Northwestern Closes Out Road Swing At Illinois Saturday Afternoon

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

Northwestern Closes Out Road Swing At Illinois Saturday Afternoon

1/19/2024 10:05:00 AM | Wrestling

‘Cats have won back-to-back meetings against in-state rival

EVANSTON, Ill. (January 19, 2024) – Northwestern wrestling (0-2, 0-1 B1G) wraps up a two-dual road trip to begin Big Ten Conference competition on Saturday afternoon when it ventures downstate to Champaign, Ill. to battle Illinois. First whistle from inside Huff Hall is scheduled for 2 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Four Wildcats tallied victories as Northwestern fell to Maryland, 29-15, last Sunday inside the XFINITY Center Pavilion in College Park, Md.

Massey Odiotti was dominant in his Big Ten debut at 125 pounds, racking up five takedowns in a 21-4 win by technical fall. Maxx Mayfield also put bonus points on the board for the 'Cats at 165 pounds, cruising to a 16-3 major decision. Troy Fisher (184 pounds), 4-2, and Jon Halvorsen (285 pounds), 6-5, added decision victories.

SCOUTING ILLINOIS
Illinois enters the weekend at 3-4 overall in dual action. The Fighting Illini sit at 0-1 in Big Ten Conference action after coming up on the short end of a 36-6 decision to No. 6 Ohio State last Friday inside the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio. No. 8 Kannon Webster (149 pounds) and No. 3 Edmond Ruth (174 pounds) picked up victories for head coach Mike Poeta's team, with Webster scoring a 4-1 upset of then No. 5 Dylan D'Emilio.

Ruth and Webster were part of a quintet of podium finishers for the Fighting Illini at the 59^thAnnual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships last month in Hoffman Estates, Ill. Ruth rolled to the title at 174 pounds, a run that included three wins by major decision, while Webster battled back through the consolation bracket to secure third. Luke Luffman, who is currently ranked No. 13 at 285 pounds by InterMat, earned a runner-up finish, while No. 24 Danny Pucino (4^th; 141 pounds) and No. 25 Chris Moore (6^th; 165 pounds) also secured top-eight finishes in their respective weight classes.

SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Illinois will clash for 87^thtime on Saturday afternoon as part of a series that traces its roots back to the 1922 season. Winners of back-to-back matchups, the 'Cats have trimmed the Fighting Illini's lead in the all-time series to 49-35-2 (.581).

Northwestern prevailed in the clash between the two in-state rivals last season inside Welsh-Ryan Arena, scoring an 18-17 win on criteria. The Wildcats scored a pair of wins by major decision, none bigger than Michael DeAugustino's 10-1 triumph over Max Renteria in the night's final bout at 125 pounds that clinched a thrilling victory for Northwestern.

PROBABLE LINEUPS
Northwestern
125: Massey Odiotti
133: Patrick Adams
141: Joel VanderVere -OR- Luis Bazan
149: Aiden Vandenbush -OR- Sam Cartella
157: #19 Trevor Chumbley
165: #15 Maxx Mayfield
174: David Ferrante -OR- Joseph Martin
184: #24 Troy Fisher
197: Evan Bates
285: Jack Jessen -OR- Jon Halvorsen

Illinois
125: Justin Cardani
133: #30 Tony Madrigal
141: #24 Danny Pucino
149: #8 Kannon Webster -OR- Jake Harrier
157: Joe Roberts
165: #25 Chris Moore
174: #3 Edmond Ruth
184: #29 Dylan Connell -OR- Charlie Heydorn
197: Joey Braunagel -OR- Chase Waggoner
285: #13 Luke Luffman -OR- Sungyup Ryu

UP NEXT
Northwestern makes it 2023-24 Welsh-Ryan Arena debut next weekend. The 'Cats will open their five-dual home slate on Friday, January 26 against No. 6 Nebraska at 7 p.m. before entertaining No. 3 Iowa in a 2 p.m. tilt on Sunday, January 28.