MATCH NOTES

BLOOMSBURG--The 21st-ranked Bloomsburg University wrestling team makes a return trip to New York City and Madison Square Garden for the Grapple at the Garden. The Huskies will take on #7 Illinois and the University of Pennsylvania.  The Huskies will face Illinois at 10 and Penn at noon.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the Huskies and the Fighting Illini, while Bloomsburg is 2-3 all-time versus Penn. A year ago the Huskies face #7-ranked Missouri in its only match at the Garden falling 22-9 to Tigers.

Bloomsburg has six wrestlers, Nick Wilcox (Greene, NY/Greene Central), Bryce Busler (Mechanicsburg/Cumberland Valley), Josh Veltre (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia), Mike Dessino (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex), Richard Perry (Meriden, CT/Middletown) and Justin Grant (Easton/Easton), ranked nationally in their respective weight classes. Four of the six are ranked by Amateur Wrestling News (AWN).

Illinois comes in with six ranked wrestlers, including the top-ranked 125-pounder in the country in Jesse Delgado who is 2-0 with a fall so far this season. There will be a matchup of ranked wrestlers at three weights. First at 133 where BU's Nick Wilcox (Greene, NY/Greene Central) (#20) faces Zane Richards (#17); then at 165 where BU's Josh Veltre (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia) (#7) faces Jackson Morse (#16); and at 197 where BU's Richard Perry (Meriden, CT/Middletown) (#10) goes up against Mario Gonzalez (#6).

Bloomsburg is ranked number 21 for the second straight week in the USA Today/NWCA/AWN National Division I Coaches Poll. The Huskies will wrestle three of the teams ranked in the coaches poll during the season facing off with Illinois (#7); Edinboro (#14) and Rider (#23).

The Huskies are coming off a big weekend of action beating Arizona State on Nov. 22 and then winning the Keystone Classic in Philadelphia on Sunday, Nov. 24. At the Keystone Classic the Huskies Josh Veltre (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia) (165) and Richard Perry (Meriden, CT/Middletown) (197) won their respective weight classes with Bryce Busler (Mechanicsburg/Cumberland Valley) (149) taking second.

In the win over Arizona State the Huskies rallied from an early deficit and got three wins by major decision to pull out the victory. A win by major decision from Perry at 197 made it a six-point match and the Huskies held on for the win.