#13 Illini Wrestling Dominates With Blowout Wins Over Binghamton, #21 Arizona State

All rankings according to InterMat

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The No. 13 Illinois wrestling team completed its first day at WrangleMania in Bethlehem, Pa., on Saturday (Nov. 9). The Illini wrestled in two duals, winning both in dominant fashion. They first defeated Binghamton, 30-10, in the morning window and No. 21 Arizona State, 37-6, in the afternoon slate.

The Fighting Illini grapplers have started 3-0 in dual action for the first time since the 2020-21, season when they started 4-0.

BINGHAMTON NOTES

No. 3 at 133 pounds redshirt senior Lucas Byrd battled with Micah Roes (BING) to a 3-2 decision to tie the dual up at three after Binghamton won the first bout at 125 pounds.

No. 19 at 141 pounds redshirt junior Danny Pucino got his second major decision victory of the year over Nate Lucier (BING), 14-4, to give the Illini the lead, 7-3. Illinois never trailed or tied again from this moment forward.

No. 10 at 149 pounds redshirt freshman Kannon Webster got the first tech. fall of the afternoon with his avalanche of points, 21-3 (5:00), on Ivan Garcia (BING) to make it 12-3 in Illinois' favor.

No. 21 at 157 pounds graduate student Jason Kraisser fought with Fin Nadeau (BING) to a 6-4 decision, improving the team score to 15-3. No 33 at 165 pounds redshirt freshman Braeden Scoles recorded his first pin of his college career on Carter Baer (BING) in 5:20, extending the Illini lead to 21-3.

Illinois would drop the next two matchups at 174 and 184 pounds, which made the score 21-10 heading into No. 10 at 197 pounds redshirt senior Zac Braunagel's match. He scored 17 points in just over three minutes on Andrew Bailey (BING) to record the tech. fall, 17-2 (3:25), and raise the team score to 26-10.

No. 13 at 285 pounds redshirt senior Luke Luffman closed out the dual with a dominant major decision over fellow ranked heavyweight No. 16 Cory Day (BING), 11-1, to secure the 30-10 victory for Illinois.

The Illini racked up a pin, two tech. falls, two major decisions and two decisions to improve to 2-0 on the season.

ARIZONA STATE NOTES

Mirroring the Binghamton dual, Lucas Byrd scored the first points of the dual for the Illini with his shutout decision, 4-0, over No. 18 Julian Chlebove (ASU) to eat into the deficit, 6-3, after the Sun Devils took the 125-pound bout. Danny Pucino handled Emilio Ysaguirre (ASU) via 4-1 decision to tie the dual up at six all.

Kannon Webster dragged No. 14 Jesse Vasquez (ASU) into deep water, piling on the takedowns late in the match to get the major decision, 21-7. Illinois led 10-6 at this point and did not lose a match the rest of the afternoon.

Jason Kraisser pinned Michael Kilic (ASU) late in the first period at the 2:22 mark to put the Orange and Blue up by 10, 16-6. Braeden Scoles made it back-to-back pins for the Fighting Illini with his second of the day in an upset win over No. 15 Nicco Ruiz (ASU) near the end of period one (2:53). Illinois' lead ballooned to 22-6 after gaining 12 points from the two pins.

Danny Braunagel battled to a 6-3 decision over Chance McLane (ASU) to raise the lead to 19, 25-6. Edmond Ruth handled business against Azizbek Fayzullaev (ASU), 11-7, increasing the score to 28-6.

Zac Braunagel got the third pin of the dual for the Illini when he turned Jacob Meissner (ASU) to his back in the second period (3:46). This put the Illini over 30 dual points for the third straight time this season, 34-6.

Luke Luffman closed it out for Illinois in exciting fashion, upsetting No. 4 Cohlton Schultz (ASU) in overtime, SV-1 2-1, marking the final score of 37-6 in favor of the Orange and Blue.

Illinois totaled three pins, a major decision and five decisions to improve to 3-0 on the season.

UP NEXT

The Orange and Blue grapplers return to action Sunday (Nov. 10) for the Journeymen Collegiate Classic tournament beginning at 8 a.m. CT.

BINGHAMTON RESULTS

ARIZONA STATE RESULTS