Wrestling falls to No. 8 Illinois in season's final dual

Franklin Gomez defeats 2nd-ranked Jimmy Kennedy

CHAMPAIGN, Ill., 2/22/09 - The Michigan State wrestling team dropped its final dual of the 2008-09 season to ninth-ranked Illinois, 26-12, on Sunday (Feb. 22). Junior 133-pounder Franklin Gomez, ranked sixth in the nation entering Sunday's contest, defeated second-ranked Jimmy Kennedy, 9-7. Senior 165-pounder Rex Kendle notched an upset of his own, defeating No. 15 Roger Smith-Bergsrud, 7-4.

The Spartans finish the campaign at 6-10 with a 1-7 mark in Big Ten play, while the Fighting Illini round out the season at 13-2, 6-2 in the Big Ten.

The Spartans jumped out to a 6-0 lead after redshirt freshman Collin Dozier pinned Illinois' Ryan Prater in 3:24 in the 141-pound class. Illini 149-pounder Eric Terrazas earned an 11-3 major decision over Spartan redshirt freshman David Cheza and second-ranked 157-pounder Mike Poeta followed suit with a 10-2 major decision over MSU sophomore Anthony Jones Jr. The back-to-back major decisions gave Illinois the 8-6 lead.

Kendle then registered his fourth win over a ranked opponent of the season with his win over Smith-Bergsrud. Kendle's win gave the Spartans a 9-8 lead. Illinois 174-pounder John Dergo then put the Illini in front, defeating Spartan redshirt freshman Ian Hinton, 6-1.

Illinois extended its lead to seven after the intermission when 12th-ranked Jordan Blanton pinned MSU 184-pounder Eric Anderson in 4:57. Two takedowns with under a minute remaining were enough to give Illinois' Patrick Bond a 5-3 win over Spartan redshirt freshman Tyler Dickenson in the 197-pound bout. The wins gave Illinois a 20-9 lead.

In the heavyweight bout, ninth-ranked Illini John Wise earned a 6-1 decision over MSU junior Alan O'Donnell. Illinois 125-pounder B.J. Futrell followed with a 10-7 decision over MSU redshirt freshman Eric Olanowski, despite Olanowski's valiant comeback effort after trailing 7-1. Gomez's win over Kennedy, his third all-time in as many tries, left the final score at 26-12.

The Spartans take a week off from competition before heading to the Big Ten Championships in State College, Pa., on March 7.

Final Results
#8 Illinois def. Michigan State, 26-12
141: Collin Dozier (MSU) pinned Ryan Prater (ILL), 3:24; MSU leads, 6-0
149: Eric Terrazas (ILL) maj. dec. David Cheza (MSU), 11-3; MSU leads, 6-4
157: #2 Mike Poeta (ILL) maj. dec. Anthony Jones Jr. (MSU), 10-2; ILL leads, 8-6
165: Rex Kendle (MSU) dec. #15 Roger Smith-Bergsrud (ILL), 7-4; MSU leads, 9-8
174: John Dergo (ILL) dec. Ian Hinton (MSU), 6-1; ILL leads, 11-9
184: #12 Jordan Blanton (ILL) pinned Eric Anderson (MSU), 4:57; ILL leads, 17-9
197: Patrick Bond (ILL) dec. Tyler Dickenson (MSU), 5-3; ILL leads, 20-9
HWT: #9 John Wise (ILL) dec. Alan O'Donnell (MSU), 6-1; ILL leads, 23-9
125: B.J. Futrell (ILL) dec. Eric Olanowski (MSU), 10-7; ILL leads, 26-9
133: #6 Franklin Gomez (MSU) dec. #2 Jimmy Kennedy (ILL), 9-7; ILL wins, 26-12