CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois Fighting Illini were taken down by Northwestern during Saturday afternoon's dual meet at State Farm Center, 26-13. The Illini won four of the ten bouts.
The afternoon began at 133-pounds, as Lucas Byrd picked up his team-high 14th win of the season to improve to 6-0 in dual matches this season. Byrd won by decision, 8-2, putting the Illini up by three to kick off the dual. Dylan Duncan made his season debut on Saturday afternoon, defeating Northwestern's Frankie Tal-Shahar, 9-2, earning his first win of the season and extending the Illinois lead to 6-0.
Christian Kanzler lost by fall (1:49), knotting the score at six through the first three bouts of the afternoon. Northwestern would win the fourth match of the day by tech fall at 157 pounds, giving the Wildcats a 11-6 edge over the Illini. Danny Braunagel earned his third major decision win of the season, a 14-3 win. Heading into the intermission after the 165-pound bout, the Illini trailed the Northwestern, 11-10.
DJ Shannon dropped the first match following the intermission, a 3-1 decision. Zac Braunagel responded for the Illini, picking up a 14-8 decision to bring the Illini within one of the Wildcats, 14-13. At 197 pounds, Nikita Nepomnyashchiy lost by fall (2:25), giving the Wildcats a 20-13 lead heading into the final two bouts of the afternoon.
The heavyweight bout was an exciting match that came down to the wire, as Luffman ultimately lost by decision, 3-2 as Northwestern's Lucas Davison secured a riding time point in the final period. At 125 pounds, Justin Cardani lost a close one by decision to finish out the afternoon, 1-0.
FULL RESULTS
125: Michael DeAugustino (NW) over Justin Cardani (ILL) (Dec 1-0)
133: Lucas Byrd (ILL) over Chris Cannon (NW) (Dec 8-2)
141: Dylan Duncan (ILL) over Frankie Tal Shahar (NW) (Dec 9-2)
149: Yahya Thomas (NW) over Christian Kanzler (ILL) (Fall 1:49)
157: Ryan Deakin (NW) over Joe Roberts (ILL) (TF 15-0 4:35)
165: Danny Braunagel (ILL) over David Ferrante (NW) (MD 14-3)
174: Troy Fisher (NW) over DJ Shannon (ILL) (Dec 3-1)
184: Zac Braunagel (ILL) over Jon Halvorsen (NW) (Dec 14-8)
197: Andrew Davison (NW) over Nikita Nepomnyashchiy (ILL) (Fall 2:25)
285: Lucas Davison (NW) over Luke Luffman (ILL) (Dec 3-2)
Extra Matches
Justin Benjamin (NW) over Josh Contreras (ILL) (TF 17-1)
Trevor Chumbley (NW) over Jake Reicin (ILL) (Fall 2:50)
UP NEXT
The Illini are back at State Farm Center on Friday, February 4, hosting Minnesota at 7 p.m. CT.
