Big Ten Wrestling power rankings: Penn State Wrestling push for No. 1?

STATE COLLEGE, PA - FEBRUARY 10: The Nittany Lion Mascot of Penn State University rallies the crowd during a match against of the Iowa Hawkeyes on February 10, 2018 at the Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

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Isaiah Martinez of the Illinois Fighting Illini (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

. . Fighting Illini . 11. team. 807.

Dual Rank: 22
Record Last Season: 5-3
Ranked Wrestlers: 6
133 No. 6 Lucas Byrd
141 No. 5 Dylan Duncan
149 No. 16 Mike Carr
165 No. 22 Danny Braunagel
184 No. 22 Zac Braunagel
285 No. 25 Luke Luffman

The Fighting Illini are the first team to appear in the Power Rankings which have several grapplers who could make some noise both at the B1G level, but as well as the national level.

Lucas Byrd (133) turned a strong showing in the 2021 B1G Championships into a 5th place finish in the NCAA’s to be crowned an All-American. Can he build in the success from last season? If so, he’ll have to take out several top tier 133 pounders along the way.

Dylan Duncan (141), on the other hand, took out his frustration of a 7th place finish in the 2021 B1G Championship to finish 5th overall in the 2021 NCAA’s. Much like Byrd, he will have his hands full with the stacked contenders in the 141 group.

Illinois starts off the season in East Lansing as they are also participating in the 2021 Michigan State Open.

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