CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 9 Illinois wrestling team is set for its first open tournament of the season with the Cougar Clash on Sunday, Dec. 7, in First Community Arena. The tournament is slated to begin at 10 a.m. CT.
Illinois is the fourth top 25 ranked team competing in this tournament with No. 7 Minesota, No. 18 Missouri and No. 24 Little Rock all making the journey to SIUE as well. Other teams competing include Northern Colorado, Bellarmine, SIUEÂ and Northern Illinois who look to play spoiler for the top-25 teams.
In its last time out Illinois got a scare from No. 11 Missouri but ultimately came out victorious winning 21-16. No. 1 (133 pounds) Lucas Byrd showed his ability to handle adversity when he trailed 7-0 early before ultimately winning his match 12-9 over No. 20 Kade Moore.Â
No. 13 (141 pounds) Danny Pucino made his triumphant return the lineup for the Illini with a 12-6 win over No. 20 Zeke Seltzer. No. 7 (157 pounds) Kannon Webster improved to 7-0 on the year with a 4-1 win over No. 20 J Conway.
Coming into the Cougar Clash the Illini are 4-2 against teams in the top 25 and 2-0 against Missouri who they could see again this weekend.
NOTES
- Lucas Byrd leads the team with 28 dual points scored on a perfect 7-0 record.
- Earned his 100th-career win on Nov. 15 against Lehigh's Mason Ziegler.
- Fifth highest win percentage in program history (103-16, .866).
- 1. Isaiah Martinez      157/165         2013-17          116-3  .975
- 2. Matt Lackey            165                2000-03          120-14 .896
- 3. Mike Poeta            157                2006-09          105-14 .882
- 4. Alex Tirapelle         157                2003-06          128-18 .877
- 5. Lucas Byrd            133                2020-pres.     103-16 .866
- Is three wins away from his 50th win in dual action (47-3 dual record).
- His 103 wins are tied for 24th most in program history, two wins away from moving up to a tie for 21st most.
- Has four top-20 wins on the season.
- Has not lost since Jan. 17, 2025, (Drake Ayala [IOWA], 4-2 decision).
- Kannon Webster is a perfect 7-0 to start his redshirt sophomore campaign.
- Second most dual points on the team with 25.
- Team leading most major decisions with two.
- Colin Kelly is 6-1 overall in his redshirt freshman debut.
- Third most dual points on the team (23)
- Tied with Webster for the team lead in major decisions (two).
- Braeden Scoles is 4-3 overall with the fourth most dual points on the team (20).
- Tied for team lead in most tech. falls with two.
- Luke Luffman is 5-1 overall with the fifth most dual points on the team (19).
