No. 11 Illinois Wrestling Falls to No. 13 Michigan in Close Dual

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 11 Illini wrestling team (8-4, 1-2 Big Ten) fell to No. 13 Michigan (7-2, 3-0 Big Ten), 18-14, on Sunday afternoon in the Crisler Center. No. 21 at 125 pounds Spencer Moore got the Illini started off right with bonus points as he earned a 10-2 major decision win over No. 19 Diego Sotelo. Moore secured the key takedown with five seconds left in the match to earn the major decision that gave Illinois an early 4-0 lead. No. 1 at 133 Lucas Byrd followed up with a 7-2 decision win over Gauge Botero to increase Illinois' lead, 7-0. The Wolverines went on to win the 141-, 149-, and 157-pound bouts via decisions to take their first lead of the afternoon, 9-7. Braeden Scoles (No. 9 at 165 pounds) got the Orange and Blue back on track with his 18-4 major decision win over Justin Gates to retake the lead, 11-9. The Illini dropped the 174-pound matchup but didn't trail for long as No. 32 Chris Moore upset No. 8 Brock Mantanona at 184 pounds in a 4-2 decision to lead, 14-12. This was the last lead of the night for Illinois as the Wolverines won both the 197- and 285-pound bouts as the Illini fell, 18-14. RESULTS #11 Illinois 14, #13 Michigan 18 Jan. 18, 2026 I Ann Arbor, Mich. I Crisler Center 125: #21 Spencer Moore (ILL) major dec. #19 Diego Sotelo, 10-2 // ILL 4, MICH 0 133: #1 Lucas Byrd (ILL) dec. Gauge Botero (MICH), 7-2 // ILL 7, MICH 0 141: #27 Dylan Ragusin (MICH) dec. Kole Brower (ILL), 3-0 // ILL 7, MICH 3 149: #13 Lachlan McNeil (MICH) dec. #28 Michael Gioffre (ILL), 10-4 // ILL 7, MICH 6 157: #14 Cameron Catrabone (MICH) dec. Ryan Bennett (ILL), 8-7 // ILL 7, MICH 9 165: #9 Braeden Scoles (ILL) major dec. Justin Gates (MICH), 18-4 // ILL 11, MICH 9 174: #12 Beau Mantanona (MICH) dec. #24 Colin Kelly (ILL), 8-4 // ILL 11, MICH 12 184: #32 Chris Moore (ILL) dec. #8 Brock Mantanona (MICH), 4-2 // ILL 14, MICH 12 197: #20 Hayden Walters (MICH) dec. Dylan Connell (ILL), 5-1 // ILL 14, MICH 15 285: #6 Taye Ghadiali (MICH) dec. Ryan Boersma (ILL), 7-4 // ILL 14, MICH 18 UP NEXT The Illini grapplers are back in action one week from today in Huff Hall on Sunday (Jan. 25) when they welcome in Rutgers at 2 p.m. CT.