CHAMPAIGN – It didn't go the way Jim Heffernan planned. Not even close.

With a large crowd at Huff Hall, some of them high school wrestlers Heffernan hopes will one day be a part of the program, Purdue routed the Illini 25-11. On Senior Night, no less.

Former Illini shortstop Toby Gardenhire has received an invitation to spring training by the Minnesota Twins as a non-roster player. Gardenhire, the son of Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, played his senior season at the UI in 2005 after transferring from Southwest Missouri State.

In his role as head coach of the University of Illinois wrestling team, there will be much to keep Jim Heffernan occupied this weekend when the IHSA state tournament hits the Assembly Hall.

Of course, Heffernan will want to catch every second of Illini signee Jed Lightfoot's matches. A year after placing second at 125 pounds in Class 2A, the Yorkville senior has his eyes on a 140-pound crown.

CHAMPAIGN – Illinois and Wisconsin split the 10 wrestling matches Sunday, but the 21st-ranked Illini got one more bonus point than the 13th-ranked Badgers to pull off a 19-18 upset at Huff Hall.

"We wrestled hard, did some good things and made some adjustments from Friday night (a 27-13 loss to No. 5 Minnesota)," coach Jim Heffernan said. "We needed bonus points at a few weights and it was important to get off to a good start, and we did both of those things."

CHAMPAIGN – No. 5 Minnesota got off to a fast start, winning the first five matches en route to a 27-13 wrestling win against No. 21 Illinois on Friday at Huff Hall.

No. 2 John Dergo (184 pounds) won his match by major decision and No. 14 Patrick Bond (197) beat 10th-ranked Sonny Yohn. They were the only two Illini to win matches. John Deneen (125) picked up a win by forfeit.

Yoshi Mori of Illinois was selected Big Ten Freshman of the Week in men’s gymnastics, the conference announced Monday. It is the second such award of his career.
Mori won three event titles Saturday to lead the top-ranked Illini to a 349.700-341.350 victory against No. 5 Ohio State at Columbus, Ohio. The Anaheim, Calif., native finished first in the all-around, parallel bars and high bar. He also placed third in still rings and pommel horse.

MINNEAPOLIS – Benched for much of Thursday's loss to Michigan, seniors Jenna Smith and Lacey Simpson rebounded Sunday at Minnesota.

Smith had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Simpson added 15 points and eight assists – not to mention stellar defense against Gophers leading scorer Kiara Buford – as the Illini used a 17-0 spurt to start the second half to pull away for a 61-48 victory against the Gophers.

URBANA – After one set Friday, the Illini trailed in five of six singles matches against No. 27 Virginia Tech at Atkins Tennis Center.