The #12 Fighting Illini of Illinois take on the #15 Trojans of Little Rock in the National Duals Invite opening round. Another thank you to those who are making this fantastic event possible & an thank you to Flo for providing coverage to those of us unable to attend in person. This dual between these two outstanding teams I believe will provide a lot of great action. Little Rock unfortunately has been a victim of the transfer portal losing both Nasir Bailey & Jordan Williams who have decided to continue their careers at Iowa. This I feel will be the ultimate difference maker in this dual. While I do think the Trojans will give the Illini one heck of a good fight, I think the slightly ranked higher orange & blue prevail.
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| #13 Spencer Moore Vs U.R. Jeremiah Reno 125 |
Among those in their final season of eligibility looking to be crowned All-Americans by year's end, count Spencer Moore among them. The former Tarheel now a member of the tribe known as the Illini begins his quest to end his career as one of the final eight still standing come the final day of collegiate wrestling in what will be March of 2026. His opponent is a very tough Jeremiah Reno, who at the time this was written had not made Flo's top 33 rank. With that said, I wouldn't be surprised if Reno was top 33 once the dust has cleared in 5 months & we have a list of our of our qualifiers. Illinois will be looking for bonus points here, but I predict that they do not get them. The experienced Moore will get the W, but I say it is by decision.
ILLINOIS: 3
LITTLE ROCK: 0
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| #1 Lucas Byrd Vs U.R. Dillon Cooper 133 |
Here I believe last year's NCAA DI national champion will show us exactly why he was #1 last year & why exactly he plans on staying #1 this year. I do believe we'll see bonus here & I see it coming via fall.
ILLINOIS: 9
LITTLE ROCK: 0
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| #18 Danny Pucino Vs U.R. Brennan Van Hoecke 141 |
It is in these first few lower weights that I think Illinois sets the tone and builds their lead. Experience is the weapon & I believe the Illini will use it wisely. With that said, 141 like 125, I do not see bonus. I can even see this match being one where Pucino holds tight for a 2 to 3 point decision. BVH may not be ranked yet, but I think eventually the junior PAN-AMERICAN bronze medalist will be. I say he shows signs of it in this match, but not close enough to sniff an upset.
ILLINOIS: 12
LITTLE ROCK: 0
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U.R. Mike Gioffre Vs #21 Brock Herman 149 |
I spoke earlier of how Little Rock took some damage due to the transfer portal, but the truth is, they also gained a bit from it too. They brought in Brock Herman from Ohio State & I believe here at 149, is when we'll see the Trojans fire back with some points of their own. Bonus? I'm sure our only DI program in the state of Arkansas would love to see them, but I don't see it happening. Calling a decision in this one.
ILLINOIS: 12
LITTLE ROCK: 3
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| #8 Kannon Webster Vs #31 Jaivon Jones 157 |
Arrogant & full of himself "put your money where your mouth is" Kannon Webster is looking for nothing less than an All American honor in 2026, after finishing one match shy of a top 8 showing in 2025. I'd like to think that Jaivon Jones a former Northern Illinois Husky might be able to keep this one to a decision, but statistically speaking, I do think we see bonus here.
ILLINOIS: 16
LITTLE ROCK: 3
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| #9 Braeden Scoles Vs #5 Matty Bianchi 165 |
I speak a lot in both my writings & in my videos of marquee matches. Looking over duals & deciding what the 'main event' will be. Here in this dual in R1, I think it is here at 165 lbs between two outstanding talents in Braeden Scoles & Matty Bianchi. This match has a lot riding on it for this dual. For Scoles, the upset gives the Illini the breathing room to put the Trojans far enough out of reach that there isn't a prayer of catching up. For Bianchi, a win here means that the Trojans aren't out of this one quite yet. I'm going with a Little Rock win.
ILLINOIS: 16
LITTLE ROCK: 6
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| U.R. Collin Kelly Vs U.R. Gunner Holland 174 |
Matches like this are exactly why I love the dual format of wrestling so much. Let's be candid. Come 2026's end, Collin Kelly & Gunner Holland most likely aren't going to be two guys we're talking about contending for conference titles or heading to Cleveland looking to become All Americans. That's the reality of it. HOWEVER, both of these guys have the potential to be heroes in this important first round matchup of the national duals. It proposes the perennial question. Who has more to lose? The guy WITH the lead or the guy trying steal it? In this case, I think it will be the latter. I predict a W for Holland, as Little Rock keeps there hopes alive.
ILLINOIS: 16
LITTLE ROCK: 9
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| U.R. Chris Moore Vs #26 Brock Delsignore 184 |
Another match of utmost importance as the dual windles down to the last few matches. On paper this looks like a probable win for the Trojans, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility for an upset. Chris Moore was an NCAA DI qualifier at 165 lbs in 2024. He had some respectable victories at 174 in 2025. Hard to tell exactly how he'll do at 184 lbs, but I keep an open mind until we find out. Going to go with Delsignore here, but I do think it'll be close.
ILLINOIS: 16
LITTLE ROCK: 12
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| #23 Cade Lautt Vs #4 Stephen Little 197 |
Two-time All American, the heart of the Little Rock wrestling team, this is where Stephen Little can really step it up for the Trojans and put them withing striking distance of pulling off a notable first round upset. He's going to have to get some big bonus points in this one & I say that he does. The Maroon & Silver could really use a tech or fall out of the Sturgis, Kentucky native & in such a situation, I see him delivering. Trailing all dual, I say Little Rock heads into HWT with the lead.
ILLINOIS: 16
LITTLE ROCK: 18
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| #7 Luke Luffman Vs #17 Josiah Hill HWT |
And this is where the buck stops for Little Rock. While I think Josiah Hill is more than capable of giving Luke Luffman a respectable match, I feel very confident that the 2025 R12 finisher closes out this dual with a hard fought victory for himself & for his team.
ILLINOIS: 19
LITTLE ROCK: 18
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I see this going down as a fun dual where Illinois strikes early & builds up a good lead, Little Rock makes a rally towards the end, and Illinois wins in in the final match. The absence of Baily & Williams isn't doing the Trojans any favors, but I could also say that Illinois would probably be a lot tougher if Edmond Ruth & the Braunagel brothers still had eligibility too.
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