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 15^th 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.