The Illini once again continued in its early season success, as Coach Johnson’s wrestlers earned three first-place finishes and placed eight other wrestlers in the top six in individual weight classes Sunday afternoon at the University of Northern Iowa Open.

Third-seeded Senior Cassio Pero (141), on the heels of a second place finish at last month’s Missouri Open, outlasted Iowa’s top-seeded Dan Leclere through three overtimes for the class win.

“You have to use a lot of mental toughness. It’s a long day, you have to fight through it,” Pero said. “Even though I won the tournament, I have plenty of things to work on. You go and practice your individual technique.”

Junior Gabe Flores, a 2006 national qualifier, won four straight matches including a

12-0 major decision over Nebraska-Omaha’s Cody Garcia to clinch first place in the 125-pound weight class. With the victory Sunday and the victory at the Missouri Open, Flores remained unbeaten.

Even in victory, Flores was critical of his technique, saying he needs to work and practice his footwork and technique in order to continue his early success.

Two Illini newcomers shared the success of the returning starters, Flores and Pero. Freshman John Dergo, the No. 2 seed in the 184 weight class, defeated South Dakota State’s Tyler Sorenson 8-6 in the finals to give the Illini their third first-place finish. His win was his second first-place finish of his short Illinios career. He credited assistant coach Carl Perry for helping him get mentally prepared for collegiate wrestling and student assistant Pete Friedl for helping him with his technique.

“I’m trying to wrestle the best matches I can put together,” Dergo said. “That’s all I’m trying to do at the collegiate level.”

Seventh-seeded freshman Jimmy Kennedy (133) won five matches and in the third-place match, defeated Iowa’s top-ranked Joe Slanton 3-1.

“He’s a phenom. He’s good on the mat, he’s good on his feet,” Flores said. “I thought he was the best one (at the tournament).”

Pero echoed Flores’ sentiment.

“I think (Dergo and Kennedy are) doing everything the team preaches about mental toughness,” Pero said. “They work hard and it pays off come competition time.”

The Open also provided opportunities for Illini wrestlers to possibly earn a starting role in upcoming matches.

Sophomore Roger Smith-Bergsrud (165) helped his chances of earning a starting spot Sunday by placing third in the Open. The second-seeded Bergsrud lost to third-seeded Nebraska-Omaha’s Ross Taplin in the semifinals, but rebounded to win two more matches for third place. Like Pero, Smith-Bergsrud went to three overtimes in his final match.

He defeated Missouri’s James Williamson. Johnson said last week Smith-Bergsrud is the favorite to fill in the vacant 165-pound weight class.

Additional Illini placers included fourth-place finishers redshirt freshman Clint Arlis (157), redshirt freshman Nick Guida (174); fifth-place finishers senior Jim Comfort (133), sophomore Troy Tirapelle (149); and sixth-place finishers senior Joel Karr (141) and junior Pat Brownson (184).

Returning starters Mike Poeta (157) and Donny Reynolds (174) did not compete. Poeta won his weight class at the Missouri Open last month. Johnson said that not all the Illini would wrestle in the Open in order for some wrestlers to rest.

Reynolds has not seen action yet this season, as he works his way back from offseason knee surgery, but Johnson expects him to at least be back in time for the Illini’s dual matches.

“The way this is looking, if we perform the way we can in practice, I think we can beat anybody,” Flores said.