#10 NU Defeats #21 Illinois, 27-19

Champaign, Ill. – Peyton Robb and Silas Allred tallied a pair of pins to help the Nebraska wrestling team defeat Illinois, 27-19, on Friday night. 
 
Along with the falls at both 157 and 197 pounds, competition was also highlighted by two more Husker bonus point wins and a sudden victory by Mikey Labriola at 174.  
 
Action started at 125 where #5 Liam Cronin faced Maximo Renteria of Illinois (5-6, 3-4 Big Ten). Cronin used takedowns in all three periods to tally his fourth major decision of the season with an 18-7 victory. 
 
At 133, Kyle Burwick battled, but fell by decision 3-0 to Illinois’ #10 Lucas Byrd. With the Huskers (8-3, 4-1 Big Ten) holding the 4-3 advantage, #6 Brock Hardy extended the NU lead with a technical fall over #16 Danny Pucino. Hardy used six nearfall points and four takedowns to claim his 14th bonus point victory of the season. 
 
Up next, the Huskers took the forfeit at 149 and the teams were tied 9-9 before the 157 bout. Top-ranked Robb got off to a fast start with a takedown and four nearfall points in Period 1 against Anthony Federico. Robb then was aggressive in Period 2 to grab the pin and help the Huskers take the 15-9 lead with five matches to go. 
 
After a brief intermission, Adam Thebeau (165) took the mat against Illinois’ #20 Danny Braunagel. Thebeau tallied escapes in the final two periods, but it was not enough as he fell by major decision, 14-5.
 
At 174, #2 Labriola defeated #12 Edmond Ruth in overtime, 8-6. Labriola led 5-1 after two periods, before Ruth used two takedowns and an escape to send the two into overtime. In sudden victory, Labriola scored the takedown to claim the decision. 
 
With NU up 18-13 overall, #16 Lenny Pinto met #24 Dylan Connell at 184. Pinto recorded a takedown in each period and an escape to grab the 7-1 decision and his sixth ranked win of the season. At 197, #16 Allred secured the Husker victory over Illinois with a third-period pin over #10 Zac Braunagel. 
 
To close the dual, Harley Andrews made his college dual debut as he faced Illinois’ Matt Wroblewski at heavyweight. Andrews scored an escape, but Wrobleweski came out on top, pinning Andrews in Period 3. 
 
Up next, the Huskers stay on the road to face Purdue tomorrow at 5 p.m. CT. Action will be streamed on Big Ten Plus. 
 
#10 Nebraska 27, #21 Illinois 19
125: #5 Liam Cronin (NEB) major dec. Maximo Renteria (ILL) 18-7 (NEB 4, ILL 0)
133: #10 Lucas Byrd (ILL) dec. Kyle Burwick (NEB) 3-0 (NEB 4, ILL 3)
141: #6 Brock Hardy (NEB) tech. fall #16 Danny Pucino (ILL) 16-1 (7:00) (NEB 9, ILL 3)
149: Jake Harrier (ILL) won by forfeit (NEB 9, ILL 9)
157: #1 Peyton Robb (NEB) pinned Anthony Federico (ILL) (4:08) (NEB 15, ILL 9)
165: #20 Danny Braunagel (ILL) major dec. Adam Thebeau (NEB) 14-5 (NEB 15, ILL 13)
174: #2 Mikey Labriola (NEB) dec. #12 Edmond Ruth (ILL) 8-6 SV-1 (NEB 18, ILL 13)
184: #16 Lenny Pinto (NEB) dec. #24 Dylan Connell (ILL) 7-1 (NEB 21, ILL 13)
197: #16 Silas Allred (NEB) pinned #10 Zac Braunagel (ILL) (5:28) (NEB 27, ILL 13)
285: Matt Wrobleweski (ILL) pinned Harley Andrews (NEB) (5:35) (NEB 27, ILL 19)