Jackson Reaches 100-Win Milestone at Illinois

Sunday, February 12

Urbana-Champaign, Ill.

4 PM

Indiana University

Illinois

2/12/2017 6:20:00 PM | Wrestling

Dual Results (PDF)Score Sheet (PDF)

Weaver breaks slump with second period pin

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Indiana wrestling team finished the 2016-17 regular season the road at No. 10 Illinois on Sunday afternoon at Huff Hall. The Hoosiers (9-9, 2-7) saw two grapplers pick up bout wins but the Illini (9-3, 6-3) won the team score, 28-9.

Senior Nate Jackson (184) earned his 100^th career victory with a 9-6 decision over #12 Emery Parker. Jackson (28-2, 18-0) is the first Hoosier to complete an undefeated dual meet season in five seasons (Matt Powless 2011-12).

It took a well-calculated fight against Parker to break the century mark. Jackson persisted for points in the first period, breaking the stalemate with his first takedown of the bout. It took three shots, as Parker broke away from the first two before Jackson snapped into position for the score. He rode out the first period for a 2-0 lead.

Jackson extended his lead in the second, dominating the two-minute stretch. He earned two more takedowns, but two breakouts kept it close at 6-2 heading into the final period.

At that point, Parker mounted a comeback. He cut Jackson before finding his first takedown with 50 seconds remaining. He scored again in short time to pull within two, but Jackson's late escape kept Parker out of reach.

The victory is Jackson's seventh of the season against a top-20 opponent. He ends the regular season unbeaten in dual meets, including a 9-0 mark in meets against the Big Ten.

Jackson wasn't the only Hoosier with a significant victory on Sunday afternoon. Sophomore Cole Weaver (141) snapped a three-match losing streak with a win by fall over Mousa Jodeh in the second period.

Weaver was the aggressor in the first period, but neither could put a point on the board after three minutes of action. Jodeh started down in the second and broke the tie with an escape. The two locked up after a scramble, inverted from one another, and the mat action looked to be headed for a stalemate.

A minute into the second period, Weaver found an opportunity. With Jodeh's left shoulder already on the mat, Weaver rolled into position for the 4:33 pin. It's Weaver's third win by fall this season and his second Big Ten dual victory.

Sophomore Elijah Oliver (125) fell short in a 5-4 decision against Travis Pietrowski, a prep rematch from their encounter in the Illinois State Tournament. Oliver held a 2-1 lead late in the first period, but Pietrowski's takedown gave the Illini a 3-2 lead entering the second period.

The match didn't see another point swing until the third period, when Oliver executed a takedown to tie the bout at 4-4 with a minute to go. Oliver took an aggressive approach by letting Pietrowski escape, giving him the lead while allowing Oliver to go for a match-winning takedown. Pietrowski fended off Oliver's attacks and held on for the one-point decision.

The ninth bout of the afternoon between Jake Hinz (197) and Andre Lee produced a thrilling match between two grapplers looking to improve their conference seeding. After a scoreless first period, Hinz broke the tie with an escape to take a 1-0 lead into the final two minutes.

Lee broke free and scored a takedown for a 3-point swing, but Hinz's escape put the Hoosier within one with seconds remaining. Hinz took his shot but Lee countered for another takedown, resulting in a 5-2 decision for Illinois.

Up Next: The NWCA Division I National Duals Championship Series
Sunday, Feb. 19 • Time and Opponent TBD • Location TBD

The Hoosiers will now await their matchup selection for this year's NWCA National Duals Championship Series, pitting the best teams in the Big Ten against the dual champions of the remaining Division I conferences. Indiana participated in the showcase last season, falling in a home meet to No. 25 Appalachian State.

This year, the out-of-conference dual champions will host the bowl-style dual series. The selection committee is expected to release the pairings this Sunday night, February 12, at 10:30 p.m. ET.