CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 25 Illinois wrestling team is set to start its Big Ten dual season on Friday, Jan. 12, against No. 6 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. Redshirt junior Edmond Ruth is fresh off defending his Midlands Championships title at 174 pounds and is riding a six-match win streak. Ruth leads the team in dual points scored with 19, and his six major decisions is also a team-high.
Redshirt junior Luke Luffman placed second at Midlands and trails only Ruth on the team in dual points scored with 15. Luffman is the only starter so far this season to have a pin in their stats. Freshman Kannon Webster placed third in his first Midlands Championships before the new year. Webster ranks third on the team in dual points with junior Joe Roberts.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes enter this dual at 8-1 and on a four-match win streak. Illinois holds a slight edge in the all-time series at 37-36-1, with the first meeting dating back to 1934. The lone common opponent between the squads is Pitt, and both squads suffered defeat to the Panthers. They beat Ohio State, 21-13, on Dec. 10 and the Illini, 22-9, a week earlier on Dec. 3. The Buckeyes recently knocked off No. 8 Cornell in Columbus, 21-20. The last meeting between the squads was on Jan. 17, 2021, when the Illini won, 18-15.
NOTES
- Edmond Ruth is 11-1 on the year, six-match win streak.
- Leads team in dual points (19) and major decisions (6).
- Back-to-back Midlands champ at 174 lbs.
- Luke Luffman is 8-3 on the year.
- Second on the team in dual points (15) and major decisions (4).
- Only starter to record a fall so far this season.
- Kannon Webster is 9-1 on the year and a perfect 4-0 in duals.
- Tied for third on the team in dual points (12) and second in major decisions (4).
- Joe Roberts is 5-3 on the year, 4-1 in duals.
- Tied for third on the team in dual points (12).
- Has not lost a match in regulation yet this season.
- Danny Pucino is 8-5 on the year.
- Leads starters in tech. falls with two.
- Fourth on the team in dual points (11).
