Iowa wrestling gets bookend pins in win over Illinois

No. 4 Iowa opened and closed its dual against No. 20 Illinois with pins, and defeated the Illini, 31-8, Friday night at Huff Hall in Champaign, Ill.

The ballyhooed match between Alex Marinelli and former Hawkeye Joey Gunther at 165 pounds ended up as something of a dud, as Gunther got disqualified in the third period after he was whistled for stalling for the fifth time.

No. 2 Spencer Lee opened the dual by pinning No. 15 Travis Piotrowski late in the third period at 125 pounds.

No. 3 Sam Stoll closed things out at 285 pounds by pinning Duece Rachal in 4:37.

In between, Iowa won five of eight matches. Among the highlights:

' Austin DeSanto did not wrestle at 133, and instead Paul Glynn topped No. 17 Dylan Duncan, 3-1 in overtime.

' Illinois (2-4, 1-3 Big Ten) was deducted a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct after Eric Barone upset Kaleb Young, 3-1 in overtime.

' Pag Lugo (149), Keegan Shaw (174), and Jacob Warner (197) also recorded wins for Iowa (9-0, 4-0).

The Hawkeyes return to the state of Illinois on Sunday when they face Northwestern (3-6, 1-3) at the new Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill. at 2 p.m. (BTN Plus).

The dual may feature a huge rematch at 125 pounds between Sebastian Rivera and Lee. Rivera beat Lee at the Midlands, 7-3 to take over the No. 1 spot in the rankings.

IOWA 31, ILLINOIS 8

125 - Spencer Lee (IA) pinned Travis Piotrowski, 6:06

133 - Paul Glynn (IA) dec. Dylan Duncan, 3-1

141 - Mike Carr (ILL) dec. Max Murin, 6-3

149 - Pat Lugo (IA) major dec. Mousa Jodeh, 14-4

157 - Eric Barone (ILL) dec. Kaleb Young, 3-1

165- Alex Marinelli (IA) winner by disqualification (stalling) Joey Gunther, 9-3

174 - Keegan Shaw (IA) dec. Nick Gasbarro, 6-2

184 - Emery Parker (ILL) dec. Cash Wilcke, 4-1

197- Jacob Warner (IA) dec. Andre Lee, 5-1

285- Sam Stoll (IA) pinned Deuce Rachal, 4:37