Wrestling extends home opener streak at Huff Hall

By Jay Lee

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Wrestling defeats McKendree, 39-9

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The No. 8 Illinois wrestling team extended its home opener winning streak to 21 after defeating Findlay, 32-6, and McKendree, 39-9 on Saturday.

In front of 845 fans at Huff Hall, seven Illini wrestlers went undefeated for the day. No. 2 Jimmy Kennedy (133), No. 6 John Wise (HWT), No. 11 Roger Smith-Bergsrud (165), No. 11 John Dergo (174), No. 17 Jordan Blanton (184), B.J. Futrell (125) and Grant Paswall (157) all notched two wins for Illinois.

In his season debut, Dergo pinned McKendree’s Andrew Cheesman in 51 seconds, and then followed with a 24-7 technical fall against Findlay’s Jeff Havelka.

Head coach Mark Johnson’s squad enjoys a lengthy break in the schedule until Dec. 29, when the Illini compete at the Midlands Invitational at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill.