No. 10 Illinois’ (9-4) most successful NCAA championship outing since 2016 culminated in No. 1 redshirt senior Lucas Byrd’s first national title. He became Illinois’ first 133-pound national champion with his incredible 3-2 win over No. 2 Iowa (14-1) junior No. 2 Drake Ayala. Byrd also became the 21st Illinois wrestler to ever win a national title.
After what was already Illinois’ most successful season since 2019-20, it ranked No. 10 in the NCAA championships with 44.5 points. Redshirt freshman Kannon Webster at 149 pounds and redshirt senior Edmond Ruth at 184 pounds each made quarter-final appearances, as well. But, with Illinois’ 25th individual national title, Byrd stole the show in Philadelphia.
Journey to the top
Before a close 3-2 encounter in Championship Round 1, Byrd smoked his first two opponents. With 9-0 and 12-1 wins against Pennsylvania’s (10-6) No. 16 senior Ryan Miller and No. 1 Penn State’s (15-0) No. 8 sophomore Braeden Davis respectively, Byrd secured a spot in the semi-finals and cemented himself as the man to beat.
He breezed past Cal Poly (5-9) No. 4 redshirt sophomore Zeth Romney, setting Byrd up with a familiar foe in the championship dual on Sunday. Byrd and Ayala have wrestled each other three times this season. After losing to Ayala in the regular season, Byrd struck back with an impressive win in the Big Ten championship, but what he did in Philadelphia was more special.
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“I was just continuing to look to score points in that match,” Byrd said. “When you watch that match, some people say there wasn’t a ton of action, but for me, I pushed the pace the entire match. I was really looking to always score. That’s where that critical moment of trying to always score was. I was not just reserved and thinking about defense. That helped me win the match.”
The Illinois senior didn’t give Ayala anything. Byrd’s best defense is his offense, and that’s what he deployed in the championship bout. The top-ranked veteran is quick on his feet and pounces at every opportunity, and the Philadelphia crowd saw exactly that. After keeping his composure through a scoreless first period, Byrd scored important points through the next two periods. He kept his grip on the fight, maintaining an advantage throughout most of the bout. Ultimately, his efforts were rewarded.
“You just gotta enjoy the experience,” Byrd said. “When you wrestle a high-caliber opponent where both the matches were really close, you have to go out there and have fun, look to score points and just trust (your) offense and coaches.”
Medical redshirt season
Byrd went 28-2 in duals in his first three seasons at Illinois. He earned two All-American honors, three NCAA qualifications and three Academic All-Big Ten nods. However, a wrist injury halted his progress, forcing him to take a medical redshirt season over 2023-24. Going through recovery and rehab as a high-level athlete with consistent wins since high school was tough, adding greater significance to his 2025 national title.
“Taking that medical redshirt last season, it was definitely hard,” Byrd said. “I had to adjust to the different ways I was going to have to wrestle. Obviously, my hand still causes me some pain here and there in certain positions. So, when I was going through my rehab and recovery, it was about making sure that I was doing everything the right way so that when I needed my wrist to be 100 percent, it was.”
During his time in high school, his 171 wins put him second all-time in La Salle High School history. Being a four-time state qualifier and a three-time district and sectional champion cemented him as a high-level athlete. His work ethic and winning mentality were key in his return from injury.
“Mentally, it was important just knowing that I did everything right,” Byrd said. “I didn’t skip out on my rehab, didn’t skip out on my training. It was important to know that I did everything right that led to that moment.”
Illinois wrestling legend
Byrd established himself as a figure to look up to in Illinois history. His name will go up in the rafters of Huff Hall, and he will end his career with a staggering 96-16 record. He sits seventh on Illinois’ all-time career win percentage.
“I am just always focused on the next goal,” Byrd said. “For me, I am a very goal-oriented person, and when I set my mind to something, I want to accomplish it. So, kind of setting my mind like, ‘Hey, I’m going to be a national champ.’ And just really pushing and doing everything I can on the mat and outside of it to put myself in that position.”
Going 23-1 this season, he has found his strengths and capitalized on them. He spearheaded Illinois’ “big three,” and his wins this season laid the foundation for the team to go out there and do what they did.
“There’s a few things I’m really good at,” Byrd said. “I’m good at a handful of wrestling moves. So, stick to my guns, right? Stick to the offense I know and make sure that I’m continuously looking for it. It’d be like a football team that has a good running back. You’ll probably not be throwing all the time.”
Head coach Mike Poeta and the Illinois coaching staff also played a role in Byrd’s rise to the top. The Illinois coaching staff developed a young wrestling sensation out of Cincinnati, Ohio, into its next national champion. Even after his injury, the coaching staff kept at him, helping Byrd return even stronger. Whenever he performs, good or bad, they are there to build him up.
“Oh, they’ve given me so much support with the injury and outside of the injury,” Byrd said. “They’re always there just to make sure I’m having a good day. If practice is bad, they’re always checking in to make sure everything’s going good inside and outside of wrestling. They’re always being that shoulder I can lean on and talk to.”
Support system
One of Byrd’s most important support systems has been his girlfriend, Ellie Holzman. After his inspiring win in the championship bout on Sunday, Byrd ran straight to his girlfriend and collapsed in her arms, celebrating with her.
“Ellie’s been my biggest supporter,” Byrd said. “When I was going through my injury, Ellie would make sure I was doing my rehab. She is always checking in on me. If I had a rough match, she’d help me bounce ideas off each other, talk about it. She always supports me.”
After the championship Sunday, Holzman posted on Instagram, expressing her happiness for him. She called him her “superstar”, highlighting one of Byrd’s most important pillars in his highly successful journey.
“If I was having an off day or an off match, she would make sure to talk about it,” Byrd said. “When I needed to be away from wrestling, she helped me do that.”
What does the future hold?
After a highly successful collegiate career, Byrd turns his focus to the big leagues. His eventual goals are to win international titles in the UFC and MMA.
“I’m just kind of taking it day by day and figuring everything out,” Byrd said. “But, if I do wrestle again, international title’s the next goal. But if not, then I aspire to be fighting in the MMA and the UFC championship.”
Byrd will leave Illinois as a legend, ready to put his name in the ring for greater success. But he will not forget all of the moments from his time in Champaign that helped build him into the wrestler and person he is today.
“I could probably talk about a lot of things,” Byrd said. “I don’t think there’s just one moment that defines it all. It’s a lot of little moments that led into the big moments that have made my journey at Illinois so exciting and memorable.”
Looking at Illinois’ next steps
Illinois sent seven wrestlers to the NCAA championships this season. It won three top-25 duals for the first time since the 2020-21 season. Ranked wrestlers sit across seven weight categories as the future is ready to settle in.
“As a team, we’re always pushing each other,” Byrd said. “You always want to be the best guy on the team, and everybody pushes each other to be better. When everybody is doing everything the right way and really trying to push each other, whether you’re a starter or a non-starter, that’s how you get a national caliber team.”
Illinois will lose five wrestlers going into next season, including two of the big three — 174-pound redshirt senior Danny Braunagel and Byrd. New wrestlers will come in and hopefully build on Illinois’ successful team environment.
