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Byrd MINN

Wrestling

Illinois Falls to Minnesota in Friday Night Home Dual

Recap

Wrestling

Illinois Falls to Minnesota in Friday Night Home Dual

Recap

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois Fighting Illini wrestling dropped Friday night's dual meet against Minnesota at State Farm Center, 22-12. Lucas Byrd, Dylan Duncan, Christian Kanzler, and Danny Braunagel each won their respective matches. 

Justin Cardani and Patrick McKee began the dual at 125-pounds, and Cardani would end up losing by decision, 4-0. Lucas Byrd picked up another dual win, his sixth of the season and 15th win overall this season. He won by decision, 8-3, to tie the dual score at 3.

Dylan Duncan won his second match of the year, a 4-1 decision over Minnesota's Marcos Polanco. Duncan improved to 2-0 on the season with his second straight win, giving the Illini a 6-3 lead over the Golden Gophers. Christian Kanzler won the exciting 149-pound bout by decision, 13-8. He picked up a huge four-point near fall and a pair of reversals en route to a big match win for the senior.

Joe Roberts lost the 157-pound bout to Brayton Lee by decision, 10-4, but the Illini still held on to a 9-6 lead heading into the brief intermission. The 165-pound match went to an overtime period, where Danny Braunagel earned an early takedown in sudden victory to win, 8-6, extending the Illini lead over the Golden Gophers heading into the final four bouts of the evening.

The Illini lost back-to-back matches at 174 and 184, as DJ Shannon lost by major decision and Zac Braunagel lost by decision. Minnesota would take the lead after the 184-pound bout, 13-12. Matt Wroblewski was in control of the match at 197-pounds before losing by decision as time wound down in the third period, 8-7. Luke Luffman lost by fall (1:16) to Gable Steveson in the 285-pound bout to finish out the dual.

FULL RESULTS

125: Patrick McKee (MINN) over Justin Cardani (ILL) (Dec 4-0)

133: Lucas Byrd (ILL) over Jake Gliva (MINN) (Dec 8-3)

141: Dylan Duncan (ILL) over Marcos Polanco (MINN) (Dec 4-1)

149: Christian Kanzler (ILL) over Michael Blockhus (MINN) (Dec 13-8)

157: Brayton Lee (MINN) over Joe Roberts (ILL) (Dec 10-4)

165: Danny Braunagel (ILL) over Cael Carlson (MINN) (SV-1 8-6)

174: Bailee O`Reilly (MINN) over DJ Shannon (ILL) (MD 12-4)

184: Isaiah Salazar (MINN) over Zac Braunagel (ILL) (Dec 8-4)

197: Michial Foy (MINN) over Matt Wroblewski (ILL) (Dec 8-7)

285: Gable Steveson (MINN) over Luke Luffman (ILL) (Fall 1:16)

UP NEXT

Illinois hosts Indiana for the final home dual meet of the season on Sunday, February 6 beginning at 1 p.m. CT and will be streamed on B1G+. The Illini wrestling program will recognize 11 seniors prior to the dual meet beginning.

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Players Mentioned

Danny  Braunagel

Danny Braunagel

Redshirt Sophomore
Zac  Braunagel

Zac Braunagel

Redshirt Sophomore
Lucas Byrd

Lucas Byrd

Redshirt Freshman
Justin Cardani

Justin Cardani

Redshirt Sophomore
Dylan  Duncan

Dylan Duncan

5' 5"
Redshirt Senior
Christian Kanzler

Christian Kanzler

Graduate Student
Luke Luffman

Luke Luffman

Sophomore
DJ Shannon

DJ Shannon

Sophomore
Matt Wroblewski

Matt Wroblewski

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Joe Roberts

Joe Roberts

Freshman

Players Mentioned

Danny  Braunagel

Danny Braunagel

Redshirt Sophomore
Zac  Braunagel

Zac Braunagel

Redshirt Sophomore
Lucas Byrd

Lucas Byrd

Redshirt Freshman
Justin Cardani

Justin Cardani

Redshirt Sophomore
Dylan  Duncan

Dylan Duncan

5' 5"
Redshirt Senior
Christian Kanzler

Christian Kanzler

Graduate Student
Luke Luffman

Luke Luffman

Sophomore
DJ Shannon

DJ Shannon

Sophomore
Matt Wroblewski

Matt Wroblewski

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Joe Roberts

Joe Roberts

Freshman