Illini Matmen Prepped for Big Ten Championships in Maryland

All rankings are their seeds in their weight class.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois wrestling squad is set for the Big Ten Championships, which will begin on Saturday (March 9) and run through Sunday (March 10) at the XFINITY Center in College Park, Md.

Redshirt junior [4] 174-pounder Edmond Ruth is the highest-ranked Illini for the Big Ten Championships. The back-to-back Midlands champion leads Illinois in nearly every statistical metric. He boasts a team-high 18 wins, win percentage (.900), has totaled 42 dual points and is a perfect 8-0 in major decisions. In his last six appearances on the mat, he has won each time, which is also a team-high win streak.  

Redshirt sophomore [6] 141-pounder Danny Pucino trails only Ruth in duals points scored on the year with 32, the only other starter to eclipse 30. His two pins are the only ones recorded among current active starters this season, and his fastest was 2:26. He has won his last four matches and leads all starters in tech. falls with three.

Graduate student [6] 133-pounder Tony Madrigal ties Ruth with the longest active win streak on the team, having won six of his last six. His win percentage (.700) is second-best on the squad. He is third on the team in dual points with 24 and the third and final starter to surpass the 20-point threshold. Additionally, he is 3-1 in matches that were decided by a major decision.

TV SCHEDULE

From 9 a.m. CT to 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, March 9, BTN will broadcast the opening session, including the first round and quarterfinals duals, with whip-around coverage and quad-box views. On B1G+, individual mat cameras, as well as the quad box, will allow viewers to customize their experience. Session two on Saturday night begins at 4 p.m. CT with coverage of the wrestlebacks and consolation matches, streaming exclusively on B1G+. Television coverage resumes for Saturday night's semifinals on BTN from 6-8 p.m. CT.

On Sunday, March 10, session three begins at 11 a.m. CT on B1G+ with individual mat cameras for the consolation semifinals and seventh-place matches. At 3:30 p.m. CT, television coverage resumes as Big Ten champions are crowned, along with third and fifth-place bouts, all on Big Ten Network.

Big Ten Network veterans Shane Sparks, Jim Gibbons and Tim Johnson will anchor the weekend television broadcasts on BTN, along with reporter Hannah Mears.

ILLINI WRESTLERS' B1G TOURNAMENT SEEDS

125: [11] Justin Cardani
133: [6] Tony Madrigal
141: [6] Danny Pucino
149: [14] Jake Harrier
157: [14] Logan Swaw
165: [11] Chris Moore
174: [4] Edmond Ruth
184: [11] Dylan Connell
197: [12] Isiah Pettigrew
285: [13] Peter Marinopoulos

NOTES (InterMat rankings used below)

• Head coach Mike Poeta is in his third season. His overall record is 14-23, 7-17 B1G.
• Illinois is 5-9 overall and 2-6 in Big Ten duals during the 2023-24 season.
• Edmond Ruth is 18-2 on the year and ranked No. 8 at 174 pounds.
  • Leads team in dual points (42) and major decisions (8).
    • A perfect 8-0 in major-decision matches.
  • Has not given up a bonus point all season in his two losses.
  • 12-2 overall in duals, 7-1 in Big Ten duals.
  • Team-high win percentage (.900).
  • Currently on a six-match win streak.
• Danny Pucino is 13-7 on the year and ranked No. 24 at 141 pounds.
  • Second on the team in dual points (32).
  • Only other starter to eclipse 30 dual points.
  • Only active starter to record a pin.
    • He has two, and the fastest is 2:26.
  • Leads all starters in tech. falls (3).
  • 8-5 overall in duals, 5-2 in Big Ten duals.
  • Third on the team in win percentage (.650).
  • Currently on a four-match win streak.
• Tony Madrigal is 7-3 on the year and No. 23 at 133 pounds.
  • Second-best win percentage on the squad (.700).
  • Third on the team in dual points (24).
    • Final starter to surpass 20 dual points.
  • 3-1 in major decisions.
  • Currently on a six-match win streak.