Northwestern
Illinois
Wildcats Tripped Up By No. 8 Illini, 37-3
2/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 7, 2003
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - John Giacche (Flemington, N.J./Blair Academy) knocked off the 17th-ranked 141-pounder in the country, but Northwestern fell to No. 8 Illinois, 37-3, Friday in Champaign. The Wildcats dropped to 5-8 and 0-4 in Big Ten competition.
Giacche, NU's only winner of the night, jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead on Illinois' Cal Ferry after a pair of first-period takedowns. He maintained control the rest of the way, earning the riding time point for a 6-2 decision. Giacche is 19-11 on the season.
Senior Jason Erwinski (Tinley Park, Ill./Mt. Carmel) got a crack at the top-ranked wrestler at 165 pounds, the Illini's Matt Lackey. Erwinski cut the deficit to 3-2 in the third period, but Lackey's takedown with five seconds remaining sealed the win.
Northwestern is back on the mat Sunday at third-ranked Minnesota.
Illinois 37, Northwestern 3157-#7 Alex Tirapelle (ILL) major dec. Mike Kimberlin (NU), 13-1, ILL 4-0 165-#1 Matt Lackey (ILL) dec. Jason Erwinski (NU), 5-2, ILL 7-0 174-#6 Brian Glynn (ILL) major dec. Andrew Curran (NU), 9-0, ILL 11-0 184-Pete Friedl (ILL) major decision Brendan Curran (NU), 10-2, ILL 15-0 197-#15 Tyrone Bird (ILL) dec. Matt Delguyd (NU), 4-2, ILL 18-0 Hwt-Chris Little (ILL) won by forfeit, ILL 24-0 125-Twan Pham (ILL) major dec. Tommy Vargas (NU), 12-4, ILL 28-0 133-#11 Mark Jayne (ILL) pinned Jon Ott (NU), 6:45, ILL 34-0 141-John Giacche (NU) dec. #17 Cal Ferry (ILL), 5-2, ILL 34-3 149-Tony Pedrosa (ILL) decision Josh Ballard (NU), 3-2, ILL 37-3
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