University of Illinois
#1 Penn State
#13 Illinois Wrestling Closes Out Dual Season with #1 Penn State in Huff Hall Sunday
February 14, 2025 | Wrestling
Preview
| Events: | vs. #1 Penn State |
|---|---|
| When | Sunday, February 16, 1 p.m. CT |
| Where | Huff Hall, Champaign, Ill. |
| Parking Info | Parking Release |
| Watch | B1G+ |
| Season Stats | Illinois |
| Rankings | InterMat |
| Social Media | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 13 Fighting Illini grapplers (9-3, 4-3 B1G) welcome in the top-ranked Nittany Lions (12-0, 6-0 B1G) to Huff Hall on Sunday (Feb. 16) at 1 p.m. CT.
It will be senior day on Sunday where 11 seniors will be honored: Danny Braunagel, Zac Braunagel, Lucas Byrd, Caden Ernd, Jake Harrier, Jason Kraisser, Luke Luffman, Isiah Pettigrew, Danny Pucino, Daniel Renshaw and Edmond Ruth.
The Orange and Blue are coming off a dominant 35-8 win over Purdue with a pin, three tech. falls, two major decisions and two decisions that took place on Feb. 1 in Huff Hall. No. 4 at 133 pounds Lucas Byrd has led the squad all season with his 14-1 overall record and he picked up his first tech. fall of the season over Purdue's Jacob Macatangay, 25-8 (6:17).
No. 14 at 165 pounds Braeden Scoles leads the team in dual points with 48. He picked up his team-high fourth pin over Purdue's Stoney Buell in 3:44; he also leads the team in tech. falls with four.
NOTES
- Head coach Mike Poeta owns a 23-29 overall, 11-20 B1G record in his fourth season at the helm.
- Lucas Byrd has the best record on the team being 14-1 overall, 11-1 in duals and 6-1 in Big Ten duals.
- His eight decision wins and four major decision wins lead all starters.
- His 39 duals points are tied for second on the team.
- Moved up to No. 7 on the Illinois career win percentage leaderboard, 88-16 (.846).
- Braeden Scoles (13-2, 10-2, 5-2) leads the team in falls (4) and dual points (48).
- Has won nine of his matches by bonus points: four pins, four tech. falls and a major decision.
- Luke Luffman (12-3, 10-2, 5-2) is tied for third on the team in dual points with 38.
- One of three starters with 10 dual wins (Lucas Byrd, Kannon Webster)
- Zac Braunagel (11-4, 9-3, 5-2) is tied for third on the team in dual points with 38.
- One of three starters with a 3-0 record in matches decided by tech. fall (Danny Braunagel, Kannon Webster).
- Kannon Webster (11-4, 8-4, 4-3) is tied for third on the team in dual points with 38.
- Has the fastest fall out of the 10 starers (1:17).
- Second on the team in pins and tech. falls with three.
- Danny Pucino (12-3, 9-3, 5-2) is sixth on the team in dual points with 34.
- Edmond Ruth (10-5, 8-4, 5-2) leads the team in overtime wins (3-0).
- Jason Kraisser (8-7, 7-5, 3-4) has the second-fastest fall among starters (2:18).
