Illinois wrestler Lucas Byrd achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a national champion on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Center in downtown Philadelphia. Byrd’s victory came after defeating Iowa’s Drake Ayala in a 3-2 win on tiebreakers at 133 pounds. Byrd’s journey to the national title was not easy, with his only loss this season coming against Ayala in mid-January. However, Byrd bounced back and defeated Ayala twice more, including in the national championship match.
Illinois coach Mike Poeta praised Byrd’s hard work and dedication, noting that he deserved the title. Byrd credited assistant coach Jeremy Hunter for his success and expressed his gratitude for the support he received from the coaching staff. Byrd’s victory marks a significant achievement for Illinois wrestling, with Byrd becoming the 21st Illini wrestler to win a national title and the first in his weight class. Looking ahead, Byrd hopes to inspire future Illinois wrestlers to pursue their own national championship goals.
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