2024-25 Wrestling Roster
Zac Braunagel
- Class:
- Redshirt Senior
- Hometown:
- Belleville, Ill.
- High School:
- Althoff Catholic
- Major:
- Strategic Brand Communication
- Position:
- 197
 4x NCAA Championships Qualifier |
2024-25
- NCAA Championships qualifier at 197 pounds
- Placed third at the Big Ten Championships
- Went 17-8 overall, 9-4 in duals and 5-3 in Big Ten duals
- Scored 38 dual points, fourth most on the team
- Went a perfect 4-0 in matches decided via tech. fall, led the team
- Recorded one pin and five major decisions
2023-24
- Did not compete - Olympic redshirt
2022-23
- NCAA Championships qualifier at 197 pounds
- Placed fourth at the Big Ten Championships
- Went 25-9 overall, 9-4 in duals and 6-2 in Big Ten duals
- Scored 31 dual points
- Recorded 5 major decisions and 2 falls, fastest fall (4:20) at the Michigan State Open
- Academic All-Big Ten
2021-22
- NCAA Championships qualifier at 184 pounds
- Earned third-place at the Big Ten Championships at 184-pounds
- Went 17-9 overall and recorded 5 falls
- Fastest fall, 1:41 at the Big Ten Championships on 3/5/22
- Started the season with a six win streak
- Academic All-Big Ten
2020-21
- NCAA qualifier at 184-pounds
- Finished the season with 16 dual points scored
- Won his first match of the season by fall (6:02), defeating Drayton Harris of Indiana
2019-20
- NWCA Honorable Mention All-American at 184-pounds
- NCAA qualifier at 184-pounds; NCAA Championships canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
- Went 21-10 overall, good for third on the team in wins
- Finished third on the team in dual points with 35
- Led the team with nine major decisions
- Went 9-5 in dual bouts, starting in every dual matchup for the Illini at 184-pounds
- Placed fourth at Midlands, going 4-2 with ranked victories over No. 9 Nelson Brands (Iowa) and No. 13 Noah Stewart (Army)
- Finished fourth at the MSU Open, going 5-1 including a 15-7 major decision victory over No. 12 Cam Caffey (Michigan State)
- Team Captain
- NWCA Scholar All-American
- Academic All-Big Ten
2018-19
- Competed for Team USA in Greco Roman at 86 kg at 2019 Junior World Championships
- Made his Midlands debut at 184-pounds, going 1-2
- Placed first at the Maryville Open at 174-pounds competing unattached
- Finished third at the Lindenwood Open
- Recorded his first fall at the UNI Open (1:39)
Career Record
| Year | Overall | Dual | Conference | Falls | TF | MD | Big Ten | NCAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19* | 12-5 | -- | -- | 2 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2019-20 | 21-10 | 9-6 | 5-4 | 0 | 3 | 9 | -- | Canceled |
| 2020-21 | 7-8 | 4-4 | 4-4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -- | DNP |
| 2021-22 | 17-9 | 6-4 | 4-4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3rd | DNP |
| 2022-23 | 25-9 | 9-4 | 6-2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4th | DNP |
| 2023-24* | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2024-25 | 17-8 | 9-4 | 5-3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3rd | DNP |
| Total | 87-44 | 37-22 | 24-17 | 11 | 9 | 23 |
*Redshirt Season
High School
- 2018 IHSA Class 1A State 182 Pound Champion
- 2017 IHSA Class 1A State 170 Pound Champion
- 2016 IHSA Class 1A State 170 Pound 5th Place
- 2017 Illinois Greco-Roman State Champion Junior 170 Pounds
- 2017 Illinois Freestyle State Runner-Up Junior 170 Pound
- Three-time All-State
- Fargo National Champion
- Coached by Josh Harper
Personal
- Born on July 15, 2000
- Son of Joe and Elaine Braunagel
- Has an older brother Jarrid, twin brother and Illini wrestler, Danny, and his younger brother, Joey, is an Illini wrestler too
- Member of the National Honor Society
Illini Wrestling I Lucas Byrd First Pitch 5/13/25
Saturday, May 17
Illini Wrestling I Lucas Byrd National Champion Highlight Reel 3/31/25
Monday, March 31
Illini Wrestling I Lucas Byrd Media Availability 3/27/25
Thursday, March 27
Illini Wrestling I Mike Poeta Media Availability 3/27/25
Thursday, March 27
