No. 10 Illini Wrestling Suffers First Loss of the Season to No. 5 Buckeyes, 24-9

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 10 Illinois wrestling team (6-1, 1-1 B1G) suffered its first loss of the 2024-25 season against No. 5 Ohio State (9-0, 1-0 B1G), 24-9, on Friday (Jan. 10) at Huff Hall.

No. 2 at 133 pounds redshirt senior Lucas Byrd improved to 10-0 on the season when he won in a thrilling overtime match against No. 9 Nic Bouzakis (OSU). Byrd was trailing 5-4 heading into the final period where he chose to go on bottom and get the escape to tie it up at five. He made quick work in overtime getting to the legs of Bouzakis in less than 20 seconds to earn the winning takedown, SV-1 8-5.

No. 27 at 157 pounds graduate student Jason Kraisser earned his biggest win of the season when he upset No. 9 Paddy Gallagher 16-9. Kraisser nearly had Gallagher pinned in the second period, but he still erupted for eight points (four point near fall, one escape and one takedown) to push his lead to 13-6 at the end of the second before closing him out in the third period.

No. 10 at 184 pounds redshirt senior Edmond Ruth picked up a top-15 win in his 7-3 decision over No. 14 Ryder Rogotzke (OSU). Ruth got an early takedown in the first period to lead 3-1, he only gave up an escape in the second to keep it close, 3-2, and then escaped to begin the third period and added a last second takedown to secure the win, 7-3.

Today's attendance was 540. 

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