Byrd, Webster Advance to Quarterfinals on Day One of NCAA Championships

CLEVELAND – The Illinois wrestling team finished the first day of the NCAA Championships on Thursday (March 19) from Rocket Arena. Lucas Byrd (133 pounds) and Kannon Webster (157 pounds) each advanced to the quarterfinal round for the second-consecutive season.

Byrd's back in the quarterfinals as the reigning national champion at 133 pounds. He's the No. 7 seed this year where he began his tournament with a win against Rutger's No. 26 seed Dylan Shawver in an 11-7 decision. In the next round he faced another Big Ten wrestler, the No. 23 seed Braxton Brown of Maryland where her cruised to a 5-1 decision. Byrd will take on Ohio State's Big Ten Champion No. 2 seed Ben Davino in a heavily anticipated quarterfinals matchup tomorrow.

Webster's heading to the quarterfinals for a second-consecutive season (149 pounds last season) as the No. 7 seed. He started his day with a 6-2 decision win over No. 26 seed Jonathan Ley (NAVY). In the ensuing round he dominated No. 10 seed Logan Rozynski of Lehigh as he forced multiple stall calls and secured two takedowns to win in a 10-1 major decision. He's set to face Nebraska's No. 2 seed Antrell Taylor in tomorrow's quarterfinals.

Spencer Moore as the 18 seed at 125 pounds opened his tournament with an upset win over the 15 seed of Koda Holeman from Cal Poly in sudden victory 4-1. Moore would later fall in the night session to the No. 2 seed Eddie Ventresca of Virginia Tech in a 5-2 decision. He's set to face No. 16 seed Ezekiel Witt (NDSU) in the second round of the consolation ladder tomorrow.

[9] Chris Moore began his day with a win over Columbia's [24] Joe Curtis in an 11-2 major decision at 184 pounds. However, in the night session Moore was defeated by [8] Silas Allred of Nebraska in a 15-5 major decision which sets the stage for a matchup against [26] Chase Kranitz (PITT)  in tomorrow's consolation round.

Michael Gioffre (No. 25 seed at 149 pounds) and Colin Kelly (No. 18 seed at 174 pounds) each stayed alive with a win in the first round of the consolation bracket after dropping their opening match.

STANDINGS

1. Penn State – 40.5
2. Nebraska – 27.0
3. Iowa – 25.5
4. Oklahoma State – 25.0
5. Ohio State – 23.0
6. Iowa State – 21.5
7. Arizona State – 17.0
8. Stanford – 15.0
9. Cornell – 14.0
9. Michigan – 14.0
9. Virginia Tech – 14.0
12. Lehigh – 13.0
13. Minnesota – 12.5
13. Wyoming – 12.5
15. Missouri – 12.0
16. Illinois – 11.5
16. NC State – 11.5

UP NEXT

The Orange and Blue matmen return to action tomorrow (March 20) for the second day of the NCAA Championships. Session three begins at 11 a.m. CT and session four starts at 7 p.m. CT.

ILLINI RESULTS

125: Spencer Moore – 18 seed
Champ Round 1: [18] Spencer Moore (ILL) dec. [15] Koda Holeman (CALPOLY), SV-1 4-1
Champ. Round 2: [2] Eddie Ventresca (VT) dec. [18] Spencer Moore (ILL), 5-2

133: Lucas Byrd – 7 seed
Champ. Round 1: [7] Lucas Byrd (ILL) dec. [26] Dylan Shawver (RUT), 11-7
Champ. Round 2: [7] Lucas Byrd (ILL) dec. [23] Braxton Brown (MD), 5-1

149: Michael Gioffre – 25 seed
Champ. Round 1: [8] Casey Swiderski (OKST) dec.  [25] Michael Gioffre (ILL), 7-2
Cons. Round 1: [25] Michael Gioffre (ILL) tech. fall [24] Andrew Clark (RUT), 18-1 (6:17)

157: Kannon Webster – 7 seed
Champ. Round 1: [7] Kannon Webster (ILL) dec. [26] Jonathan Ley (NAVY), 6-2
Champ. round 2: [7] Kannon Webster (ILL) major dec. [10] Logan Rozynski (LEH), 10-1

165: Braeden Scoles – 17 seed
Champ. Round 1: [16] Paddy Gallagher (OSU) major dec. [17] Braeden Scoles (ILL), 13-4
Cons. Round 1: [32] Cody Walsh (DREX) major dec. [17] Braeden Scoles (ILL), 14-4
Scoles eliminated.

174: Colin Kelly – 18 seed
Champ. Round 1: [15] Danny Wask (NAVY) dec. [18] Colin Kelly (ILL), 7-3
Cons. Round 1: [18] Colin Kelly (ILL) major dec. [31] Cael Valencia (ASU), 22-10

184: Chris Moore – 9 seed
Champ. Round 1: [9] Chris Moore (ILL) major dec. [24] Joe Curtis (COL), 11-2
Champ. Round 2: [8] Silas Allred (NEB) major dec. [9] Chris Moore (ILL), 15-5

285: Luke Luffman – 26 seed
Champ. Round 1: [7] Konner Doucet (OKST) dec. [26] Luke Luffman (ILL), 2-1
Cons. Round 1: [23] Stephan Monchery (APP) dec. [26] Luke Luffman (ILL), 4-1
Luffman eliminated.