WHO: #9 Illinois Fighting Illini (7-1, 2-1 Big Ten)
WHEN: 6:00 PM CT (Friday, January 17, 2025)
WHERE: Carver Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, IA)
TV: BTN (Zach Mackey and Tim Johnson)
RADIO: Hawkeye Radio Network (Steven Grace, Mark Ironside)
MOBILE: foxsports.com/mobile
ONLINE: foxsports.com/live
FOLLOW: @HawkeyeBeacon | @Hawks_Wrestling | @IowaonBTN
Iowa's first Big Ten home dual meet of the season is tonight at 6 PM, against a solid Illinois team.
125: #28 Joey Cruz (SO, 13-6) OR Kale Petersen (rFR, 5-2) vs Caelan Riley (JR, 3-7)
133: #4 Drake Ayala (JR, 10-1) vs #2 Lucas Byrd (SR, 11-0)
141: #30 Ryder Block (2-2) OR Jace Rhodes (SO, 5-2) OR Cullan Schriever (SR, 3-5) vs #12 Danny Pucino (JR, 9-2)
149: #3 Kyle Parco (SR, 11-0) vs #12 Kannon Webster (rFR, 8-3)
157: Miguel Estrada (FR, 13-2) vs #20 Jason Kraisser (GR, 8-3)
165: #2 Michael Caliendo (JR, 11-0) vs #11 Braeden Scoles (rFR, 10-1)
174: #5 Patrick Kennedy (SR, 7-0) vs #21 Danny Braunagel (SR, 6-5)
184: #5 Gabe Arnold (rFR, 9-1) OR Angelo Ferrari (FR, 10-0) vs #10 Edmond Ruth (SR, 8-3)
197: #2 Stephen Buchanan (GR, 11-0) vs #18 Zac Braunagel (SR, 8-3)
285: #12 Ben Keuter (rFR, 9-1) vs #11 Luke Luffman (SR, 9-2)
133 is the clear match of the night with #4 Ayala and #2 Byrd -- that could be a preview of the Big Ten Tourney final and possibly a late round matchup at NCAAs as well. They have not wrestled previously.
Illinois should be favored at 141 and maybe 157, though Estrada has looked very solid so far this season as a true frosh. 285 looks like a toss-up weight and 149, 165, and 184 look like potentially tight matches where Iowa will only be a slight favorite.
Lots of intrigue -- this looks like the first real test of any significance Iowa has faced since the ISU dual.
Action gets underway on BTN at 6 PM and I'll have results and thoughts in the comments here.
WHEN: 6:00 PM CT (Friday, January 17, 2025)
WHERE: Carver Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, IA)
TV: BTN (Zach Mackey and Tim Johnson)
RADIO: Hawkeye Radio Network (Steven Grace, Mark Ironside)
MOBILE: foxsports.com/mobile
ONLINE: foxsports.com/live
FOLLOW: @HawkeyeBeacon | @Hawks_Wrestling | @IowaonBTN
Iowa's first Big Ten home dual meet of the season is tonight at 6 PM, against a solid Illinois team.
125: #28 Joey Cruz (SO, 13-6) OR Kale Petersen (rFR, 5-2) vs Caelan Riley (JR, 3-7)
133: #4 Drake Ayala (JR, 10-1) vs #2 Lucas Byrd (SR, 11-0)
141: #30 Ryder Block (2-2) OR Jace Rhodes (SO, 5-2) OR Cullan Schriever (SR, 3-5) vs #12 Danny Pucino (JR, 9-2)
149: #3 Kyle Parco (SR, 11-0) vs #12 Kannon Webster (rFR, 8-3)
157: Miguel Estrada (FR, 13-2) vs #20 Jason Kraisser (GR, 8-3)
165: #2 Michael Caliendo (JR, 11-0) vs #11 Braeden Scoles (rFR, 10-1)
174: #5 Patrick Kennedy (SR, 7-0) vs #21 Danny Braunagel (SR, 6-5)
184: #5 Gabe Arnold (rFR, 9-1) OR Angelo Ferrari (FR, 10-0) vs #10 Edmond Ruth (SR, 8-3)
197: #2 Stephen Buchanan (GR, 11-0) vs #18 Zac Braunagel (SR, 8-3)
285: #12 Ben Keuter (rFR, 9-1) vs #11 Luke Luffman (SR, 9-2)
133 is the clear match of the night with #4 Ayala and #2 Byrd -- that could be a preview of the Big Ten Tourney final and possibly a late round matchup at NCAAs as well. They have not wrestled previously.
Illinois should be favored at 141 and maybe 157, though Estrada has looked very solid so far this season as a true frosh. 285 looks like a toss-up weight and 149, 165, and 184 look like potentially tight matches where Iowa will only be a slight favorite.
Lots of intrigue -- this looks like the first real test of any significance Iowa has faced since the ISU dual.
Action gets underway on BTN at 6 PM and I'll have results and thoughts in the comments here.
