CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 18 Fighting Illini wrestling team is set to begin their 2023-24 season on Thursday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m. CT in the State Farm Center against the Southern Illinois Edwardsville Cougars. They follow it up with a dual against Navy on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 1 p.m. CT in Huff Hall.
Head coach Mike Poeta is heading into his third year at the helm, and he improved the Illini across the board in his second season. He improved the Illini to 6-7 overall (4-4 B1G) and placed 10th as a team at the Big Ten Championships, compared to 3-7 overall (1-7 B1G) and an 11th-place finish at the Big Ten Championships in his first season.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Last season, SIUE went 6-8 overall and 2-7 in the Mid-American Conference. They defeated a common opponent with the Illini in Chattanooga, 20-15, and placed 10th in the MAC Championships. Illinois holds a strong edge in the all-time series record, 21-6-1, with the first matchup dating back to 1974. The Illini defeated the Cougars, 35-6, in their last matchup on Dec. 11, 2021.
Navy went 5-6 overall and 4-1 in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) last season. They were defeated in the lone common matchup with Illinois against Maryland, 18-15, and they placed fourth in the EIWA Championships. The series record between these two squads is even at 1-1, and the first matchup dates back to 1952. The Orange and Blue won the last matchup, 47-2, on Jan. 2, 1985.
