PHILADELPHIA, PA • The University of Illinois will be sending eight of its wrestlers to the Wells Fargo Center for the 2025 NCAA Division I National Championships, and the Fighting Illini have a great deal to be excited about.
In the past 25 years, when Illinois has placed fifth or better at the B1G Championships, they have placed in the Top Ten of the NCAA Championships nine out of those twelve years. Inside of those runs, Illinois has scored an average of 69 points at the NCAA championships with their highest total being 89 points (2005) and their lowest point total equaling 47. 5 (2002).
Unfortunately, also in these past 25 years, Illinois has placed second (2006), fourth (2008), and second (2010) at the B1G Championships, and come away with 25th (2006), 14th (2008), and 23rd (2010) place finishes at the NCAA’s. However, in 2016, the Orange and Blue placed seventh at the B1G’s and tied for 10th at the NCAA’s. So, truly, anything is possible. But, the numbers favor Illinois, and that is why Illinois fans should be excited for this weekend’s wrestling.
Therefore, with a fifth-place finish nearly two weeks ago in Evanston, Illinois, at the B1G Championships, Illinois may be gaining that momentum that could push them into a Top Ten performance, and it would be their first Top Ten finish since 2016.
At this year’s B1G’s, Illinois had two finalists, almost three, and one champion. Overall, they scored 105.5 team points, and they won some B1G matches against some major opponents. In 2012, when Illinois scored 105 points at the conference tournament, they came away with a seventh-place finish at nationals.
In that, Illinois has a great deal to be excited about heading into today’s opening rounds, and so do their fans. So, listen for those chants of “I-L-L” and “I-N-I” as they may have a bit more of an edge to them this weekend as their guys fight it out to show that Illinois is on the rise.
The Fighting Illini will have five of their eight qualifiers with a Top Ten seed inside of their respective weight’s bracket. If just those five AA, Illinois will have had a fantastic tournament. Here is a look at those five qualifiers:
Lucas Byrd • 133 • With the number one seed, and a fall over Iowa’s Drake Ayala at the B1G Championships, avenging a 4-2 decision loss from their dual in Carver, Byrd has all the confidence he needs to give Illinois their first national champion since Isaiah Martinez in 2016.
Traditionally, Illinois has always been very tough in the lower weights; in fact, of their 24 national champions, eight have been at 135 pounds or lighter. For Byrd, already a two-time All-American, he will simply have to take it one match at a time.
Ultimately, in the quarterfinals, as long as all goes well, he could face either Penn State’s Braeden Davis, or Maryland’s Braxton Brown. For the semifinals, it could be Dominick Serrano from the University of Colorado, or Zeth Romney of Cal Poly. In the lower half of the bracket there is Ayala, with the two seed, but then a tough three seed in Nasir Bailey of Little Rock, an Illinois product.
Kannon Webster • 149 • With a stellar B1G tournament, the Washington, Illinois, product is in strong position to collect All-American honors. With the seven seed, and a potential quarterfinal appearance, Webster would most likely face the two seed, Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett, the same opponent he lost 1-0 to in the conference finals. Can Webster overtake Lovett who has been able to fend him off? If he does, the Redshirt Freshman will find himself in the semifinals with All-American honors. If not, Webster has the stamina and confidence, as well as the arsenal, to find his way to the podium, even on the backside of the bracket.
Luke Luffman • 285 • The big man has earned the number eight seed in his bracket, and, eventually, it could be a great draw with a difficult quarterfinal matchup. If Luffman can work his way past Luke Rasmussen of San Diego State, he will most likely have ASU’s Cohlton Schultz, who is well seasoned at the NCAA’s. With a win here, Luffman would face the top wrestler in the bracket, Gable Steveson of Minnesota—a difficult win for any wrestler.
However, if the Redshirt senior can successfully navigate his way through the consolation bracket, the boy from Urbana could find himself on the podium.
