CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois wrestling squad is set to travel to Evanston, Ill. for the Big Ten Championships on Sat.-Sun. (March 8-9) hosted by Northwestern in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Illini matmen finished the dual season ranked No. 13 with a 9-4 overall, 4-4 B1G dual record. Lucas Byrd continues to lead the team with his 15-1 overall record at 133 pounds and he enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed. His last time out he defeated Penn State's Braeden Davis in a 7-1 decision.
Three other Illini are entering the tournament with top-5 seeds: Kannon Webster (149 pounds), Zac Braunagel (197 pounds) and Luke Luffman (285 pounds) each are seeded No. 5 in their respective weight classes. Webster and Z. Braunagel each finished the season with a 11-5 record while Luffman carried a 13-3 record.
Braeden Scoles is the No. 6 seed at 165 pounds, he led the team in dual points with 48 and finished with a 13-3 record. Edmond Ruth is also the No. 6 seed at 184 pounds and he finished with a 10-6 record.
Danny Pucino (141 pounds) and Danny Braunagel (174 pounds) round out the eight Illini who are top-10 seeds as the No. 7 seeds in each of their respective weight classes. Pucino finished the year 12-4 and D. Braunagel finished 8-8.
Jason Kraisser ended the season 9-7 and is the No. 11 seed at 157 pounds and Caelan Riley concluded the season 4-13 and is the No. 13 seed at 125 pounds.
SEEDS
125: #13 Caelan Riley
133: #2 Lucas Byrd
141: #7 Danny Pucino
149: #5 Kannon Webster
157: #11 Jason Kraisser
165: #6 Braeden Scoles
174: #7 Danny Braunagel
184: #6 Edmond Ruth
197: #5 Zac Braunagel
285: #5 Luke Luffman
NOTES
- Head coach Mike Poeta owns a 23-30 overall, 11-21 B1G record in his fourth season at the helm.Â
- Lucas Byrd has the best record on the team being 15-1 overall, 12-1 in duals and 7-1 in Big Ten duals.
- His nine decision wins and four major decision wins lead all starters.
- His 42 duals points are tied for second on the team.
- Moved up to No. 7 on the Illinois career win percentage leaderboard, 89-16 (.847).
- Braeden Scoles (13-3, 10-3, 5-3) 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 (13-3, 11-2, 6-2) is third on the team in dual points with 41.
- Zac Braunagel (11-5, 9-4, 5-3) is tied for fourth on the team in dual points with 38.
- Kannon Webster (11-5, 8-5, 4-4) is tied for fourth 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 each.
- Danny Pucino (12-4, 9-4, 5-3) is sixth on the team in dual points with 34.
- Edmond Ruth (10-6, 8-5, 5-3) leads the team in overtime wins (3-0).
- Jason Kraisser (9-7, 8-5, 4-4) has the second-fastest fall among starters (2:18).
