No. 9 Illinois tops No. 11 Missouri for the second time in eight days

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The No. 9 Illinois wrestling team defeated No. 11 Missouri, 21-16, on Monday night in Hearnes Center. Illinois improves to 5-2 overall on the season while Missouri falls to 5-4.

Missouri jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a win in sudden victory in the 125-pound bout. No. 1 (133 pounds) Lucas Byrd was up next to equalize the dual against No. 20 Kade Moore whom he pinned in 1:12 a few days ago. This bout was very different as Byrd got turned on his back early and trailed 7-0 just a minute into the match. He never swayed or panicked; he trusted his offense and went to work stacking four-straight takedowns to outscore Moore 12-2 the rest of the way and tie the dual, 3-3.

No. 15 (141 pounds) Danny Pucino made his return to the lineup after not appearing in any of the five duals at the National Duals Invitational. Pucino gave Illinois its first lead of the night, 6-3, in his 12-6 decision win over No. 20 Zeke Seltzer. Pucino got a takedown with a minute left in the third that turned into a four-point near fall as well to go from trailing by one, to up by six within a few seconds. Mizzou would tie the dual back up at six winning the 149-pound match.

No. 7 (157 pounds) Kannon Webster improved to 7-0 with another ranked win under his belt in his 4-1 decision win over No. 20 J Conway to put the Illini back in front, 9-6. No. 8 at 165 pounds Braeden Scoles got the first bonus points of the dual in his 18-4 major decision win over Dominic Bambinelli. Illinois led 13-6 at this point.

Colin Kelly, who's No. 21 at 174 pounds, followed up Scoles' performance with a major decision of his own, 11-2, over Danny Heiser. He was awarded the takedown with one second remaining in the third period to end up getting the major decision which gave the Fighting Illini their largest lead of the night, 17-6. No. 22 (184 pounds) Chris Moore was hurt on a takedown from Missouri's No. 2 Aeoden Sinclair and Moore was unable to continue. This cut into the Illini lead greatly as injury defaults are worth six team points, 17-12.

The Tigers went on to win the 197-pound bout in a major decision to set the stage for the deciding heavyweight bout as the score was 17-16 headed into this moment. No. 9 Luke Luffman showed off his veteran prowess over the Tigers No. 25 Jarrett Stoner with his 13-3 major decision win. He used well time takedowns and a reversal to help the Illini improve to 5-2 on the season as they beat Missouri for the second time in eight days, 21-16.

Monday, Nov. 24, 2025 I Columbia, Mo. I Hearnes Center

125: #25 Mack Mauger (MIZ) dec. #22 Spencer Moore (ILL), SV-1 5-2 // ILL 0, MIZ 3

133: #1 Lucas Byrd (ILL) dec. #20 Kade Moore (MIZ), 12-9 // ILL 3, MIZ 3

141: #15 Danny Pucino (ILL) dec. #20 Zeke Seltzer (MIZ), 12-6 // ILL 6, MIZ 3

149: #14 Joshua Edmond (MIZ) dec. Will Baysingar (ILL), 6-2 // ILL 6, MIZ 6

157: #7 Kannon Webster (ILL) dec. #20 J Conway (MIZ), 4-1 // ILL 9, MIZ 6

165: #8 Braeden Scoles (ILL) major dec. Dominic Bambinelli (MIZ), 18-4 // ILL 13, MIZ 6

174: #21 Colin Kelly (ILL) major dec. Danny Heiser (MIZ), 11-2 // ILL 17, MIZ 6

184: #2 Aeoden Sinclair (MIZ) over #22 Chris Moore (ILL), injury default (2:01) // ILL 17, MIZ 12

197: #17 Evan Bates (MIZ) major dec. Cade Lautt (ILL), 14-6 // ILL 17, MIZ 16

285: #9 Luke Luffman (ILL) major dec. #25 Jarrett Stoner (MIZ), 13-3 // ILL 21, MIZ 16