EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – No. 23 Illinois wrestling opened their dual season picking up a pair of wins over UT-Chattanooga and SIU-Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Ill. on Saturday afternoon. The Illini won an exciting come-from-behind meet to kick off the day with UT-Chattanooga, 19-12, followed by a dominant win over SIUE, 35-6, moving to 2-0 on the season. Saturday also marks the first two career wins for first-year head coach Mike Poeta. 

"Got to give a lot of credit to Chattanooga," said head coach Mike Poeta. "They came out and out toughed us. I couldn't be prouder of Danny Braunagel. He showed a lot of heart out there. DJ Shannon, Zac Braunagel, and Luke Luffman each did a nice job picking up two wins. Zac had off season shoulder surgery and today was his first time on the mat competing since March. We rebounded well in our dual against Southern. We looked more like ourselves."

The Illini began the afternoon with a win over UT-Chattanooga as the Orange and Blue closed out their first dual of the season with five straight match wins against the Mocs. Lucas Byrd opened up the scoring for the Illini with a 13-10 decision in his first dual match of the season. Illinois went on to lose three straight, finding themselves in a 12-3 deficit heading into the second half of the dual.

Danny Braunagel, DJ Shannon, and Zac Braunagel each picked up important decision victories to knot the team scoring at 12, followed by a 10-2 major decision win from Nikita Nepomnyashchiy to give the Illini a 16-12 lead over the Mocs. At 285, Luke Luffman earned a 6-1 decision and giving the Orange and Blue their first win of the season.

In the second match of the afternoon, the Illini got off to a 12-0 start after SIUE forfeited matches at 125 and 133, as well as another forfeit win at 165. The Illini won five of the remaining seven matches, including a 13-5 major decision victory for Zac Braunagel at 184.

Illini Results

No. 23 Illinois vs. UT-Chattanooga

125: Gutierrez (UTC) over Cardani (ILL) (Dec 6-0)

133: Byrd (ILL) over Palmer (UTC) (Dec 13-10)

141: Valdes (UTC) over W. Rachal (ILL) (Dec 4-3)

149: Castillo (UTC) over Kanzler (ILL) (Dec 6-4)

157: Wichman (UTC) over Roberts (ILL) (Dec 6-1)

165: D. Braunagel (ILL) over Nicholson (UTC) (Dec 6-2)

174: Shannon (ILL) over Tarter (UTC) (Dec 3-1)

184: Z. Braunagel (ILL) over Waddell (UTC) (Dec 5-2)

197: Nepomnyashchiy (ILL) over Shell (UTC) (MD 10-2)

285: Luffman (ILL) over Walthall (UTC) (Dec 6-1)

No. 23 Illinois at SIU-Edwardsville

125: Cardani (ILL) win by forfeit

133: Byrd (ILL) win by forfeit

141: Ervin (SIUE) over W. Rachal (ILL) (Dec 3-2)

149: Kanzler (ILL) over Tyus (SIUE) (MD 13-5)

157: Roberts (ILL) over Kristoff (SIUE) (Dec 8-2)

165: D. Braunagel (ILL) win by forfeit

174: Shannon (ILL) over Gschwendtner (SIUE) (Dec 7-6)

184: Z. Braunagel (ILL) over Villalobos (SIUE) (MD 13-5)

197: Yarnell (SIUE) over Nepomnyashchiy (ILL) (Dec 3-0)

285: Luffman (ILL) over McKiernan (SIUE) (Dec 8-3)

Up Next

No. 23 Illinois will travel to Chicago, Ill. for the Midlands Championships on December 29-30 before beginning their Big Ten slate on January 14 at Rutgers.