CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 15 Illinois lost their home-opening dual meet to No. 2 Iowa on Sunday afternoon at State Farm Center, 36-3. Lucas Byrd earned his fourth dual win of the season and 12^th win overall, beating Iowa's Cullan Schriever in a 5-0 decision to improve to 12-1 on the season.

Justin Cardani kicked off the afternoon for the Illini in the 125-pound bout, wrestling Iowa's Drake Ayala and losing by decision, 7-4. Cardani scored first with a quick takedown, but ultimately went on to lose the first match of the Sunday afternoon dual. At 133 pounds, Lucas Byrd scored the lone team points of the day for Illinois, picking up a 5-0 decision.  

Josh Contreras dropped the 141-pound bout, a 10-1 major decision. Christian Kanzler and Joe Roberts each dropped their matches, 9-3 and 16-1, respectively. Iowa took a 15-3 lead over the Illini into the intermission. Danny Braunagel wrestled a close match with Alex Marinelli at 165 pounds following the break, but lost in a 4-1 decision to give the Hawkeyes an 18-3 lead. Baan Rachal, wrestling in his third match this season, lost by fall (2:35) to Iowa's Michael Kemerer at 174 pounds.

Zac Braunagel took an early 1-0 lead into the second period, but late takedowns in the second and third periods by Iowa's Abe Assad led to aa 5-1 decision over the Illini 184-pounder. Matt Wroblewski battled with Jacob Warner at 197 pounds, but lost the match by decision, giving the Hawkeyes a 30-3 edge heading into the final bout of the day. Luke Luffman lost the 285-pound match to close out the dual by fall (6:47).

FULL RESULTS

125: Drake Ayala (IOWA) over Justin Cardani (ILL) (Dec 7-4)

133: Lucas Byrd (ILL) over Cullan Schriever (IOWA) (Dec 5-0)

141: Drew Bennet (IOWA) over Josh Contreras (ILL) (MD 10-1)

149: Max Murin (IOWA) over Christian Kanzler (ILL) (Dec 9-3)

157: Kaleb Young (IOWA) over Joseph Roberts (ILL) (TF 16-1 7:00)

165: Alex Marinelli (IOWA) over Dan Braunagel (ILL) (Dec 4-1)

174: Michael Kemerer (IOWA) over Baan Rachal (ILL) (Fall 2:35)

184: Abe Assad (IOWA) over Zac Braunagel (ILL) (Dec 5-2)

197: Jacob Warner (IOWA) over Matt Wroblewski (ILL) (Dec 6-0)

285: Tony Cassioppi (IOWA) over Luke Luffman (ILL) (Fall 6:47)

UP NEXT

No. 15 Illinois travels to No. 16 Purdue to take on the Boilermakers on Friday night beginning at 6 p.m. CT.