CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois wrestling team is prepped for its first full weekend dual slate of the season when they host Michigan State at State Farm Center on Friday (Feb. 2) at 7 p.m. and travel to No. 4 Nebraska on Sunday (Feb. 4) at 2 p.m. CT.
Friday will be the first time since the first meet of the year against SIU-Edwardsville (Nov. 2, 2023) that the Illini are back at State Farm Center. They wrestled on an elevated stage and won, 28-7, over the Cougars.
True freshman No. 8 (149 lbs.) Kannon Webster improved to 7-1 against ranked opponents this season with his win last week over No. 11 Caleb Rathjen (IOWA) in overtime (SV-1 4-1). This improved him to a team-leading win percentage of 92.3%, 12-1 overall, and he's the only Illini who is undefeated in all duals (6-0) and Big Ten duals (2-0).
Redshirt sophomore No. 28 (184 lbs.) Dylan Connell got back on the winning track against Aiden Riggins (IOWA). Much like Webster, his match went into overtime tied at one, and Connell quickly got the winning takedown (SV-1 4-1).
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Michigan State enters State Farm Center at 8-3 overall in duals and 1-3 in Big Ten duals. There are no common opponents between the Spartans and Illini, but the Spartans did just upset No. 17 Wisconsin last Friday night, 22-15. Illinois trails the all-time series to Michigan State, 23-40-3 (.371), with the first meeting dating back to 1946. The last meeting on Feb. 5, 2023, the Orange and Blue topped the Spartans, 17-16, in East Lansing, Mich.
No. 4 Nebraska owns a 9-1 overall dual record and 4-1 in Big Ten duals. The lone common opponent between the two squads is Iowa; Nebraska lost to the Hawkeyes, 22-10, and Illinois was defeated, 36-6. The Illini trail the all-time series to the Cornhuskers, 4-10 (.286), with the first meeting dating back to 1939. The last meeting was on Feb. 3, 2023, when Nebraska beat Illinois, 27-19, at State Farm Center.
NOTES
- Kannon Webster is 12-1 on the year and undefeated in duals (6-0).
- Team-best win percentage (12-1, 92.3%).
- Second on the team in dual points (18) and major decisions (4).
- Owns team-best 6-0 record in duals and 2-0 in Big Ten duals.
- Edmond Ruth is 12-2 on the year and ranked No. 9 at 174 pounds.
- Leads team in dual points (22) and major decisions (6).
- Joe Roberts is 5-5 on the year and third on the team in dual points scored (12).
- 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.
- Dylan Connell is 4-4 on the season and 1-0 in Big Ten Duals
- Sixth Illini starter to reach double-digit dual points.
