---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Michael Girot <girot2@illinois.edu>
Date: Tue, Nov 19, 2019 at 6:00 PM
Subject: IlliniWrestling: Joey Gunther Named Big Ten Wrestler Of The Week
To:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, November 19, 2019
SID Contact: Michael Girot (O: 217.300.1449; C: 815.953.7122 or girot2@illinois.edu)
FIGHTING ILLINI WRESTLING
Joey Gunther Named Big Ten Wrestler Of The Week
Big Ten Release
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Illinois redshirt senior Joey Gunther has been named the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday. This is the first-career Big Ten weekly accolade for Gunther.
Gunther earned the honor with his come-from-behind victory at 174-pounds that helped lead Illinois to a, 19-14, upset over No. 13 Missouri last Thursday, November 14 at Francis Howell High School in St. Louis.
The Illini were trailing, 11-9, heading into the 174-pound bout featuring FloWrestling No. 18 Gunther and No. 8 Connor Flynn. After a scoreless first period, Flynn scored two points in the second to take a 2-0 lead into the third. Trailing late in the third, Gunther secured a takedown to tie the match at 2-2, and the match would go to overtime. In Sudden Victory-1, Gunther tacked on a second takedown to win the bout over Flynn, 4-2. The win by Gunther put the Illini back in front, 12-11, and Illinois would never trail again in the dual.
With the victory, the Illini move to 2-1 on the season. Illinois is now ranked No. 20 in the latest InterMat Dual Meet National Rankings.
Gunther moves to 4-1 on the season with the, 4-2, Sudden Victory-1 decision over Flynn. He earned his first two wins of the season at the MSU Open on November 2, then shutout UT-Chattanooga's Hunter Fortner in a 4-0 decision to help Illinois earn its first win of the season, 22-10, over UT-Chattanooga on November 10. After his win over Flynn, Gunther is now ranked No. 11 in the November 19 InterMat National Rankings for 174-pounds.
A native of Libertyville, Ill., Gunther is in his second season with Illinois after transferring from Iowa before the 2018-19 campaign. Last season, he qualified for NCAA Championships at 165-pounds, his third time qualifying for the national tournament. He finished tied for third on the team in wins with 20. Gunther is studying Communications at Illinois.
The last Illinois wrestler to be named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week was Emery Parker on January 9, 2018.
For complete coverage of Fighting Illini Wrestling, visit FightingIllini.com, follow the Illini on Twitter (@illiniwrestling) and Instagram (illiniwrestling) and like Fighting Illini Wrestling on Facebook.
--
Michael Girot
Athletics Communication
University of Illinois Athletics
Office: 217-300-1449 | Cell: 815-953-7122
Email: girot2@illinois.edu
Website: FIGHTINGILLINI.com
UNIFY. DEVELOP. INSPIRE. ACHIEVE.
From: Michael Girot <girot2@illinois.edu>
Date: Tue, Nov 19, 2019 at 6:00 PM
Subject: IlliniWrestling: Joey Gunther Named Big Ten Wrestler Of The Week
To:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, November 19, 2019
SID Contact: Michael Girot (O: 217.300.1449; C: 815.953.7122 or girot2@illinois.edu)
FIGHTING ILLINI WRESTLING
Joey Gunther Named Big Ten Wrestler Of The Week
Big Ten Release
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Illinois redshirt senior Joey Gunther has been named the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday. This is the first-career Big Ten weekly accolade for Gunther.
Gunther earned the honor with his come-from-behind victory at 174-pounds that helped lead Illinois to a, 19-14, upset over No. 13 Missouri last Thursday, November 14 at Francis Howell High School in St. Louis.
The Illini were trailing, 11-9, heading into the 174-pound bout featuring FloWrestling No. 18 Gunther and No. 8 Connor Flynn. After a scoreless first period, Flynn scored two points in the second to take a 2-0 lead into the third. Trailing late in the third, Gunther secured a takedown to tie the match at 2-2, and the match would go to overtime. In Sudden Victory-1, Gunther tacked on a second takedown to win the bout over Flynn, 4-2. The win by Gunther put the Illini back in front, 12-11, and Illinois would never trail again in the dual.
With the victory, the Illini move to 2-1 on the season. Illinois is now ranked No. 20 in the latest InterMat Dual Meet National Rankings.
Gunther moves to 4-1 on the season with the, 4-2, Sudden Victory-1 decision over Flynn. He earned his first two wins of the season at the MSU Open on November 2, then shutout UT-Chattanooga's Hunter Fortner in a 4-0 decision to help Illinois earn its first win of the season, 22-10, over UT-Chattanooga on November 10. After his win over Flynn, Gunther is now ranked No. 11 in the November 19 InterMat National Rankings for 174-pounds.
A native of Libertyville, Ill., Gunther is in his second season with Illinois after transferring from Iowa before the 2018-19 campaign. Last season, he qualified for NCAA Championships at 165-pounds, his third time qualifying for the national tournament. He finished tied for third on the team in wins with 20. Gunther is studying Communications at Illinois.
The last Illinois wrestler to be named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week was Emery Parker on January 9, 2018.
For complete coverage of Fighting Illini Wrestling, visit FightingIllini.com, follow the Illini on Twitter (@illiniwrestling) and Instagram (illiniwrestling) and like Fighting Illini Wrestling on Facebook.
--
Michael Girot
Athletics Communication
University of Illinois Athletics
Office: 217-300-1449 | Cell: 815-953-7122
Email: girot2@illinois.edu
Website: FIGHTINGILLINI.com
UNIFY. DEVELOP. INSPIRE. ACHIEVE.
