CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 13 Fighting Illini (8-3, 3-3 B1G) are set to host No. 27 Purdue (8-3, 1-2 B1G) at Huff Hall on Saturday (Feb. 1) at 2 p.m. CT where it will be Military Appreciation Day.
No. 4 at 133 pounds Lucas Byrd improved his season record to a team leading 13-1. His two-standout ranked wins this weekend against No. 11 Braxton Brown (Maryland), via 7-3 decision, and No. 9 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers), via 6-5 decision, earned him Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honors.
No. 12 Kannon Webster, competing at 149 pounds, now boasts a 10-4 record, becoming the fifth Illini starter to reach double-digit wins this season. At 165 pounds, No. 13 Braeden Scoles advanced to a 12-2 record over the weekend, the second-best record on the squad.Â
Scouting the OpponentsÂ
Purdue enters Champaign with an 8-3 overall, 1-2 B1G dual record so far this season. There are three common opponents between Illinois and Purdue being Northwestern (Illinois won 33-7, Purdue won 31-13), Indiana (Illinois won 34-3, Purdue lost 11-25) and Ohio State (Illinois lost 9-24, Purdue lost 10-34). The all-time record between the two squads is 60-30-2 in favor of the Orange and Blue. The last matchup between the Boilermakers and Illini was on Feb. 16, 2024, where the Illini edged out the Boilermakers, 19-18, in West Lafayette, Ind.
NOTES
- Head coach Mike Poeta owns a 22-29Â overall, 10-20Â B1G record in his fourth season at the helm.Â
- Lucas Byrd has the best record on the team being 13-1 overall, 10-1 in duals and 5-1 in Big Ten duals.
- His eight decision wins and four major decision wins lead all starters.
- His 34 duals points are tied for second on the team.
- Moved up to No. 7 on the Illinois career win percentage leaderboard, 87-16 (.845).
- Braeden Scoles (12-2, 9-2, 4-2) leads the team in falls (4) and dual points (42).
- Has won eight of his matches by bonus points: three pins, four tech. falls and a major decision.
- Luke Luffman (11-3, 9-2, 4-2) is tied for second on the team in dual points with 34.
- Joins Scoles as one of three starters with a 9-2 dual record or better (Byrd 10-1).
- Zac Braunagel (10-4, 8-3, 4-2) is tied for second on the team in dual points with 34.
- One of two starters with a 3-0 record in matches decided by tech. fall (Danny Braunagel, 3-0).
- Kannon Webster (10-4, 7-4, 3-3) is fifth on the team in dual points with 33.
- Has the fastest fall out of the 10 starers (1:17).
- Tied for team lead in pins with three (Scoles).
- Danny Pucino (11-3, 8-5, 4-2) is sixth on the team in dual points with 29.
- Tied for team lead with two wins in overtime (Ruth, 2-0).
- Jason Kraisser (8-6, 7-4, 3-3) has the second-fastest fall among starters (2:18).
