Hawkeyes Blowout Illini, 36-6

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois – The third-ranked University of Iowa men’s wrestling team won eight of 10 matches to roll to a 36-6 victory over Illinois on Friday night at Huff Hall. The Hawkeyes won six bouts via bonus points, including ending five matchups early via technical fall or pin.

“I like bonus points,” said head coach Tom Brands. “I like tech. falls, I like major decisions and I like pins. Hill had a pin, we had four tech. falls. Good stuff.”

Iowa opened the night at 133 for the first time this season. Cullan Schriever got things rolling for the Hawkeyes with a major decision over 30th ranked Tony Madrigal, winning 9-1.

At 141 Brody Teske came out and extended the Iowa lead with a 5-0 decision against Will Baysinger. Illinois got on the board with a decision in sudden victory as No. 8 Kannon Webster defeated No. 11 Caleb Rathjen.

Jared Franek and Michael Caliendo sent the Hawkeyes to intermission with a pair of tech. falls. Franek needed 6:01 to dispatch Joe Roberts, 21-5 at 157. At 165 Caliendo defeated 24th ranked Chris Moore, 17-2, in 4:30.

No. 9 Patrick Kennedy came out on top in a top-10 matchup at 174 that saw him defeat third-ranked Edmond Ruth, 5-1. It was Kennedy’s fourth win against a ranked opponent this season.

“Big match at 74,” said Brands. “I think we can score earlier there on takedowns. Good stuff.”

Illinois notched a win at 184 when No. 29 Dylan Connell won a 4-1 decision over Aiden Riggins in sudden victory.

At 197 No. 14 Zach Glazier recorded a tech. fall in 3:52 over Joey Braunagel, defeating him 18-3. 28th ranked Bradley Hill notched the first dual pin of the season for the Hawkeyes sticking Peter Marinopolous in 5:41. Hill led Marinopolous, 21-5, at the time of the pin.

“I felt like I wrestled my match,” said Hill. “Went out there confident and ready to wrestle. I got to my offense and felt good going out there.”

No. 5 Drake Ayala closed out the night for Iowa using 6:11 to defeat Justin Cardani via a 18-3 tech. fall.

The victory moves Iowa’s dual record to 9-0 and 4-0 in Big Ten Conference action. The Hawkeyes travel to Northwestern on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Notables

• The Hawkeyes have won 12 consecutive duals dating back to the 2022-23 season.
• Iowa improves to 56-26-1 all-time against Illinois and the Hawkeyes have won the last 13 meetings.
• This is the fourth dual of the season in which Iowa scored at least 30 points.
• This was the first dual of the season that the Hawkeyes started at a weight other than 125 pounds.

#3 Iowa 36, Illinois 6
133 – Cullan Schriever (IA) major dec. #30 Tony Madrigal (IL), 9-1
141 – Brody Teske (IA) dec. Will Baysinger (IL), 5-0
149 – #8 Kannon Webster (IL) dec. #11 Caleb Rathjen (IA), 4-1 SV1
157 – #2 Jared Franek (IA) tech. fall Joe Roberts (IL), 21-5
165 – #6 Michael Caliendo (IA) tech. fall #24 Chris Moore (IL), 17-2
174 – #9 Patrick Kennedy (IA) dec. #3 Edmond Ruth (IL), 5-1
184 – #29 Dylan Connell (IL) dec. Aiden Riggins (IA), 4-1 SV1
197 – #14 Zach Glazier (IA) tech. fall Joey Braunagel (IL), 18-3
285 – #28 Bradley Hill (IA) pinned. Peter Marinopolous (IL), 5:41
125 – #5 Drake Ayala (IA) tech. fall Justin Cardani (IL), 18-3

Attendance: 1,757
Officials: Peter Mankowich, John Hatfield