Illinois Wrestlers Open 2000 Campaign With 33-6 Win Over Missouri
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Jim Christman (Illinois Sports Information)
11/10/2000
Edwardsville, Ill. The fifth-ranked University of Illinois wrestling (1-0, 0-0) team defeated the University of Missouri (0-1, 0-0) 33-6 Friday night at the Edwardsville Middle School in Edwardsville, Ill. Tonight's dual marks the third consecutive season the Illini and Tigers have hooked up to open dual competion. Illinois is 3-0 in those duals. No. 18 Ben King of Illinois dropped a 6-2 decision to No. 10 John Kopinsky in the first match of the night. That bout was the only contest featuring two ranked wrestlers as Kopinsky overcame an early King takedown and countered with a takedown of his own with time winding down in the second period to snap a 2-2 tie. Senior Nate Patrick was quick to put the Illini in the lead. He scored his 13th career pin at 5:48 over Mizzour's Ry Stone to put Illinois out in front for good at 6-3. Pat Quirk followed with a 11-5 decision, No. 1 John Lockhart of Illinois then defeated Chad Hertzog 12-5 to put the Illini up 12-3. The Illini's Ryan Escobar then hung up six more team points with a pin over highly-touted freshman Justin Spates. Escobar trailed 4-0 before gaining control in a scramble and putting Spates on his back at 3:52 for the win. Missouri countered with it's final win of the night at 133 pounds where Jesse West earned a 9-5 decision over Illinois' Kelly Madden. The Illini won the final four matches of the evening as Mike Castillo gained a takedown with only seven seconds remaining in his match with J.P. Reese for a 11-10 decision, followed by No. 1 Adam Tirapelle's 7-2 victory over Jesse Jordan. Ryan Berger and Matt Lackey dominated in the final two matches of the evening with Berger earning a 17-4 decision at Lackey winning by technical fall at 6:23. The next action for the Illini will be Sunday Nov. 19, at the Missouri Open in Columbia, Mo. Illinois 33, Missouri 6 Wt. Decision 125 Ryan Escobar (ILL) pinned Justin Spates (UM), 3:52 133 Jesse West (UM) defeated Kelly Madden (ILL), 9-5 141 Mike Castillo (ILL) defeated J.P. Reese (UM), 11-10 149 Adam Tirapelle (ILL) defeated Jesse Jordan (UM), 7-2 157 Ryan Berger (ILL) versus David Neff (UM), 17-4 165 Matt Lackey (ILL) tech fall Clint Freeman (UM), 6:23 174 John Kopinsky defeated Ben King (ILL), 6-2 184 Nate Patrick (ILL) pinned Ry Stone (UM), 5:48 197 Pat Quirk (ILL) defeated Dante Stone (UM), 11-5 Hwt John Lockhart (ILL) defeated Chad Hertzog (UM), 12-5