OMAHA, Neb. – Illinois' John Dergo and Jordan Blanton each won twice Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA wrestling championships.

Dergo (184 pounds), the No. 2 seed, decisioned Pittsburgh's Zac Thomusseit 6-1 in his opening match. He followed that up with a 21-5 tech-fall victory (6:27) against UNC Greensboro's Andrew Saunders. He'll face seventh-seeded Joe LeBlanc of Wyoming in today's quarters.

Wrestling began Thursday morning, and the action was non-stop. Wrestling took place on eight mats, and there was always a great match somewhere in the arena. I was fortunate to score a front-row seat near the college sports information director's table. I am sitting right on the edge of the mat, getting an unreal view from press row!

Competition will continue until Saturday, when the finals will be aired live on ESPN at 6:30 p.m.

CHAMPAIGN — Ticket sales for Monday’s NIT game went better than expected Thursday.
About 6,400 tickets were sold, including 4,200 reserved seats in A and B sections. A Section is sold out.

The challenge in making predictions for the women's NCAA tournament isn't so much in picking the winner.

Most folks concede that option to No. 1 Connecticut, trying to become the first team to win back-to-back NCAA titles through undefeated seasons.

Staff writer Tony Bleill breaks down Friday's WNIT game against Western Kentucky:

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The 2009-10 Gatorade Illinois Boys Basketball Player of the Year is ...

Troy Gentle's weekly update on the five players headed Bruce Weber's way and the two players headed Jolette Law's way:

Chris O'Connor's presence on film was enough for Illinois to extend a scholarship offer, his first, earlier this month. First-year offensive coordinator Paul Petrino has led the Illini's recruitment.

"Illinois was the biggest one so far," Zimmer said. "That's the biggest one right now, but this week's been busy with phone calls requesting film on him. Wisconsin is probably the next Big Ten team with a lot of interest."

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Illinois 184-pounder John Dergo will try to win the school's 21st NCAA wrestling title this weekend in Omaha, Neb. It's been done (many times) before.

OMAHA, Neb. – He's just about done. For the second time.

As a senior at Morris High School, John Dergo was a dominant football player. He earned News-Gazette All-State Player of the Year honors while leading his team to a state championship. And he never played another game.

UI senior named to the All-Region 6 team

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Illinois sets NIT ticket prices, plan

Guerra to play for Puerto Rico national team

How News-Gazette staff writer Tony Bleill voted in the final Associated Press Women's Top 25 poll:

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Tough trip

COLUMBIA, Mo. – San Diego State cooled off Illinois' softball team, defeating the 21st-ranked Illini 5-3 on Sunday at Missouri's Children's Hospital Invitational to snap the squad's 10-game winning streak.

UI first baseman Meredith Hackett and third baseman Kelley Wedel each smacked home runs, but Illinois (16-2) could not overcome a five-run fifth inning by the Aztecs (15-8).

ILLINI LEGENDS, LISTS & LORE

Joe Giallombardo

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Illinois softball team won its 10th straight game Saturday, beating Bradley 5-1 behind pitcher Pepper Gay's seven strikeouts in the Children's Hospital Invitational.

The 21st-ranked Illini improved to 16-1. Their game against No. 3 Missouri later Saturday was rained out. Jessica Davis' two-out double in the fifth inning drove in three runs and broke the game open.

Senior wins third NCAA title; Riley an All-American again

By The News-Gazette

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Illinois sophomore Andrew Riley broke his own school record to advance to the finals of the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Indoor track meet Friday.

Riley finished second in his heat with a time of 7.61 seconds. It was the third-fastest time among the qualifiers.