CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 10 Illinois wrestling team (7-1, 2-1 B1G) is set for their first Big Ten road trip of the year when they travel to Iowa City, Iowa to take on the No. 2 Hawkeyes (7-0, 1-0 B1G) on Friday (Jan. 17) at 6 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
There's a new No. 1 at 133 pounds according to WIN Magazine and it's Lucas Byrd who is a perfect 11-0 on the season. He picked up two Big Ten wins this past weekend including a top-10 win over Ohio State's No. 9 Nic Bouzakis in overtime, SV-1 8-5, and a major decision, 22-8, over Northwestern's Massey Odiotti.
No. 20 at 157 pounds Jason Kraisser went 2-0 over the weekend too including a big upset over Ohio State's No. 9 Paddy Gallagher where he nearly pinned Gallagher in the second period, but the four point near fall catapulted him to his 16-9 decision win. Kraisser picked up his second win of the weekend over Northwestern's Jacob Bostelman via a 6-3 decision.
No. 10 at 184 pounds Edmond Ruth was the last Illini grapplers to go 2-0 over the weekend. He picked up a top-15 win over Ohio State's No. 14 Ryder Rogotzke in a 7-3 decision and earned his first tech. fall of the season over Northwestern's Matthew Kubas, 20-2 (6:08).
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes are flawless on the season holding a perfect 7-0 dual record and 1-0 in Big Ten duals. Their last time out they dismantled Wisconsin 45-0 on Jan. 12, their second time this season scoring 40+ points both of which were shutouts. There is no common opponent so far this season between the Hawkeyes and the Illini.
The all-time series record between the two squads is 26-54-1 in favor of Iowa with the first meeting dating back to 1920. The last meeting was Jan. 26, 2024, in Huff Hall where the Hawkeyes won 36-6. The last win for Illinois in the series came on Jan. 28, 2005, in Huff Hall where the dominated 25-7.
NOTES
- Lucas Byrd is the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 133 pounds according to WIN Magazine with an 11-0 overall record, 8-0 in duals and 3-0 in Big Ten duals.
- His six decision wins and four major decision wins lead all starters.
- His 28 duals points are tied for second on the team.
- Braeden Scoles (10-1, 7-1, 2-1) leads the team in falls (3) and dual points (34).
- Has won seven of his matches by bonus points: three pins, three tech. falls and a major decision.
- Luke Luffman (9-2, 7-1, 2-1) is tied for second on the team in dual points with 28.
- Jason Kraisser (8-3, 7-1, 3-0) is third on the team in dual points with 27.
- Has the second-fastest fall among starters (2:18).
- Zac Braunagel (8-3, 6-2, 2-1) is fourth on the team in dual points with 26.
- Kannon Webster (8-3, 5-3, 1-2) is fifth on the team in dual points with 24.
- Has the fastest fall out of the 10 starers (1:17).
- Edmond Ruth (8-3, 6-2, 3-0) is one of three starters with a perfect Big Ten dual record: Byrd and Kraisser.
