CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 11 Orange and Blue wrestling team is set for a weekend trip north to Michigan to take on Michigan State in East Lansing on Friday (Jan. 16) at 6 p.m. and No. 13 Michigan on Sunday (Jan. 18) in Ann Arbor at 1 p.m. CT.
Lucas Byrd continues to roll as last week he won his 50th career dual win with his 7-1 decision win over Minnesota's Brandon Morvari. He's currently 10-0 on the season and is now 50-3 overall in duals for his career.
No. 9 at 165 pounds Braeden Scoles picked up another win last week against Minnesota to improve to 9-4 on the season and 7-3 in dual action. Dylan Connell earned a hard-fought upset win at 197 pounds against the Golden Gophers as he knocked off No. 20 Gavin Nelson in overtime, 4-1.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
The Spartans own a 3-3 record overall and 0-1 in Big Ten dual action. They opened their conference schedule on Jan. 9 with Michigan where they were defeated 43-3. There's only one common opponent between Illinois and Michigan State being Rider where Illinois won 24-12 and MSU lost 24-16.
The all-time series record between the two programs is 23-41-3 in favor of the Spartans with the first meeting dating back to Jan. 19, 1946, which MSU won 15-11 and the last meeting coming on Feb. 2, 2024, that the Spartans also won 29-10. Prior to that loss in 2024 the Illini won seven straight and they hold a 12-3 advantage over the Spartans since 2000.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
The Wolverines boast a 5-2 overall record and are 1-0 in Big Ten dual action. There's only one common opponent between Michigan and Illinois being Missouri whom beat the Wolverines 26-10 while Illinois beat them twice 26-18 and 21-16.
The all-time series record between the two squads is 27-43-1 in favor of the Wolverines with the first meeting on Feb. 16, 1924, where Illinois won 26-0 and the last meeting came on Jan. 26, 2020, that Illinois also won 20-13.
NOTES
- Lucas Byrd leads the team with 37 dual points scored on a perfect 10-0 record.
- Earned his 100th-career win on Nov. 15 against Lehigh's Mason Ziegler.
- Fifth highest win percentage in program history (106-16, .869).
- 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. 106-16 .869
- His win over Minnesota's Brandon Morvari was his 50th career dual win (50-3).
- His 106 wins are tied for 19th most in program history, two wins away from moving into top-15 in program history.
- Has four top-20 wins on the season.
- Has not lost since Jan. 17, 2025, (Drake Ayala [IOWA], 4-2 decision).
- Owns the fastest fall on the team in 1:13.
- Kannon Webster is 12-2 overall and 8-2 in dual action in his redshirt sophomore campaign.
- Third most dual points on the team with 30.
- Team leading most tech. falls with five.
- Colin Kelly is 11-3 overall and 8-2 in duals during his redshirt freshman debut.
- Second most dual points on the team (31).
- Second most major decisions on the team (two).
- Braeden Scoles is 9-4 overall with the fourth most dual points on the team (29).
- Tied for second on the team in tech. falls with two.
- Luke Luffman is 9-3 overall and 6-2 in dual action.
- Has the fifth most dual points on the team (23).
- Has the most major decisions on the team with four.
- Michael Gioffre is 10-4 overall
- Has the second most tech. falls on the team with three.
- Was a silver medalist at the Midlands Championships.
- Chris Moore is 8-7 overall and 4-6 in dual action.
- Was a silver medalist at the Midlands Championships.
