's stunning win over Rutgers at home on Friday night, the team traveled to Champaign to take on the Fighting Illini. The back and forth action ended in a 20-15 Badger defeat in the last conference dual of the 2014-15 season.
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No. 14 Ricky Robertson went first versus Illinois' No. 18 Nikko Reyes. After a scoreless first period, Robertson made an escape in the second to lead 1-0. With another Robertson escape and a Reyes reversal in the third period, the match was headed into overtime. Robertson tallied a takedown to win 4-2, leaving Wisconsin with a 3-0 lead.
At 197 lbs., No. 10 Timmy McCall took on Jeff Koepke. McCall had a takedown and escape to lead 3-1 after the first and second periods. Koepke managed an escape before a takedown with 34 seconds left in the third to win in a 4-3 decision.
In No. 2 Connor Medbery's match with Brooks Black, he led 2-0 and collected over a minute of riding time in the first period. Medbery was up 8-0 after the second period and stretched the lead to a 13-0 major decision to close the match and put the Badgers up 7-3.
Back up at 125 lbs., Johnny Jimenez fell to No. 1 Jesse Delgado after two escapes and a takedown, 4-0.
No. 7 Ryan Taylor was on the mat next for Wisconsin to take on No. 3 Zane Richards. A loaded first period meant four takedowns by Taylor and left him up 8-3. After expanding that to 13-4 in the second period with another takedown and a nearfall, Taylor finished with an impeccable 23-5 technical fall over his top five ranked Illini opponent.
The first period in the 141 lbs. class, Jesse Thielke versus No. 13 Steven Rodrigues, was scoreless. The second period held an escape and takedown for Rodrigues and an escape for Thielke. Another escape by Thielke in the third period wasn't enough to come out on top, leaving him with a 3-2 loss by decision.
At 149 lbs., Andrew Crone battled Kyle Langenderfer. After a 2-2 tie in the first period, Langenderfer notched a reversal and nearfall while Crone made an escape, putting him on top with a score of 6-3. Crone tried for a comeback, but fell in a 6-5 decision.
Jarod Donar went on to wrestle No. 2 Isaiah Martinez. Martinez moved quickly to tally a 23-6 technical fall and leave Wisconsin down 17-12.
Up next was Wisconsin's standout, No. 3 Isaac Jordan, and Illinois' No. 8 Jackson Morse. Jordan led 2-0 in the first before a scoreless second period. The third period meant a takedown by Jordan and escape by Jackson, to give the All-American a 5-1 decision. The Badgers still trailed the Illini 17-15.
In the final match of the dual, Frank Cousins took on Zac Brunson at 174 lbs. Brunson managed a takedown and 1:29 in riding time to lead 2-0 going into the second period, where an escape brought him up to 3-0. Neither opponent scored in the third period, but riding time put Brunson at a 4-0 decision. The Illini were victorious with a final score of 20-15 over the Badgers.
Wisconsin takes on Iowa State in Ames on February 22 before the Big Ten Championships kick off on March 3.
Players Mentioned
