No. 2 Iowa wrestling defeated No. 10 Illinois at home 28-6. The Hawkeyes stayed in control over the Fighting Illini despite many close matches between the two programs.

The No. 2 Iowa men’s wrestling team proved its strength in a 28-6 win over No. 9 Illinois inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Friday. