CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois wrestling team set for their home opener at the State Farm Center on Saturday, Dec. 3 against Chattanooga and Pittsburgh. The Illini will wrestle Chattanooga at 1 p.m. and Pittsburgh at 3 p.m. CT. There will be no dual between Chattanooga and Pittsburgh. Illinois won their first dual last week against Buffalo 28-9, but fell to #16 NC State 12-27. 

"This is a big weekend for us not only because there's no better place to compete in the world than the SFC, but we have a chance to rebound after our dual with NC State," said head coach Mike Poeta. "We have a very talented team but individual results have been inconsistent. After this weekends duals with Pitt and UTC we have almost a month before we compete again. That's a long time to have to live with the film if you don't compete up to not only mine and the programs, but their own standards. This week we've stressed toughness, fighting, and winning. When our wrestlers watch their film from this coming weekend, I know they're going to want to see toughness, fighting, and winning out of themselves. We need to build some momentum going into the Midlands tournament at the end of the month."

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

Chattanooga enters the contest at 2-4 on the year defeating Northern Illinois 18-15 and Cleveland State 20-13. Chattanooga was defeated by Buffalo 9-21, the lone common opponent to date. Illinois holds a perfect 4-0 record over the Mocs. They defeated them last season in a comeback 19-12 victory at a neutral site in Edwardsville, Ill. 

Pittsburgh comes into State Farm Center ranked two spots ahead of the Illini at #17 with a 2-1 record. They did not surrender a single point in their first dual at Cleveland State with a 36-0 triumph. Their lone loss came against Maryland who edged them out 16-18. Most recently, Pitt defeated Lehigh 22-12. There has only been one ever meeting between the Illini and Panthers that was on Nov. 22, 2009. Pitt got the better of the Illini 18-15 in the Sprawl and Brawl event at Vestal, N.Y. 

NOTES

• Lucas Byrd earned his first pin of the year against Troy Hohman (NCST) in 4:34.
• Danny Braunagel defeated both of his opponents. 
  • He pinned Noah Grover (UB) in 4:42.
  • He defeated Alex Faison (NCST) by decision 9-3.
• Edmond Ruth went 2-0 last meet as well.
  • He defeated Jay Nivison (UB) 2-1.
  • He decisioned Brock DelSignore (NCST) 7-3.
• Matt Wroblewski won over Greg Hodulick (UB) by a major decision 10-2.