#13 Illinois Wrestling Drops Dual to #1 Penn State, 29-9

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 13 Illinois wrestling squad (9-4, 4-4) falls to No. 1 Penn State (14-0, 8-0), 29-9, on Sunday (Feb. 16) in Huff Hall.

Three seniors earned wins on senior day,  No. 4 at 133 pounds Lucas Byrd picked up a top-10 win over No. 8 Braeden Davis (PSU) in a 7-1 decision. Byrd finishes the dual season a team-high 15-1 overall, 12-1 in duals and 7-1 in Big Ten duals. His dual career record finishes at an impressive 40-3 and his Big Ten dual career record sits at 31-2.

Urbana, Ill. native Luke Luffman, ranked 10 at 285 pounds, won his final match in Huff Hall shutting out Cole Mirasola (PSU) in a 4-0 decision. He ends the dual season with a 13-3 overall record, 11-2 in duals and 6-2 in Big Ten duals. His career dual record ends at 34-17 and his Big Ten dual record finishes at 19-13.

No. 30 at 157 pounds Jason Kraisser battled to a 2-1 decision over Joe Sealey (PSU). It initially looked as if Sealey stole the match with a last second takedown in the third period. After a challenge from head coach Mike Poeta the call was overturned awarding Kraisser the win.

Today's attendance was 2,136, the fourth-highest attended dual in Huff Hall history.

UP NEXT

The Orange and Blue matmen are off until the Big Ten Championships on March 8-9 in Evanston, Ill.

FULL RESULTS