NU-ILL Scoresheet

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Northwestern built up an 18-0 lead at No. 13 Illinois, but the Illini came away victorious in a dual that came down to the very last match on Sunday at Huff Hall.
 
The Wildcats held a 24-19 lead with just the heavyweight match to go, but Illinois' Brooks Black pinned Conan Jennings to help the Illini escape with a one-point win.
 
Chicago's Big Ten Team lost to No. 17 Minnesota and No. 13 Illinois by a combined three points this weekend.
 
"We fought hard today, but it hurts coming up short," interim head coach Matt Storniolo said. "It hurts even more when you are that close. We battled tooth-and-nail against two solid programs this weekend, and I truly feel like we should have come away 2-0. I know the teams feels the same way."
 
Northwestern built up a big lead with wins in the first four matches of the afternoon.
 
Garrison White set the tone early with a 17-2 tech fall in the second period of Francis Edelen. Dominick Malone received a forfeit at 133 lbs. and Jameson Oster followed with a resounding 16-4 major decision over Mousa Jodeh at 141 to put the Wildcats up 15-0.
 
"This was a big weekend for Garrison and Jameson," Storniolo said. "They need to keep this momentum rolling into the last three duals and into Big Tens."
 
Jason Tsirtsis then won a convincing 9-3 decision over Kyle Langenderfer to improve to 3-0 all-time against the Illini wrestler.
 
Illinois came back to win the next four matches, all with bonus points, to capture a 19-18 lead before Jacob Berkowitz put the Wildcats back on top.
 
Berkowitz wrestled a thrilling, back-and-forth match against Andre Lee at 197 lbs. with the lead changing hands several times through two and a half periods. With just 25 seconds left and the match tied at seven, Berkowitz pinned Lee to give Northwestern a 24-19 lead headed into the final match.
 
Chicago's Big Ten Team travels to No. 8 Nebraska on Friday for an 8 p.m. match against the Huskers at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The dual will be televised live on Big Ten Network.
 
#13 Illinois 25, Northwestern 24
125: Garrison White (NU) Tech Fall Francis Edelen (ILL), 17-2 (4:43) [NU 5, ILL 0]
133: #20 Dominick Malone (NU) Win by Forfeit [NU 11, ILL 0]
141: #20 Jameson Oster (NU) maj. dec. Mousa Jodeh (ILL), 16-4 [NU 15, ILL 0]
149: #4 Jason Tsirtsis (NU) dec. Kyle Langenderfer (ILL), 9-3 [NU 18, ILL 0]
157: #2 Isaiah Martinez (ILL) Fall Anthony Petrone (NU), 0:55 [NU 18, ILL 6]
165: #6 Steven Rodrigues (ILL) maj. dec. Luke Norland (NU), 12-3 [NU 18, ILL 10]
174: #4 Zac Brunson (ILL) maj. dec. Mitch Sliga (NU), 12-0 [NU 18, ILL 14]
184: Jeff Koepke (ILL) Tech Fall Regis Durbin (NU), 24-9 (6:28) [ILL 19, NU 18]
197: Jacob Berkowitz (NU) Fall Andre Lee (ILL), 6:35 [NU 24, ILL 19]
285: Brooks Black (ILL) Fall Conan Jennings (NU), 1:53 [ILL 25, NU 24]
 

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