Illini Wrestling 2025-2026

#2      
cowcards
The season starts today with NWCA All-Star Classic! Lucas Byrd will be wrestling #7/8 Dylan Shawver of Rutgers. Shawver was a previous B10 Champ & AA. Byrd has beat him 6-5 in their only other match previously. It'll be on Flo starting at 5 CT. There are 15 matches and Byrd will be 14th, so you don't have to be there right on time.
 
#5      
Dan
https://twitter.com/x/status/1989918004449067430

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#12 Illinois Cruises to Victory over #25 Little Rock, 22-13 - University of Illinois Athletics

Illinois also won the first team takedown bonus of $10,000 with an average first takedown time of 1:53.
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#12 Illinois Topples #7 Lehigh, Falls to #4 Iowa - University of Illinois Athletics

Lucas Byrd went 3-0 in his matches today which puts him at exactly 100 wins in his career. His career record is now 100-16 going 44-3 in dual action
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#12 Illinois Wrestling Places Seventh at National Duals Invitational Sponsored by Paycom - University of Illinois Athletics

Illinois wins a total of $35,000 at the 2025 National Duals Invitational sponsored by Paycom.
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#13      
cowcards
His wife started a new wrestling apparel business this year. Sounds like he bought $4000-5000 worth of gear from her using college funds when they have to use Nike.

I think the biggest things will be if he was trying to hide it, where was it worn, and that it is his wife's company. Maybe the language in the Nike contract, also. Does Illinois face any sort of penalty for the breach?

I can say from experience, Nike gear is generally crap from a design standpoint. They don't allow a ton of options or customization. I've known a few coaches, albeit not at major universities, with Nike contracts that have bought from other wrestling specific companies, like Rudis, for their gear. Those coaches have never had a problem. I could see him buying some customized stuff that he just wouldn't be able to do with Nike.

I could see a scenario where he is asked to pay back the money to the school and he stays as head coach with a slap on the wrist. Or getting fired because Nike has problems with it and if it was being worn instead of Nike gear during competitions.

- Edited for more info -
 
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#16      
OrangeBlue98
The big issue here is whether there was a cover up attempt, in my opinion.

There are absolutely rules in public institutions about purchase approvals, conflicts of interest, etc. If (and it’s obviously an if until we learn more about the facts) the purchases were not “hidden”, then a shorter suspension and a reprimand should be an appropriate punishment. But if he did this and tried to cover his tracks, then a firing could be defensible.

But let’s see what the facts are.
 
#17      
cowcards
Sounds like a few people near the program think he is going to get fired because it’s his wife’s company and he didn’t tell them that at the start when he bought it.
 
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