The Illini wrestling team is ranked No. 1 in the country for the first time in school history after a dominating performance at the Missouri Open on Nov. 23.

"As far as our team goes right now, it doesn't really mean anything," Illinois assistant coach Carl Perry said. "As far as the direction our program is going, it means a lot. These guys have worked hard and they deserve to be ranked No. 1 in the country. Ultimately it doesn't mean anything though because what matters in our sport is March and the NCAA tournament."

The No. 1 ranking has boosted the Illini's confidence.

"The number one thing is that it is a confidence booster for the younger guys," junior co-captain Brian Glynn said.

Mark Jayne (133 lbs.), Alex Tirapelle (157 lbs.) and Glynn (184 lbs.) became Missouri Open champions after winning their respective brackets. The most impressive effort was from Jayne, who was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week after defeating Johnny Thompson of Oklahoma State in the finals. Thompson is the two-time defending national champion for the previously top ranked Cowboys.

"That was bound to happen," Perry said. "Jayne is just one of those kids that is on fire right now. He knows how to win matches, and it was just another great win for our program."

Jayne won by a slim margin of 6-4 in overtime. The co-captain has been planning revenge on Thompson for the past few months.

"He beat me at nationals, and it came down to the end, so I've been reliving that moment the last few months," Jayne said. "I kept on visualizing me beating him and it finally happened."

Glynn was dominant in his first competitive action in the 184 lb. division, after becoming an NCAA qualifier at 174 lb. last year for the Illini.

"Brian Glynn is out to prove something this year," Perry said. "He is on a mission and you can see that in the way he trains."

Kyle Ott (125 lb.) and Pete Friedl (174 lb.) finished third for the Illini, who had nine wrestlers place in the top six of their weight division.

The strong showing at the Open catapulted the Illini into the No. 1 ranking by intermatwrestle.com. Illinois occupies the top spot because defending national champion Oklahoma State lost to Missouri in a duel meet on Nov. 21 and the Illini dominated the Missouri Open.

Up next for the Illini will be a team competition at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas invitational on Dec. 5-6. Only the team's 10 starters will travel to Sin City on Wednesday to begin defense of their top ranking. Ten of the top 25 teams in the country will be wrestling at the invitational.

"It will be a great chance to prove whether or not we deserve to be the No. 1 team in the country," Perry said.

It is important for the Illini to keep working hard as the season progresses.

"We had to work our tails off to get to No. 1 and now we have to keep on working hard to be there at the end of the year," Jayne said.