CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 11 Fighting Illini wrestling team is set for their final two duals of the season this weekend with senior night against No. 5 Nebraska in Huff Hall on Friday (Feb. 13) at 7 p.m. and finally a road trip to Northwestern on Sunday (Feb. 15) at 1 p.m. CT.
Illinois has won its third-straight Big Ten dual after a dominant 28-6 win at Purdue on Feb. 8. Eight of 10 Illini won their matchups with the usual suspects remaining on top. Spencer Moore and Lucas Byrd are all still perfect in conference duals while Byrd is still completely undefeated on the season at 15-0.
Kannon Webster increased his team lead in tech. falls to seven as he earned yet another one on Sunday over Isaac Ruble, 19-3 (3:58). Colin Kelly also had a dominant tech. fall win at 174 pounds as he defeated Aidan Costello, 17-2 (5:20).
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
The Cornhuskers come into Huff Hall with a 10-6 overall record and a 3-3 mark in Big Ten duals. There are five common opponents between Illinois and Nebraska being Lehigh, Missouri, Purdue, Minnesota, Michigan and Iowa. Both teams beat Lehigh, Missouri and Purdue throughout the season while Nebraska beat Michigan and Minnesota, and both teams fell to Iowa.
The all-time series record between the two squads is 4-11 in favor of Nebraska with the first meeting dating back to Feb. 4, 1939, that Illinois won 23-3. The last win for Illinois over the Cornhuskers was on Jan. 5, 2018, 18-17 in Huff Hall.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern holds a 3-7 overall record with a 1-6 mark in Big Ten duals. There are three common opponents between the Wildcats and Illini being Rutgers, Michigan and Michigan State. Northwestern lost to all three opponents while Illinois beat Rutgers and Michigan State.
The all-time series record is 51-35-2 in favor of the Orange and Blue with the first meeting dating back to Jan. 7, 1922, which Illinois won 17-10. Illinois has won the last two matchups in the series winning 33-7 on Jan. 12, 2025, and 21-20 on Feb. 18, 2024.
NOTES
- Lucas Byrd leads the team with 52 dual points scored on a perfect 15-0 overall and dual record while he's 6-0 in Big Ten duals.
- Earned his 100th-career win on Nov. 15, 2025, against Lehigh's Mason Ziegler.
- Fifth highest win percentage in program history (111-16, .874).
- 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. 111-16 .874
- His win over Minnesota's Brandon Morvari was his 50th career dual win (now 54-3).
- His 111 wins are tied for 13th most in program history with Zane Richards, five 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).
- Kannon Webster is 15-2 overall, 11-2 in dual action and 3-1 in Big Ten duals in his redshirt sophomore campaign.
- Tied for second most dual points on the team with 44.
- Team leading most tech. falls with seven, one shy of being top-10 in the country.
- Tied for second most major decisions on the team with three
- Has four top-20 wins on the year.
- Braeden Scoles is 13-5 overall, 11-4 in duals and 5-1 in Big Ten duals
- Tied for second most dual points on the team (44).
- Tied for third on the team in tech. falls with three.
- Colin Kelly is 14-5 overall and 11-4 in duals during his redshirt freshman season.
- Tied for second most dual points on the team (44).
- Tied for third on the team in tech. falls with three
- Spencer Moore is 12-6 overall, 8-6 in duals and a perfect 5-0 in Big Ten duals
- One of three starters to remain perfect in conference action (Byrd, Luffman)
- Has 26 points in dual action to be the seventh starter to crack 20+ points.
- Luke Luffman is 11-3 overall, 8-2 in duals and 2-0 in Big Ten action.
- Fifth most dual points on the team (30).
- Has the most major decisions on the team with five.
- Michael Gioffre is 13-6 overall
- Has the second most tech. falls on the team with four.
- Was a silver medalist at the Midlands Championships.
- Chris Moore is 13-7 overall, 9-6 in duals and 5-1 in Big Ten action.
- Team-high five top-25 wins on the season.
- Tied for third most major decisions on the team (three).
- Sixth most dual points on the team with 29.
- Was a silver medalist at the Midlands Championships.
