Chambana Sun

The Illinois wrestling team, ranked 12th nationally, is preparing to host the 6th-ranked Missouri team in a unique dinner theater setting on Thursday, November 21. The event will take place at the Lot 31 Stadium Club Tent in Champaign, Illinois. Doors will open at 5 p.m., with dinner and entertainment starting at 5:30 p.m., followed by the wrestling dual at 7 p.m. CT.

Tickets for this distinctive experience are available for purchase online.

Illinois enters this match after securing victories against Binghamton (30-10) and No. 21 Arizona State (37-6) during WrangleMania on November 9. The following day, they participated in the Journeymen Collegiate Classic tournament where Lucas Byrd, ranked second at 133 pounds, and Kannon Webster, ranked tenth at 149 pounds, won Hammer Awards for their respective weight classes.

Kannon Webster was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on November 14 for his outstanding performance over the weekend. This marks a first for an Illinois wrestler receiving this honor in program history. The team's current undefeated dual start is its best since the 2020-21 season when they began with four straight wins.

Four starters have maintained perfect records of six wins without a loss early in the season: Danny Pucino (No.15 at 141 pounds), Braeden Scoles (No.24 at 165 pounds), along with Byrd and Webster.

Missouri comes into this matchup with a split record of one win and one loss this season. They defeated Northern Colorado but fell to No.5 Virginia Tech recently. In their last meeting on December 21, 2023, Missouri emerged victorious over Illinois with a score of 29-6; however, historically Illinois leads their series against Missouri by twenty-one wins to thirteen losses since their first encounter in1928.

Several Illini wrestlers have been key contributors so far:

Braeden Scoles leads with three falls and seventeen dual points from his matches—all won by bonus points through pins or technical falls.

Zac Braunagel follows closely behind with sixteen points from five bonus-point victories including one pin among others.

Jason Kraisser holds fifteen points ranking him third while tying second-place status within team pins achieved thus far during competitions held previously too like those already mentioned above here today!

Kannon Webster's fourteen-point contribution places him fourth overall alongside shared leadership roles regarding technical fall achievements reached up until now jointly along-side Zac Braunagel/Braeden Scoles equally here again!

Finally both Danny Pucino/Luke Luffman sit fifth earning eleven each through consistent major decision results plus double-digit contributions similar likewise mentioned prior above repeatedly herein throughout article also once more...

Lucas Byrd rounds out double-digit scorers having accumulated ten through five decisive victories representing team efforts entirely altogether alike described already herein before elsewhere additionally...