Illini wrestlers rolled in their first dual meet of the season Saturday afternoon, dominating the Findlay Oilers 38-6 and the Central Missouri Mules 48-0.

Wasting no time to give the Illini the lead, junior Gabe Flores (125) scored a pin in the first match of the day and the next three matches followed suit, giving the Illini four pins in their first four matches. Flores said he enjoys the pressure that comes with wrestling first.

“I got to go out and get us rolling,” he said.

Flores’ victory gave the Illini an early 6-0 lead. After the next three matches the lead ballooned to 24-0.

“We wanted to go out there and get a quick start,” head coach Mark Johnson said. “Gabe is so aggressive that when he gives us that kind of energy, it is so contagious it gets us going.”

Illini wrestlers recorded a total of eight pins and won 19 of their 20 matches, with the lone loss a medical forfeit for Ben Zulauf (197) against Findlay’s Andy Zaliaskalns. Zulauf injured his shoulder during the match and left the mat trailing 5-4 in the second round.

“We didn’t underestimate them,” said senior Cassio Pero (141), who scored a second-round pin against Central Missouri’s Ben Oglesby and a win by major decision against Findlay’s Mike Paranino. Pero credited the dominating performances to his teammate’s ability to remain focused, despite wrestling with nagging injuries.

In addition to Flores and Pero, returning starters sophomore Troy Tirapelle (149) and sophomore Mike Poeta (157) scored two victories and the four combined for five pins. But it was freshman Jimmy Kennedy’s 2-1 victory over Findlay’s Andy Uhl that was the closest match of the day.

Uhl, a senior, placed second at the Division-II national championships last season and is currently ranked second in his weight class. The match was scoreless until the second round when Uhl took a 1-0 lead. Kennedy amassed over a minute of riding time, which looked to be his saving grace, but eventually Uhl rebounded and Kennedy’s hope for scoring a point from riding time disappeared. Trailing 1-0 with under a minute remaining in the third round, Kennedy turned the match and his opponent around and scored a two-point reversal to take the lead and the victory in his first match in a collegiate dual meet.

“He (Kennedy) pretty much controlled the match,” Flores said. “I think he wrestled overall really good, really solid.”

With their victories, Flores and Poeta remained unbeaten on the season and improved their records to 11-0 and 6-0, respectively. In fewer than three combined minutes of wrestling, Flores recorded first-round pins against Central Missouri’s Seth Norman and Findlay’s Alex Schumaker.

In his first action since the Missouri Open, Poeta scored two wins by decision, defeating Central Missouri’s Adam Tieben 13-7 and Findlay’s Antonio Guerra 7-4. Guerra is the defending Division-II national champion in the 149-pound weight class and is currently ranked second in the 157-pound weight class. Poeta controlled the match and allowed Guerra to score only on escapes.

Findlay and Central Missouri also competed against each other, resulting in 40-3 Oilers win.

——–

1. John Paul Goguen The Daily Illini

141 pound senior Cassio Pero, holds down Mike Parino from Findlay in a match at Huff Hall, Satuday, December 9, 2006.

2. John Paul Goguen The Daily Illini

174 pound senior Matt Winterhalter holds Findlay’s Jeff Havelka to the mat during a match at Huff Hall, Saturday December 9, 2006.

3. John Paul Goguen The Daily Illini

Troy Tirapelle tries to break free from Mark Carey of Central Missouri State University at Huff Hall, Saturday December 9, 2006.

4. Aaron Facemire Daily Illini

Nick Guida tangles with Jesse Sheets from Central Missouri State University for the Illini at Huff Hall on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006.

5. John Paul Goguen The Daily Illini

Heavyweight Freshman Andy Greenawalt tries to pin Travis Clark from Findlay in a match at Huff Hall, Saturday December 9, 2006.

6. John Paul Goguen The Daily Illini

184 pound junior, Pat Brownson wrestles against Findlay’s Hiram Smith in a match at Huff Hall Saturday, December 9, 2006.