Zac Braunagel • 197 • If anyone is ready for a breakout tournament at the NCAA’s, it is Braunagel. The Althoff Catholic product is in his Redshirt Senior season, and he has been here on three other occasions, and after an Olympic Redshirt season last year, he is as strong and focused as ever, and he is up a weight. Look for Braunagel to win some tight matches and march his way to All-American contention.
Edmund Ruth • 184 • As the tenth seeded wrestler at his weight, the returning All-American and 2024 B1G champion has something to prove in this his Redshirt Senior season.
With a possible second-round matchup with seven seeded Isaac Dean of Rider, and a potential quarterfinal matchup against undefeated and number two seeded Parker Keckeisen of UNI, if Ruth wanted to go on a run, he could make some noise inside of the octad in the bottom quarter of his bracket.
However, even if Ruth finds himself on the backside of the bracket, his experience and ability to flat out wrestle could land him anywhere on the podium.
Illinois’ Final Three
Also qualified for Illinois is the 11th seeded Braeden Scoles; the 20th seed, Danny Braunagel of Althoff Catholic; and the 28th seed Danny Pucino of Libertyville. Each of these three will have a difficult road, but nothing is impossible at the NCAA’s as magic strikes all the time.
Other Illinoisians in PA
Here is a list of Illinois wrestlers that will also be competing this weekend in Philadelphia. Of the 17 that will be listed, four have legitimate chances at a final’s appearance.
At 125 pounds, Matt Ramos (Lockport) of Purdue is seeded second, and the Redshirt Senior would like to add a national championship to his resume. In 2023, he was an NCAA runner-up, more famously known for his semifinal win over Iowa’s Spencer Lee, but now he would to separate himself and etch himself into the history books.
Nasir Bailey (Rich Township) is the three seed at 133 pounds. The sophomore, who won the Pac-12, is looking to take another step in his journey. He will have the number two seed Drake Ayala from Iowa on his side of the bracket. If the two meet, that should make for an exciting semifinal bout.
Iowa’s Michael Caliendo at 165 pounds has been awarded the number three seed, but his only two losses on the season are to the number one seeded Michael Mesenbrink of PSU. Already a two-time All-American, Caliendo will have to focus his way through his bracket, and a potential meeting with the two seed, Peyton Hall of West Virginia, who boasts a 30-1 record, may be the match that gives the Batavia product another chance at Mesenbrink.
Finally, Dean Hamiti of Oklahoma State, comes in at a three seed as well. The former JCA standout is part of the Daivid Taylor build, and for a wrestler who was already very talented and improving each year, it will be interesting to see how much more the senior has grown under the new Cowboy staff as he begins his tournament and looks to add to his already earned two All-American performances.
125 • Vincent Robinson, NC State (Homewood-Flossmoor), 4th seed
125 • Charlie Farmer, Army (Moline), 25th seed
125 • Gylon Sims, The Citadel (Joliet Catholic Academy), 30th seed
141 • Sergio Lemley, Michigan (Chicago Mt. Carmel), 14th seed
149 • Ethan Stiles, Oregon State (Conant), 12th seed
157 • Vinny Zerban, Northern Colorado (Civic Memorial), 7th seed
157 • Trevor Chumbley, Northwestern (Marmion Academy), 20th seed
174 • Josh Ogunsanya, North Carolina (Oak Park-River Forest), 21st seed
174 • Alex Cramer, Central Michigan (Grayslake), 10th seed
184 • Reece Heller, Pittsburgh (Marian Central Catholic), 9th seed
184 • DJ Parker, Oklahoma (Moline), 14th seed
197 • Nick Stemmet, Stanford (Bolingbrook), 17th seed
285 • Jacob Bullock, Indiana (Cahokia), 21st seed
Northern Illinois University will have two wrestlers competing this weekend. Both Blake West (125), who is seeded 16, and Landen Johnson (157), who is seeded 32, reside from Minnesota, but they will be all Huskies this weekend.
Aside from Chumbley, Northwestern will have Maxx Mayfield, the 18 seed at 165 pounds entered in the championships.
Good luck to everyone.
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• TC LIFONTI / LEAD WRITER FOR ILLINOIS MATMEN / tclifonti.com
