Northwestern University Athletics
Sunday, February 15
Evanston, Ill.
1 p.m. CT
Northwestern
3
vs
44
Illinois
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
‘Cats Fall to No. 11 Illinois in Dual Season Finale
2/16/2026 7:30:00 PM | Wrestling
EVANSTON, Ill. - In its final dual of the season, the Northwestern wrestling team battled No. 11 Illinois, but fell short on Sunday in the Big Ten battle.
The Wildcats (3-9, 1-7 Big Ten) claimed one bout in the regular-season finale, as Giosue Hickman won a thriller in his home dual debut. The No. 11 Fighting Illini (12-5, 5-3 Big Ten) posted 32 points from bout wins, tacking on 12 more from forfeits. Up against ranked wrestlers, two 'Cats (149, 285) held their opponents to decisions in tight bouts.
At 141, Hickman got the call to wrestle in his third-ever dual, and posted a 3-2 decision victory. The redshirt first-year put three points on the board for NU with a last-second takedown win, in a gritty comeback finish after recovering from two weeks of illness.
RESULTS
#11 Illinois 44, Northwestern 3
125: #16 Spencer Moore (ILL) over Northwestern, forfeit - NU 0, ILL 6
133: #1 Lucas Byrd (ILL) tech fall. Luis Bazan (NU), 20-4 (6:08) - NU 0, ILL 11
141: Giosue Hickman (NU) dec. Will Baysingar (ILL), 3-2 - NU 3, ILL 11
149: #30 Michael Gioffre (ILL) dec. August Hibler (NU), 7-2 - NU 3, ILL 14
157: #9 Kannon Webster (ILL) over Ty Wilson (NU), fall (2:40) - NU 3, ILL 20
165: #8 Braeden Scoles (ILL) over Northwestern, forfeit - NU 3, ILL 26
174: #25 Colin Kelly (ILL) over Andre Rocker (NU), fall (1:26) - NU 3, ILL 32
184: #18 Chris Moore (ILL) tech. fall J.D. Perez (NU), 17-2 (3:50) - NU 3, ILL 37
197: Cade Lautt (ILL) major dec. Alex Smith (NU), 11-1 - NU 3, ILL 41
285: #13 Luke Luffman (ILL) dec. Gabe Christenson (NU), 5-0 - NU 3, ILL 44
UP NEXT
The 'Cats will head to the 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, set for March 7-8. Hosted by Penn State, the tournament will take place at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pa., with coverage on the Big Ten Network.
The Wildcats (3-9, 1-7 Big Ten) claimed one bout in the regular-season finale, as Giosue Hickman won a thriller in his home dual debut. The No. 11 Fighting Illini (12-5, 5-3 Big Ten) posted 32 points from bout wins, tacking on 12 more from forfeits. Up against ranked wrestlers, two 'Cats (149, 285) held their opponents to decisions in tight bouts.
At 141, Hickman got the call to wrestle in his third-ever dual, and posted a 3-2 decision victory. The redshirt first-year put three points on the board for NU with a last-second takedown win, in a gritty comeback finish after recovering from two weeks of illness.
Hickman with the late takedown for the ?????????????? ??
— Northwestern Wrestling (@NUWrestle) February 15, 2026
?? @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/tneCfgYYB3
RESULTS
#11 Illinois 44, Northwestern 3
125: #16 Spencer Moore (ILL) over Northwestern, forfeit - NU 0, ILL 6
133: #1 Lucas Byrd (ILL) tech fall. Luis Bazan (NU), 20-4 (6:08) - NU 0, ILL 11
141: Giosue Hickman (NU) dec. Will Baysingar (ILL), 3-2 - NU 3, ILL 11
149: #30 Michael Gioffre (ILL) dec. August Hibler (NU), 7-2 - NU 3, ILL 14
157: #9 Kannon Webster (ILL) over Ty Wilson (NU), fall (2:40) - NU 3, ILL 20
165: #8 Braeden Scoles (ILL) over Northwestern, forfeit - NU 3, ILL 26
174: #25 Colin Kelly (ILL) over Andre Rocker (NU), fall (1:26) - NU 3, ILL 32
184: #18 Chris Moore (ILL) tech. fall J.D. Perez (NU), 17-2 (3:50) - NU 3, ILL 37
197: Cade Lautt (ILL) major dec. Alex Smith (NU), 11-1 - NU 3, ILL 41
285: #13 Luke Luffman (ILL) dec. Gabe Christenson (NU), 5-0 - NU 3, ILL 44
UP NEXT
The 'Cats will head to the 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, set for March 7-8. Hosted by Penn State, the tournament will take place at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pa., with coverage on the Big Ten Network.
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