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PHILADELPHIA — Lucas Byrd is one win away from elite company.
The Illinois wrestling standout continued his quest toward a national championship on Friday night by defeating Zeth Romney from Cal Poly via a 2-0 decision in the 133-pound semifinals of the NCAA Championships at Wells Fargo Center.
Illinois has 23 national champions in its history since 1929, but none since Isaiah Martinez completed back-to-back national titles with a win in 2016.
The top-seeded Byrd (22-1) will know his foe in the national championship match on Saturday night well. It’s second-seeded Drake Ayala (20-2) from Iowa, who Byrd pinned to win a Big Ten title on March 9.
Saturday night will mark the third meeting this season between Byrd and Ayala, with Ayala winning when the two met in the regular season on Jan. 17 in Iowa City, Iowa.
After a scoreless first period between Byrd and Romney, Byrd pulled off an escape to take a 1-0 lead and hold onto that margin entering the third and final period.
Byrd started his Friday off with a 12-1 major decision against Braeden Davis of Penn State. Byrd led 3-1 after the first period and extended his lead to 11-1 entering the third period before forcing a stall call from
Davis in the final period to earn the win and obtain All-American honors with the victory.
Byrd was the only Illini of the three in the quarterfinals to emerge with a win earlier on Friday. Kannon Webster lost via a 12-0 major decision against Ridge Lovett of Nebraska at 149, while Edmond Ruth lost a 13-5 major decision against Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa at 184.
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