Bryan Medlin Director of Operations | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Bryan Medlin Director of Operations | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
The Illinois wrestling team is preparing to compete in the Big Ten Championships, which will take place at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois, on March 8-9. The event is hosted by Northwestern University.
The Illini finished their dual season ranked No. 13 with a record of 9-4 overall and 4-4 in Big Ten duals. Lucas Byrd leads the team with a 15-1 overall record at 133 pounds and enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed. In his last match, he defeated Penn State's Braeden Davis with a score of 7-1.
Three other wrestlers from Illinois have earned top-five seeds for the tournament: Kannon Webster (149 pounds), Zac Braunagel (197 pounds), and Luke Luffman (285 pounds) are each seeded No. 5 in their respective weight classes. Webster and Z. Braunagel both ended the season with an 11-5 record, while Luffman had a record of 13-3.
Braeden Scoles is seeded No. 6 at 165 pounds; he led the team in dual points with a total of 48 and finished with a record of 13-3. Edmond Ruth also holds a No. 6 seed at 184 pounds, finishing his season with a record of 10-6.
Danny Pucino (141 pounds) and Danny Braunagel (174 pounds) are both seeded No. 7 in their respective weight classes, rounding out eight Illini who are top-ten seeds for this championship event. Pucino concluded his season with a record of 12-4, while D. Braunagel finished at an even split of eight wins and eight losses.
Jason Kraisser completed his season with nine wins against seven losses and is seeded No.11 at the championship for the weight class of 157 pounds; Caelan Riley ended his season at four wins to thirteen losses and enters as the No.13 seed for the weight class of125pounds.
Head coach Mike Poeta has been leading Illinois wrestling into his fourth year, holding an overall coaching record of23wins against30lossesand11wins against21losses within Big Ten matches specifically."Lucas Byrd has achieved notable success," said Poeta."He boasts an impressive15–1overallrecord."
"Braeden Scoles leads our team when it comes to falls," continued Poeta."He's managed four pins so far this year."
With anticipation building around these upcoming championships over this weekend—Illinois hopes that their preparation pays off when they step onto those mats again come Saturday morning onward through Sunday evening conclusion here soon enough now!
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