Mizzou Wrestling Falls to Illinois in Close dual

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 11 Mizzou wrestling dropped a closely-contested ranked dual to No. 9 Illinois, 21-16, on Monday night in hearnes Centre.The Tigers moved to 5-4 on the season in dual action while Illinois improved to 5-2 overall.

At 125 pounds, 25th-ranked redshirt freshman Mack Mauger opened up the dual with an upset win over Illinois’ No. 22 Spencer Moore. Mauger sealed the deal with a late escape and stall point before securing a takedown in sudden victory. Kade Moore put out a high-flying effort en route to a 7-0 lead over Illinois’ top-ranked and defending national champion Lucas Byrd before ultimately losing a thriller, 12-9, at 133 pounds.Following a ranked defeat at 141 pounds, redshirt senior Josh Edmond got the Tigers back on track with a win at 149 pounds to tie the dual at six points apiece. Illinois picked up a decision at 157 pounds to put Mizzou back at a 9-6 deficit at the halfway point.

Missouri dropped the first two bouts out of the break, both by major decision to ranked Illinois opponents. No. 2 Aeoden Sinclair established a dominant presence early on, posing three takedowns before an injury default at the 2:01 mark. Senior Evan Bates kept up the momentum at 197 pounds, securing a 14-6 major decision to draw Mizzou within one point of Illinois (17-16) heading into the final bout. At 285 pounds, Jarrett Stoner put up a valiant effort before ultimately falling short to Illinois’ ninth-ranked Luke luffman by major decision.

MATCH NOTES

• With the loss, Missouri’s all-time record against Illinois moves to 16-22, and 6-8 under head coach Brian Smith.
• The repeat meeting makes the 2025-26 season the first in which Mizzou and Illinois wrestled multiple times in a season.
• Tonight’s matchup marks the first meeting between Missouri and Illinois to be held in Hearnes Center since November 12,2009.