CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Orange and Blue grapplers welcome the No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes to Huff Hall on Friday, Jan. 26. The dual will air on Big Ten Network at 8 p.m. CT.
Illinois last wrestled on Jan. 12 against No. 7 Ohio State in Columbus. Their previous dual scheduled against Northwestern on Jan. 20 was postponed due to an internal medical condition.
Freshman No. 8 Kannon Webster (149 lbs.) earned his first ranked win in the Illini's dual against the Buckeyes. Webster, ranked No. 10 at the time, upset No. 5-ranked Dylan D'Emilio (OSU) in a 4-1 decision that he controlled the whole seven minutes.
Redshirt junior No. 3 Edmond Ruth (174 lbs.) extended his team-high win streak to seven and improved to 12-1 on the season. He defeated Rocco Welsh (OSU) in a close 2-1 decision.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The No. 2 Hawkeyes enter the contest a perfect 8-0 on the season and 3-0 in Big Ten conference duals. There's no common opponent between the two squads yet, but the Hawkeyes have matched up against three future Illinois opponents. They dismantled No. 6 Nebraska, 22-10, on the road, beat No. 10 Minnesota at home, 22-9, and derailed Purdue, 34-6, in Iowa City.
Illinois trails the all-time series 26-53-1 to Iowa. Their last meeting was a close one on Jan. 6, 2023. The Illini took the No. 2 Hawkeyes all the way down to heavyweight tied at 19 a piece in Carver Hawkeye Arena, but ultimately fell short 19-25.
NOTES
- Edmond Ruth is 12-1 on the year, seven-match win streak.
- Leads team in dual points (22) and major decisions (6).
- Kannon Webster is 11-1 on the year and undefeated in duals (5-0).
- Second on the team in dual points (15) and major decisions (4).
- Owns team-best 5-0 record in duals.
- Joe Roberts is 5-4 on the year and third on the team in dual points scored (12).
- 4-2 dual record and has gone to overtime in a team-high three matches this season.
- Danny Pucino is 8-6 on the year and fourth on the team in dual points (11).
- Leads all starters in tech. falls with two.
