CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois Fighting Illini picked up a dominant win on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Indiana Hoosiers 36-3 at State Farm Center. Illinois won nine of ten bouts on the afternoon and both Lucas Byrd and Zac Braunagel pinned their opponents en route to a blowout team victory for the Illini. Today's dual win marks the first Big Ten win for first-year head coach Mike Poeta.
The afternoon began at 165-pounds as Danny Braunagel took on Indiana's Kasper McIntosh. Braunagel looked impressive, jumping out to a 17-5 lead before a disqualification win, giving the Illini a quick 6-0 lead over the Hoosiers. DJ Shannon followed with an impressive win at 174-pounds, defeating Nick South with a late takedown and near fall points at the end of the third period, giving Illinois a 9-0 lead after the first two matches.
Zac Braunagel looked dominant in the 184-pound match, winning by fall midway through the second period (4:17), his team-high third pin this season. The exciting 197-pound bout went to overtime, but Matt Wroblewski would ultimately lose on a takedown in the first sudden victory period, 3-1, making the dual score 15-3. Luke Luffman won by decision at 285 to extend the Illini lead to 18-3, giving Illinois their fourth win of the afternoon through the first five matches.
Justin Cardani picked up the fifth win of the meet for the Illini, a 2-0 sudden victory win at 125-pounds, and his 10th match win of the season. At 133 pounds, Lucas Byrd earned a dominant win by fall (1:50), the second pin of the day for the Orange and Blue. The Illini took a commanding 27-3 lead following the 133-pound bout.
Dylan Duncan improved to 3-0 on the season with his third consecutive win by decision, an 8-2 victory for the 141-pound senior which gave Illinois a 30-3 lead with two matches to go. Christian Kanzler won the 149-pound bout with a last-second takedown as time expired in the final period to win his match, 4-3, and pick up his 11th win of the season. The dual finished at 157-pounds as Joe Roberts earned his 10th win of the season, a 3-2 decision over Indiana's Jonathan Kervin.
FULL RESULTS
125: Justin Cardani (ILL) over Jacob Moran (IND) (SV-1 2-0)
133: Lucas Byrd (ILL) over Brock Hudkins (IND) (Fall 1:10)
141: Dylan Duncan (ILL) over Cayden Rooks (IND) (Dec 8-2)
149: Christian Kanzler (ILL) over Graham Rooks (IND) (Dec 4-3)
157: Joe Roberts (ILL) over Jonathan Kervin (IND) (Dec 3-2)
165: Danny Braunagel (ILL) over Kasper McIntosh (IND) (DQ)
174: DJ Shannon (ILL) over Nick South (IND) (Dec 6-4)
184: Zac Braunagel (ILL) over Sean Grim (IND) (Fall 4:17)
197: Nick Willham (IND) over Matt Wroblewski (ILL) (SV-1 3-1)
285: Luke Luffman (ILL) over Jacob Bullock (IND) (Dec 5-4)
UP NEXT
Illinois travels to Wisconsin next Friday, February 11 for a dual meet with the Badgers, followed by the final dual of the season on February 13 at Nebraska.
