No. 3 Iowa Defeats No. 15 Illinois, 24-13

TULSA, Okla. – The third-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team advanced to the semifinals of the National Duals Invitational, defeating No. 15 Illinois, 24-13, on Saturday night at the BOK Center.

“We have to be ready to go,” said head coach Tom Brands. “Right now, there are some lulls where we let up and it is unexplainable and you have to get rid of that. It doesn’t matter if it is only the second weekend of college wrestling or not, it doesn’t matter. Get the cobwebs out on Saturday, and let’s come back strong Sunday.”    

No. 10 Dean Peterson kicked things off for the Hawkeyes with a ranked win at 125 pounds over No. 23 Spencer Moore, 4-2.

In a rematch of last year’s 133-pound NCAA final, top-ranked and defending national champion Lucas Byrd defeated second-ranked Drake Ayala, 7-2.

At 141 pounds, No. 9 Nasir Bailey put bonus points on the board with a technical fall over Joey Ruzic. Bailey tallied four takedowns and four near-fall points in the bout.

Kael Voinovich made his second appearance of the season at 149 pounds with a 2-1 win over Danny Nini. Illinois picked up its second win of the dual with an 11-2 major decision at 157 pounds as No. 10 Kannon Webster defeated No. 11 Jordan Williams.

No. 2 Michael Caliendo won a top-10 matchup at 165 pounds, defeating eighth-ranked Braeden Scoles, 9-4.

No. 2 Patrick Kennedy and No. 3 Angelo Ferrari each added decisions at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively. Kennedy defeated Colin Kelly, 5-3, and Ferrari downed No. 26 Chris Moore, 7-3.

At 197 pounds, No. 16 Massoma Endene picked up his second bonus-point victory of the day, winning a major decision over Cade Lautt, 14-4.

Illinois closed out the dual with Luke Luffman winning via injury default over Gage Marty.

The Hawkeyes will return to action tomorrow against No. 5 Oklahoma State at 10 a.m.

No. 3 Iowa 24, No. 15 Illinois 13
125 – No. 10 Dean Peterson (IA) dec. No. 23 Spencer Moore (IL), 4-2
133 – No. 1 Lucas Byrd (IL) dec. No. 2 Drake Ayala (IA), 7-2
141 – No. 9 Nasir Bailey (IA) tech. fall Joey Ruzic (IL), 17-2
149 – Kael Voinovich (IA) dec. Danny Nini (IL), 2-1
157 – No. 10 Kannon Webster (IL) major dec. No. 11 Jordan Williams (IA), 11-2
165 – No. 2 Michael Caliendo (IA) dec. No. 8 Braeden Scoles (IL), 9-4
174 – No. 2 Patrick Kennedy (IA) dec. Colin Kelly (IL), 5-3
184 – No. 3 Angelo Ferrari (IA) dec. No. 26 Chris Moore (IL), 7-3
197 – No. 16 Massoma Endene (IA) major dec. Cade Lautt (IL), 14-4
285 – No. 8 Luke Luffman (IL) inj. default Gage Marty (IA), 3:22