The #1 ranked team in the nation, the Penn State Nittany Lions, finish their weekend road trip with a stop in Champaign, Illinois to take don’t the #13 Fighting Illini!
Penn State vs Illinois Preview + Predictions
Penn State defeated Ohio State last Friday night in Columbus 27-13. This is the first competition for Illinois since February 1 and the last competition of their regular season.
You can watch the dual live on BTN+. Below are the projected lineups, followed by updates of all the action delivered in real-time!
Projected Lineups
125: #8 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State vs Caelan Riley, Illinois
133: #7 Braeden Davis, Penn State vs #3 Lucas Byrd, Illinois
141: #3 Beau Bartlett, Penn State vs #16 Danny Pucino, Illinois
149: #2 Shayne Van Ness, Penn State vs #17 Kannon Webster, Illinois
157: #1 Tyler Kasak or Joe Sealey, Penn State vs #27 Jason Kraisser, Illinois
165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State vs #16 Braeden Scoles, Illinois
174: #2 Levi Haines, Penn State vs #22 Dan Brauagel, Illinois
184: #1 Carter Starocci, Penn State vs #12 Edmond Ruth, Illinois
197: #2 Josh Barr, Penn State vs #13 Zac Braunagel, Illinois
285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet or Cole Mirasola, Penn State vs #10 Luke Luffman, Illinois
We are five minutes past the 2:00PM ET start time and wrestlers are still warming up on the mat so we may have a little bit of a delayed start. It’s also Senior Night in Champaign so perhaps that pushed things back a bit.
1st period: And now we get underway, a little less than 10 minutes after 2 o’clock. Lilledahl, as is his custom, attacks early and finishes quickly and he has three points in the first 30 seconds of the dual. Escape for Riely after a minute of wrestling but Lightning Luke immediately tackles him for three more. It’s 6-1. After another minute of wrestling Riley escapes but Lilledahl gives Riley no time to breath and shoots immediately after the escape is awarded. Catch and release again and it’s 12-3. Luke rides out the period. Luke is on pace for a second period tech.
2nd period: Lilledahl takes down. He escapes quickly. A double leg for Lilledahl and he finishes to make it 16-3. An escape for Riley and Lilledahl is looking to go feet to back on the next double. Riley bellies out but the match is over, second period reach for Lilledahl!
125 final: Lilledahl over Riuley by tech-fall, 19-3 4:19
Penn State 5, Illinois 0
1st period: The marquee bout of the dual is underway! Davis is at PSU by way of Michigan. Byrd is a native Ohioan. No score after about a minute of wrestling. The score bug has unfortunately disappeared from the broadcast but the physical scoreboard in the arena occasionally pops into view. Shot by Davis and Byrd nearly scores on the reattack but Byrd fights him off to a stalemate about halfway through the period. Another shot by Davis and he’s in deep, Byrd has to scramble. He rolls over across his back, gets to neutral and snaps Davis down for a ferocious go behind. Byrd leads 3-0 as the period expires.
2nd period: Byrd goes down. Off his first move Davis tries to step over and catch Byrd on his back. They keep scrambling and Byrd eventually get the escape to make it 4-0. Davis staying aggressive. Byrd matching with physicality. Whip over attempt from Byrd is stopped by Byrd changes direction and gets another go-behind. 7-0 has Byrd will try and rideout the last 30 seconds of the period. He succeeds.
3rd period: Davis’ choice. He looks at the corner then takes bottom. Davis escapes without much difficulty to make it 7-1. Can Davis find a way through Byrd’s defenses for the comeback? He’ll need to make his move quickly, time is not on his side. Byrd does not have riding time secured and likely won’t. Byrd keeping his distance, no stall warning yet so he’ll be able to run out the clock fi Davis doesn’t force the action. Now Byrd drives Davis out of bounds and Davis gets hit with a stall warning. 15 seconds left. Byrd on the attack, looking for the major. Davis holding on the best he can. Time runs out with no takedown call. A ranked win for senior Lucas Byrd in his last home dual of his storied Illinois career!
133 final: Byrd over Davis by decision, 7-1
Penn State 5, Illinois 4
1st period: Bartlett trying to keep the momentum going after his big win over #1 Jesse Mendez last week. Bartlett level changes and fires off a double early but Pucino defends. Now Pucino finds an angle and snatches up a single leg. He’s got Bartlett hopping on one foot but Bartlett is very tough to finish on. And they go out of bounds, no score. Quick high-crotch for Bartlett and now Pucino is hopping on one foot. And Bartlett is able to finish and Bartlett collects the first points of the match with about 30 seconds left in the period. Bartlett slaps in a cradle and rolls through for a two nearfall just before the buzzer sounds. 5-0 at the break.
2nd period: Bartlett gets a turn on bottom. He’s out in a hurry to make it 6-0. And the score bug makes a welcome return to the broadcast. Shout out to the announcers as well, they are doing a great job on the mic. Action slows down as Bartlett starts taking ground from Pucino. Level change from Pucino but they go out of bounds. And the period ends, still 6-0.
3rd period: Pucino takes bottom. Optional start and it’s 6-1. Pucino’s gotten to Bartlett’s legs before, can he get there again and give himself a shot at an upset? He shoots, but Bartlet’s reattack is too fast and the Nittany Lion extends his lead to 9-1. Pucino is out without much resistance from Bartlett to make it 9-2 with a minute left. Bartlett drives Pucino out of bounds and Pucino picks up his first stall warning with about 30 seconds to go. I don’t believe riding time is locked up. Bartlett still attacking looking for bonus. And the match ends, it’s a regular decision for Beau Bartlett.
Penn State 8, Illinois 4
1st period: Another ranked matchup.
