CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 11 Illinois wrestling team travels to West Lafayette to take on rival Purdue on Sunday (Feb. 8) in Holloway Gymnasium at 12 p.m. CT.
The Illini are coming off a dominant 27-7 win over Indiana on Jan. 30 where they won eight of the ten bouts. Lucas Byrd improved to 14-0 on the season and now has 110 career wins which is the 14th most in program history.
Spencer Moore remained perfect in Big Ten duals as well moving to 4-0 in conference duals while Braeden Scoles improved to 5-0 in Big Ten matches. Luke Luffman returned the lineup at heavyweight after missing over a month due to a knee injury. He returned in dominating fashion with his team high fifth major decision on the year over Caleb Marzolino, 16-4.
SCOUTING PURDUE
The Boilermakers boast a 9-4 overall record with a 2-3 mark in Big Ten duals. There are three common opponents between Purdue and Illinois being Rider, Rutgers and Michigan State. Illinois defeated Rider 24-12 while Purdue did so 24-6. Both squads beat Michigan State (Purdue 27-9, Illinois 31-12), but the Boilermakers fell to Rutgers 24-9 while the Illini won 17-16.
The all-time series record between the two squads is 61-30-2 in favor of Illinois with the first meeting dating back to March 11, 1916, where Illinois lost 18-10. The Illini are currently on a three-dual win streak 31-9 on Jan. 14, 2023, 19-18 on Feb. 16, 2024, and 35-8 on Feb. 1, 2025.
NOTES
- Lucas Byrd leads the team with 49 dual points scored on a perfect 14-0 overall and dual record while he's 5-0 in Big Ten duals.
- Earned his 100th-career win on Nov. 15, 2025, against Lehigh's Mason Ziegler.
- Fifth highest win percentage in program history (110-16, .873).
- 1. Isaiah Martinez 157/165 2013-17 116-3 .975
- 2. Matt Lackey 165 2000-03 120-14 .896
- 3. Mike Poeta 157 2006-09 105-14 .882
- 4. Alex Tirapelle 157 2003-06 128-18 .877
- 5. Lucas Byrd 133 2020-pres. 110-16 .873
- His win over Minnesota's Brandon Morvari was his 50th career dual win (now 54-3).
- His 110 wins are the 14th most in program history, six wins away from moving into top-10 in program history.
- Has four top-20 wins on the season.
- Has not lost since Jan. 17, 2025, (Drake Ayala [IOWA], 4-2 decision).
- Owns the fastest fall amongst the starters (1:13).
- Braeden Scoles is 13-4 overall, 11-3 in duals and 5-0 in Big Ten duals
- Second most dual points on the team (44).
- Third on the team in tech. falls with three.
- Colin Kelly is 13-5 overall and 10-4 in duals during his redshirt freshman season.
- Tied for third most dual points on the team (39).
- Kannon Webster is 14-2 overall, 10-2 in dual action and 2-1 in Big Ten duals in his redshirt sophomore campaign.
- Tied for third most dual points on the team with 39.
- Team leading most tech. falls with six.
- Tied for second most major decisions on the team with three
- Has four top-20 wins on the year.
- Spencer Moore is 11-6 overall, 7-6 in duals and a perfect 4-0 in Big Ten duals
- One of four starters to remain perfect in conference action (Byrd, Luffman, Scoles)
- Has 23 points in dual action to be the seventh starter to crack 20+ points.
- Luke Luffman is 10-3 overall, 7-2 in duals and 1-0 in Big Ten action.
- Fifth most dual points on the team (27).
- Has the most major decisions on the team with five.
- Michael Gioffre is 12-6 overall
- Has the second most tech. falls on the team with four.
- Was a silver medalist at the Midlands Championships.
- Chris Moore is 12-7 overall, 8-6 in duals and 4-1 in Big Ten action.
- Team-high five top-25 wins on the season.
- Has won three-straight top-15 matchups.
- Tied for third most major decisions on the team (three).
- Sixth most dual points on the team with 26.
- Was a silver medalist at the Midlands Championships.
