Chambana Sun

The Illinois wrestling team, ranked No. 12, is set to compete against No. 23 North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Monday at 6 p.m. CT. This matchup follows Illinois' significant victory over No. 6 Missouri, marking their highest-ranked win in over a decade with a score of 23-14.

Illinois has not started a season with four consecutive dual wins since the 2020-21 season. The team's performance has been notable for consistently scoring over 20 points per dual, a feat last achieved by the squad in the 2015-16 season when they won their first eight duals.

Key performances in the recent Missouri dual included Lucas Byrd and Kannon Webster, who both secured major decision victories over ranked opponents. Byrd's win came at 133 pounds against Kade More, while Webster triumphed at 149 pounds over Logan Gioffre.

A pivotal moment in the match occurred at 165 pounds when Braeden Scoles faced Cam Steed. After an injury to Steed led to a medical forfeit, Scoles was awarded six team points that significantly contributed to Illinois' victory.

North Carolina enters this competition with a record of two wins and one loss this season, including victories against Drexel and Navy but a defeat by Nebraska. In their last meeting on November 19, 2023, Illinois emerged victorious with a score of 20-13.

Illinois boasts several strong performers this season: Lucas Byrd, Kannon Webster, and Braeden Scoles each maintain perfect records and have contributed significantly to the team's success. Notably, Scoles leads in falls and total dual points.

The teams have met seven times since their initial encounter in 1985, with Illinois leading the series six games to one.