CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 12 Illini wrestling returns to Huff Hall for a dual against No. 17 Rutgers on Saturday (Jan. 24) at 12 p.m. CT.
Illinois split its past weekend's slate with a win over Michigan State, 31-12, on Jan. 16 and a loss to now No. 10 Michigan, 18-14, on Jan. 18. Lucas Byrd continues to roll as he picked up two more wins in these duals improving his record to 12-0 this season and 108-16 for his career. His 108 wins are now tied for 15th most in program history joining B.J. Futrell and Mark Jayne. He's eight wins away from breaking into the program's top 10. The Cincinnati native has now gone a full calendar year since his last loss to Drake Ayala (IOWA) on Jan. 17, 2025, in Carver Hawkeye Arena.
Chris Moore had a productive weekend as well with a major decision win against Michigan State's Ryan Boucher, 14-4, and a massive upset win over No. 8 Brock Mantanona of Michigan, 4-2. With these wins he moved up four spots in the 184-pound rankings from 32 to 28. Braeden Scoles had a double bonus point win weekend with a tech. fall over Jack Conley (MSU), 17-2 (4:07), and a major decision over Justin Gates (MICH), 18-4.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
Rutgers is 7-4 overall on the season with a 1-2 record in Big Ten duals. There's only one common opponent between the Scarlet Knights and Fighting Illini being Michigan where Rutgers fell 21-12 and Illinois 18-14.
The all-time series record between the two squads is an even 3-3 with the first meeting dating back to Jan. 9, 2015, which Illinois won 24-9. The last meeting came on Jan. 26, 2025, which Rutgers won 16-15.
NOTES
- Lucas Byrd leads the team with 43 dual points scored on a perfect 12-0 overall and dual record while he's 3-0 in Big Ten duals.
- 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.     108-16 .871
- His win over Minnesota's Brandon Morvari was his 50th career dual win (now 52-3).
- His 108 wins are tied for 15th most in program history, eight wins away from moving into top-10 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 amongst the starters (1:13).
- Braeden Scoles is 11-4 overall with the second most dual points on the team (38).
- Third on the team in tech. falls with three.
- Colin Kelly is 12-4 overall and 9-3 in duals during his redshirt freshman debut.
- Third most dual points on the team (36).
- Tied for third most major decisions on the team (two).
- Kannon Webster is 12-2 overall and 8-2 in dual action in his redshirt sophomore campaign.
- Fourth most dual points on the team with 30.
- Team leading most tech. falls with five.
- 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 11-5 overall
- Has the second most tech. falls on the team with four.
- Was a silver medalist at the Midlands Championships.
- Chris Moore is 10-7 overall and 6-6 in dual action.
- Second most major decisions on the team (three).
- Has 20 points in dual action to be the sixth starter to crack 20+ points.
- Was a silver medalist at the Midlands Championships.
