CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 23-ranked Illini wrestling is set to travel to Edwardsville, Ill. on Saturday for their first dual meet of the 2021-22 season. Illinois will wrestle UT-Chattanooga at 12 p.m. CT, followed by SIUE at 3 p.m. CT. Saturday will be head coach Mike Poeta's first two dual meets at the helm of the Fighting Illini wrestling program after becoming head coach in April 2021.
No. 23 Illinois
125: Justin Cardani
133: Lucas Byrd
141: We Rachal
149: Christian Kanzler
157: Joe Roberts
165: Danny Braunagel/Jake Reicin
174: DJ Shannon/Trey Sizemore
184: Zac Braunagel
197: Nikita Nepomnyaschiy
285: Luke Luffman
SIUE
125: Tommy Dineen
133: Matt Malavsky
141: Saul Ervin
149: Caden Green
157: Max Kristoff
165: Cardeionte Wilson
174: Kevin Kschwendtner
184: Sergio Villalobos
197: Austin Andres/Ryan Yarnell
HWT: Aric Bohn/Colton McKiernan
UT-Chattanooga
125: Fabian Gutierrez
133: Brayden Palmer
141: Colton Landers/Franco Valdes
149: Noah Castillo/Grant Lundy
157: Weston Wichman
165: Caleb Waddell/Drew Nicholson
174: Carial Tarter
184: Matthew Waddell/Landon Lewis
197: Thomas Sell
285: Matthias Ervin/Grayson Walthall
NOTES
- Mike Bosco (285) won the Freshman/Sophomore division at the Lindenwood Open on Nov. 20, his first collegiate tournament.
- Danny Pucino (141) and Joe Roberts (157) each took fourth place in the Open Division in their respective weight classes at the Lindenwood Open. Caden Ernd (174), Dylan Connell (184) and Joey Braunagel (197) each placed in the top six in the Freshman/Sophomore division.
- Justin Cardani (125), Lucas Byrd (133), Christian Kanzler (149), and Luke Luffman (285) each took third place in their respective weight classes to begin the season at the MSU Open on Nov. 6.
- Danny Braunagel (165) and Matt Wroblewski (197) both took fourth place at the MSU Open in their respective weight classes, while DJ Shannon (174) took sixth.
- Freshmen Dylan Connell (184) and Joey Braunagel (197) both earned runner-up finishes in the freshman/sophomore division at the MSU Open, while Caden Ernd placed sixth.
- The Illini are currently ranked No. 23 in the NWCA Coaches Poll.
- Illinois returns 2021 All-Americans and fifth-place finishers Lucas Byrd (133 lbs) and Dylan Duncan (141 lbs).
- 2021 NCAA qualifiers Lucas Byrd, Dylan Duncan, Danny Braunagel, Zac Braunagel, and Luke Luffman are all returning for the Illini this season.
- Nine starters return to the expected starting lineup for the 2021-22 season. The Illini welcome in eight newcomers this season, including two transfers in Anthony Federico (Fresno State) and Luke Rasmussen (North Dakota State).
- Illinois is led by first year head coach Mike Poeta, who previously spent five years as assistant coach of the Fighting Illini before taking over the head coaching job in April 2021.
- Ed Ruth enters his first year as an assistant coach with the Illini wrestling program. Ruth (Penn State '14) was a three-time NCAA champion and four-time Big Ten champion at 184-pounds.
- For all future home meets beginning in 2022, Illinois will compete at the State Farm Center after previously holding meets at Huff Hall.
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