CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – For the second-consecutive season Illinois wrestling has qualified eight wrestlers to the NCAA Championships in Cleveland on Thursday-Saturday (March 19-21). It's the first time the program has sent eight or more wrestlers to the national tournament since the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Championships.
Reigning national champion at 133 pounds Lucas Byrd has punched his ticket to his fifth NCAA Championships where he's a three-time All-American. Byrd comes into the national tournament with a 20-2 record. He led the team with 62 points in dual action where he went a perfect 17-0. In his career he's compiled 116 wins which is the ninth most in school history and his 86.6%-win percentage is the program's fifth highest.
Kannon Webster has qualified to his second-consecutive NCAA Championships thanks to his bronze medal at the Big Ten Championships. He compiled a 20-4 record with a team high seven tech. falls on the year and he scored 50 points in dual action.
Luke Luffman has also punched his ticket to his fifth NCAA Championships where he's searching for his first All-America honor. He led the team with six major decisions and placed eighth at the Big Ten Championships.
SEEDS
[7] Lucas Byrd (133 pounds)
[7] Kannon Webster (157 pounds)
[9] Chris Moore (184 pounds)
[17] Braeden Scoles (165 pounds)
[18] Colin Kelly (174 pounds)
[18] Spencer Moore (125 pounds)
[25] Michael Gioffre (149 pounds)
[26] Luke Luffman (285 pounds)
NOTES
- Lucas Byrd finished the season 20-2 with a team-high 62 dual points on a perfect 17-0 overall dual record and 8-0 in Big Ten duals.
- Qualified to his fifth NCAA Championships.
- Earned his 100th-career win on Nov. 15, 2025, against Lehigh's Mason Ziegler.
- Fifth highest win percentage in program history (116-18, .876).
- 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.     116-18 .866
- His win over Minnesota's Brandon Morvari was his 50th career dual win (now 57-3).
- His 116 wins are tied for ninth most in program history.
- Has six top-20 wins on the season.
- Owns the fastest fall amongst the starters (1:13).
- Third most tech. falls on the team (four)
- Kannon Webster is 20-4 overall, 12-3 in dual action and 4-2 in Big Ten duals in his redshirt sophomore campaign.
- Qualified to his second NCAA Championships.
- Third at Big Ten Championships at 157 pounds.
- Finished tied for second most dual points on the team with 50.
- Team leading most tech. falls with seven
- Tied for second most major decisions on the team with three.
- Has six top-20 wins on the year.
- Braeden Scoles is 16-9 overall, 12-5 in duals and 6-2 in Big Ten duals.
- Qualified to his second NCAA Championships.
- Finished tied for second most dual points on the team (44).
- Second most tech. falls on the team with five.
- Colin Kelly is 18-8 overall and 12-5 in duals during his redshirt freshman season.
- Qualified to first NCAA Championships.
- Finished tied for second most dual points on the team (44).
- Tied for fourth on the team in tech. falls with three.
- Second fastest fall amongst starters (1:26).
- Spencer Moore is 17-8 overall, 10-6 in duals and a perfect 7-0 in Big Ten duals.
- Qualified to second NCAA Championships
- One of two starters to finish perfect in Big Ten duals with Byrd.
- Tied for second most major decisions on the squad with four.
- Scored 38 points in dual action (fifth on the team) and was the sixth starter to crack 30+ points.
- Luke Luffman is 14-7 overall, 9-3 in duals and 3-1 in Big Ten action.
- Qualified to fifth NCAA Championships
- Seventh most dual points on the team (33).
- Has the most major decisions on the team with six.
- Michael Gioffre is 15-9 overall.
- Qualified to first NCAA Championships.
- Has the third most tech. falls on the team with four.
- Was a silver medalist at the Midlands Championships.
- Chris Moore is 18-10 overall, 10-7 in duals and 6-2 in Big Ten action.
- Qualified to second NCAA Championships.
- Team-high seven top-25 wins on the season.
- Tied for fourth most major decisions on the team (three).
- Sixth most dual points on the team with 34.
- Was a silver medalist at the Midlands Championships.
