Jan. 13, 2000

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The sixth-ranked University of Illinois' wrestling team defeated the Air Force Academy 33-9 Thursday night at the USAFA in Colorado. The Illini picked up victories in seven of the 10 matches to improve to 4-0 on the season.

"It was a good team win," head coach Mark Johnson said. "It was the first time the guys have wrestled at this altitude and it was definitely an adjustment."

The Illini jumped out to a 16-3 lead after four matches with Ryan Escobar picking up a forfeit win at 125 pounds, Carl Perry a major decision at 141 and Adam Tirapelle a pin at 149. Air Force won the next two matches with Griff Powell dropping a 8-7 decision to Scott Frohardt and Bill Zeman losing to Alex Pelbath to pull the Falcons to within seven at 16-9, but Illinois wouldn't lose another match. Ben King started the shutout of the upper weights with a 14-3 decision over Terry Parham and Nate Patrick pinned Ryan Kaiser at 4:43 to seal the win at 26-9. Pat Quirk then won 5-3 at 197 and John Lockhart rounded out the scoring with a 8-0 decision over Philip Johnston.

"All in all they wrestled well and it's a good start to a long road trip," Johnson said.

The Illini will travel on to California for two duals Sunday afternoon. Illinois will take on Fresno State and San Francisco State in Fresno.

No. 6 Illinois vs. Air Force
USAFA, Colo.
Illinois 33, Marquette 9

Wt. Decision
125 No. 8 Ryan Escobar (ILL) won by forfeit
133 Andrew Peters (AF) defeated No. 18 Dave Stoltz (ILL), 5-2
141 No. 7 Carl Perry (ILL) defeated Ryan Montanez (AF), 18-5
149 No. 2 Adam Tirapelle (ILL) pinned Patrick Brady-Lee (AF), 6:22
157 Scott Frohardt (AF) defeated No. 8 Griff Powell (ILL), 8-7
165 Alex Pelbath (AF) defeated No. 13 Bill Zeman (ILL), 7-4
174 Ben King (ILL) major decision Terry Parham (AF), 14-3
184 No. 4 Nate Patrick (ILL) pinned Ryan Kaiser (AF), 4:43
197 No. 5 Pat Quirk (ILL) defeated Kevin Hoy (AF), 5-3
Hwt No. 5 John Lockhart (ILL) defeated Philip Johnston (AF), 8-0