Feb. 17, 2000
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.-- The Purdue wrestling teams' Big Ten woes continued on Thursday evening with a defeat at the hands of an Illinois team featuring nine nationally ranked competitors. The Boilers captured only one decision, a 7-6 victory by 17th-ranked Evan Robinson at 133-pounds, and fell 30-3 to the 6th-ranked Fighting Illini in front of 1,623 fans at Huff Hall in Champaign, Ill.
The loss extends Purdue's losing streak in dual matches to seven and keeps the Boilers winless in Big Ten competition this season. Illinois improves to 14-1 overall and concludes the Big Ten season with a 7-1 record while Purdue falls to 8-11(0-7 Big Ten) heading in to the final match of the regular season on Sunday against Indiana.
Purdue coach Jessie Reyes sent two of his strongest wrestlers to the mat first in hopes of a fast start but the Fighting Illini had other ideas. The match began with a battle between two ranked heavyweights. Jacob Vercelli, ranked 16th, managed two escapes against 5th-ranked John Lockhart of Illinois, but Lockhart's second period takedown and riding time advantage was enough to defeat the Boiler sophomore 4-2 and stake Illinois to a 3-0 lead. In the following match, Ryan Escobar, ranked 11th, defeated 14th-rated Purdue sophomore All-American Jason Silverstein, 2-0 at 125-pounds to earn what proved to be the decisive points of the dual for the Illini.
Robinson's win over Dave Stoltz of Illinois in the third match allowed Purdue to aviod its second shutout loss of the season. After exchanging takedowns in the first period, Robinson, a junior, escaped from the down position to open the second and registered another takedown at 1:29 for a 6-3 lead. However, Robinson was warned for stalling near the close of the period, a call that proved key in keeping the match tight in the third. Stoltz escaped to open the period and then was awarded points at 1:13 on Robinson's illegal hold and again at 0:33 on a stalling call to tie the score 6-6 at the end of the match. Robinson earned the 7-6 decision by virtue of his riding time advantage. The win was Robinson's team leading 23rd against only five losses this season. The decision at 133-pounds kept Purdue in the match initially, but Illinois left nothing in doubt by sweeping the final seven matches, including three by major decision.
Purdue closes out the regular season on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000 at 1 p.m. against Indiana at the Intercollegiate Athletic Facility in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue will honor seniors Mark Colegrove and James Leavell prior to the match. Purdue also hosts the 2000 Big Ten Wrestling Championships on March 4-5 in Mackey Arena.
Illinois 30, Purdue 3Hwt. #5 John Lockhart (IL) dec. #16 Jacob Vercelli (PU), 4-2125 #11 Ryan Escobar (IL) dec. #14 Jason Silverstein (PU), 2-0133 #17 Evan Robinson (PU) dec. Dave Stoltz (IL), 7-6141 #9 Carl Perry (IL) dec. Luis Blanco (PU), 6-3149 #4 Adam Tirapelle (IL) maj. dec. Jimmy Hawthorne (PU), 14-5157 #13 Griff Powell (IL) dec. James Leavell (PU), 2-1165 #17 Bill Zeman (IL) dec. Kirk Moore (PU), 7-4174 #15 Ben King (IL) maj. dec. Jon Fitch (PU), 12-3184 #5 Nate Patrick (IL) maj. dec. Jared Williams (PU), 12-4197 #10 Pat Quirk (IL) dec. Mark Colegrove (PU), 9-4