FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 15, 2013

Athletic Communications Contact: Paige Thompson (630-779-6209 or thomps11@illinois.edu)

Story Link | Chicago Quad Preview

FIGHTING ILLINI WRESTLING

#8 Illini Travel to Chicago Quad Meet

Illinois will compete in three duals on Saturday

#8 Illinois at Chicago Quad

Saturday, Nov. 16 // Chicago, Ill.

vs. Arizona State // Lincoln-Way East HS // 11 a.m. CT

vs. SIU Edwardsville // Glenbard East HS // 3 p.m. CT

vs. Ouachita Baptist // Glenbard East HS // 4:15 p.m. CT

Illinois Probable Wrestlers

125  1/1 Jesse Delgado, 0-0, r-Jr.

133  14/12 Zane Richards, 4-0, r-Fr.

141  -/- John Fahy, 5-0, r-Fr.

149  13/15 Caleb Ervin, 0-0, r-So.

157  16/15 Zac Brunson, 4-0, r-Fr.

165  10/17 Jackson Morse, 5-0, r-Jr.

174  11/12 Tony Dallago, 4-0, r-Sr.

184  --/-- Nikko Reyes, 4-0, r-Fr.

197  6/9 Mario Gonzalez, 0-0, r-Sr.

HWT  -/- Chris Lopez, 3-0, r-So.

Rankings are listed in W.I.N., Intermat

Quick Hits

• Reigning NCAA and Big Ten Champion Jesse Delgado returns at 125 pounds. Delgado tallied a record of 27-3 last season to tie for the 11th-best single-season win percentage in school history (.900). The two-time All-American scored the second-most dual points in 2013, and is ranked the No. 1 wrestler in his weight class in the both the WIN Magazine and InterMat rankings.
• Caleb Ervin returns as the starter at 149 pounds after receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships last season. The 2013 NWCA Rookie of the Year posted an overall record of 22-14, including a first place finish at the Harris Open, and placed eighth at the 2013 Big Ten Championships.
• After serving as the teamÂ’s 184-pound starter for three years, Tony Dallago is moving down a weight class and will compete at 174 pounds. The three-time NCAA qualifier recorded a team-high 10 pins in the 2012-13 season, which is tied for the sixth-most in a season in school history, and moved to number three on the all-time career pins list. Dallago compiled a 21-15 overall record, including a first place finish at the Loras Open and a third place finish at the Harold Nichols Cyclone Open.
• Two-time NCAA qualifier Mario Gonzalez returns as the starter at 197 pounds. Gonzalez recorded an overall record of 18-9 last season, including a third place finish at the 2013 Big Ten Championships. The 2012 Big Ten Champion reached a career-high No. 5 ranking in W.I.N magazine, and went 4-2 at the national tournament.

NINE ILLINI WIN TITLES AT LORAS OPEN

Nine Illini wrestlers won titles at the Loras Open last Saturday, with three others placing in the top-three in their respective weight classes. The Illini recorded 15 pins and 12 tech. falls in their first tournament of the season. Redshirt-sophomore Dominic Olivieri (125), redshirt-freshmen Zane Richards (133), John Fahy (141), Zac Brunson (157) and Nikko Reyes (184), redshirt-junior Jackson Morse (165), redshirt-senior Tony Dallago (174), and redshirt-sophomore Christopher Lopez (HWT) all took the title at their respective weight classes. Redshirt-sophomore Jeff Koepke placed second at 184 pounds, and redshirt-junior Jake Gingerich (157) and redshirt-sophomore Brandon Lopez (165) placed third. 

ILLINI RETURN FIVE NCAA QUALIFIERS

Illinois returns five NCAA qualifiers, including NCAA Champion Jesse Delgado (125), two-time NCAA qualifier and 2012 Big Ten Champion Mario Gonzalez (197), three-time NCAA qualifier Tony Dallago (174), 2013 NCAA qualifier Caleb Ervin (149) and 2011 NCAA qualifier Jackson Morse (165).

-FightingIllini.com-