This weekend’s competition will be a little tougher for the Illinois wrestling team.
The sixth-ranked Illini will head to Ames, Iowa, this Saturday to compete in the Harold Nichols Cyclone Open, which features top competition from Midwest, including No. 9 Nebraska.
The Illini will be sending its best wrestlers to the competition, including returning All-Americans in B.J. Futrell (141 pounds) and Jordan Blanton (174). Junior Tony Dallago (184) — who finished 12th at the NCAA Championships last season — and reigning Big Ten champion Mario Gonzalez (197) will also wrestle.
“There’s going to be good competition from schools like Iowa State, Nebraska and Northern Iowa, so I am looking forward to wrestling some good guys out there,” Blanton said.
With the goal of winning a national championship, the fifth-year senior has come into the season in tip-top shape and is ready to perform.
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“I’ve been wrestling since I was in first grade, and I’ve put in more work in this past year than I ever have my whole life,” Blanton said. “I feel as prepared as I’ve ever been and I’m excited to get after it.”
Competing in these early-season meets will help the Illini prepare for tough Big Ten competition, which starts mid-January. The Big Ten features six of the top-10 teams in the nation.
“The Big Ten in wrestling is like the SEC in football times 10,” assistant head coach Mark Perry said. “We’ve been working hard for a while now and we’re looking to dominate at every level on Saturday.”
Dallago, who won his first Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honor last week, will wrestle against one of the better opponents in the country,
“I’m just looking forward to wrestling some tough opponents,” Dallago said “And just being competitive and showing them what I’m made of.”
Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @callitcomisky.
