Illinois' Tirapelle, Wisconsin's Tanelli share Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honors
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by Jeff Smith
Troy Tirapelle, Illinois
So., 149, Clovis, Calif./Clovis
Tirapelle, ranked 15th in the nation last week, started Big Ten action with a bang by posting two impressive victories for Illinois. On Friday, Tirapelle posted an 11-3 major decision against Northwestern's Marty Gould, which helped the 16th-ranked Illini upset No. 8 Northwestern, 21-13. On Sunday, Tirapelle upset No. 7 Matt Coughlin of Indiana in a dramatic come-from-behind victory. Last year's Big Ten Championships runner-up, Tirapelle is 6-0 in duals and leads the team in scoring with 25. This is his first career weekly award.
Zach Tanelli, Wisconsin
So., 133, Milburn, N.J./Short Hills
Wrestling in his first-ever Big Ten match, unranked Tanelli upset No. 6 Jake Strayer of Penn State, 12-6, last week. With the score tied at 5-5 with less than 30 seconds remaining, Strayer attempted an illegal maneuver, giving Tanelli a 6-5 lead. The Badger sophomore then earned an escape, a takedown, and a three-point near fall in the final 25 seconds to win the 133-pound bout and put UW on the board. No. 17 Wisconsin went on to defeat the tenth-ranked Nittany Lions, 17-16, and have since stormed up the national ranks to ninth. This is Tanelli's first honor.
So., 149, Clovis, Calif./Clovis
Tirapelle, ranked 15th in the nation last week, started Big Ten action with a bang by posting two impressive victories for Illinois. On Friday, Tirapelle posted an 11-3 major decision against Northwestern's Marty Gould, which helped the 16th-ranked Illini upset No. 8 Northwestern, 21-13. On Sunday, Tirapelle upset No. 7 Matt Coughlin of Indiana in a dramatic come-from-behind victory. Last year's Big Ten Championships runner-up, Tirapelle is 6-0 in duals and leads the team in scoring with 25. This is his first career weekly award.
Zach Tanelli, Wisconsin
So., 133, Milburn, N.J./Short Hills
Wrestling in his first-ever Big Ten match, unranked Tanelli upset No. 6 Jake Strayer of Penn State, 12-6, last week. With the score tied at 5-5 with less than 30 seconds remaining, Strayer attempted an illegal maneuver, giving Tanelli a 6-5 lead. The Badger sophomore then earned an escape, a takedown, and a three-point near fall in the final 25 seconds to win the 133-pound bout and put UW on the board. No. 17 Wisconsin went on to defeat the tenth-ranked Nittany Lions, 17-16, and have since stormed up the national ranks to ninth. This is Tanelli's first honor.
