After a so-so start in the first round earlier today, the Illinois Wrestling team won three of their five second round matches, putting those wrestlers into tomorrow's quarterfinals.  The most surprising of the four was Ryan Prater's upset win by pin over Michigan's top-seeded Kellen Russell.  Prater was ahead in the match at the time of the pin, and got the fall in 4:01.

Mike Poeta had another comfortable win in his match at 157, taking care of Chatanooga's Joseph Knox 16-6.  The other victory for Illinois came at heavyweight, as John Wise finally got a win over old nemesis Kyle Massey of Wisconsin 6-5.  Wise got a third period takedown to go ahead 5-4, and was able to ride Massey long enough to accumulate the riding time point.  He needed that point, as Massey got the escape making the final score 6-5.

The two Illini who lost this evening both acquitted themselves quite well against higher ranked wrestlers.  B.J. Futrell at 125 pounds took an early lead in his match against top-ranked Paul Donahoe of Edinboro, getting two first period takedowns to lead 4-2 after one period.  But Donahoe came roaring back in the final two periods for a 13-7 win.

John Dergo at 174 also had a lead in his match against American's undefeated and second-seeded Michael Cannon.  After a second period reversal, Dergo held a 3-2 lead, but Cannon got a pair of escapes and a late takedown to win 6-3.

Jimmy Kennedy, an upset victim in his pigtail match this morning, won his opening consolation match 11-6 over Christopher Notte of Oklahoma State.

The next consolation round is going on as I type.  More updates to come.

UPDATE:  Consolation round just completed.  Wins for Kennedy, Smith-Bergsrud and Bond.  Blanton lost a major decision 13-1 to Rocco Caponi of Virginia.  So, Illinois still has eight of their nine wrestlers alive for tomorrow.  I didn't think Blanton would be done after the first day, but all in all, not a bad day for the Illini.  They've got three wrestlers in the quarterfinals, and five still alive in the wrestlebacks.  I'll try to get the team scores before the end of the night.  The Illini were tied for 10th going into this evening.  My hunch is they move up a place or two.

UPDATE II:

Illinois moves into seventh place after the second session.  Illinois has 20.5 team points, just .5 ahead of 7th place Hofstra.  Boise State is in 6th with 22.0 points.  Iowa and Iowa State are currently tied for the lead with 33.0 team points.

bmoline@wdws.com