CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 24 ranked Illinois wrestling team is prepared for their final non-conference dual against No. 5 Missouri on Thursday, Dec. 21 at the Stifel Theater in St. Louis, Mo. Redshirt junior and No.3 ranked wrestler at 174 pounds, Edmond Ruth, leads the Illini with a perfect 5-0 record to begin the season and a team-high 19 dual points.
Junior Joe Roberts owns a perfect record; he's 4-0 on the season and has 12 dual points which ranks third on the team. True freshman Kannon Webster is tied with Roberts in dual points with 12; he's 3-0 on the year with wins via decision, major decision, and tech. fall.
Redshirt junior No. 15 Luke Luffman boasts a 4-1 record, a team-high three major decisions and 15 dual points which ranks second on the squad.
Redshirt sophomore No. 20 Danny Pucino picked up a big ranked win last dual against the No. 13 ranked wrestler at 141 pounds Cole Matthews (PITT). Pucino decisioned Matthews in overtime by a score of 6-3. Â
Illinois is seeking their first road win on the year; they lost their lone road trip to No. 18 Pittsburgh at the begging of the month.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Tigers are a perfect 4-0 on the season, all at home, and have not surrendered more than 12 points to any opponent this season. They dominated No. 21 Arizona State 39-6 to start the year before following that up with a 30-12 win over No. 18 Oklahoma. They recently grounded Air Force 38-3 this past Sunday.
They're outscoring their competition 147-27 in duals and there has been no common opponent between the Illini and Tigers.
The Orange and Blue hold a 21-12 advantage in the all-time series over Missouri with the first meeting dating back to 1928. Illinois emerged victorious in their last meeting, 19-14, on Nov. 14, 2019 from Francis Howell High School in St. Louis.
NOTES
174 – Edmond Ruth (5-0)
- Leads team in dual points (19) and wins (5).
- Has two major decisions and one tech. fall.
- Defeated No. 19 Danny Wask (Navy) in SV-1, 8-5.
157 – Joe Roberts (4-0)
- Leads starters in decisions (4).
- Tied for second on the team in wins (4).
- Tied for third on the team in dual points (12).
- Defeated No. 15 Johnny Lovett (CMU) in TB-2, 2-1.
285 – Luke Luffman (4-1)
- Leads team in major decisions (3).
- Second on the team in dual points (15).
- Defeated No. 14 Grady Griess (NAVY) via major decision, 11-3.
149 – Kannon Webster (3-0)
- Recorded a tech. fall in his debut over James Latona (NAVY), 20-5 (5:57).
- Tied for third on the team in dual points (12).
- One of two starters with a win via decision, major decision, and tech. fall (Ruth).
141 – Danny Pucino (3-2)
- Fourth on the team in dual points (11).
- Upset No. 13 Cole Matthews (PITT) in SV-1, 6-3.
