Moline's Musings

Illini #9 in Intermat Poll

Posted by: Brian Moline

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 3:05 PM

Mark Johnson's Illinois wrestling team moved down one spot in this week's Intermat team poll, from #8 to #9.  Individually, there weren't many changes either.  Five Illini are ranked in Intermat's individual polls, led by Jimmy Kennedy (133) and Mike Poeta (157), both #2 this week.  Kennedy leapfrogged Ohio State's Reece Humphrey after an exciting 4-3 win over the Buckeye junior on Sunday in Columbus.  John Wise (Hwt) remains the only other Illini in the top 10, as he moves up one spot to #8 this week.  The other ranked Illini are Jordan Blanton (184) at #12 and Roger Smith-Bergsrud (#15) at 165.  Memo to Intermat: you are the only poll that does not include John Dergo (174).  He had a comfortable win over Indiana's Trevor Perry last week, who you still have ranked at #15.  Let's get with the times.

W.I.N. Magazine kept the Illini at #10 this week after their 1-1 weekend.  It should be noted that the Illini are the #3 Big Ten team in both polls, behind Iowa and Ohio State, the only two teams they've lost to in dual meets this season.  Individually, six Illini are in W.I.N.'s rankings, led by Poeta at #2.  Kennedy is at #3 here, behind Iowa's Daniel Dennis and Michigan State's Franklin Gomez.  Wise is ranked 9th, followed by Blanton at #13, and Dergo and Smith-Bergsrud at #15.

The Amateur Wrestling News (AWN) continues to rank Mike Poeta in the #1 spot at 157 pounds.  Kennedy checks in at #2, while Wise is ranked #9.  The other ranked Illini by AWN are Blanton at #15, Smith-Bergsrud #16 and Dergo #18.

WrestlingReport.com has the Illini slated at #13 this week in their tournament rankings.  In their rankings of the top 33 wrestlers at each weight (the approximate number of NCAA qualifiers), nine of Illinois' ten starters are listed.  Jimmy Kennedy leads the way with his #2 ranking.  Mike Poeta follows close behind at #5.  Blanton is #12, Smith-Bergsrud #13, Dergo and Wise #17, Patrick Bond (197) is #23, B.J. Futrell (125) #28 and Ryan Prater (141) #29.

Finally, we look at the ratings from d1collegewrestling.net.  Illinois checks in at #12 here, one spot behind Minnesota, which is interesting because the Gophers lost a pair of duals to Wisconsin and Iowa last week.  The Illini don't fare all that well here in general.  Kennedy is in his usual spot at #2, Poeta #4, Wise #8, Blanton #12 and Smith-Bergsrud #17.  Dergo is not ranked here, even though these rankings are top 25, rather than top 20. 

A little bird told me there will be soccer recruiting news tomorrow.  So that will appear in this space.  My weekend wrestling preview will return on Friday.  Until then.

bmoline@wdws.com

Comments

Be the first to share your opinion!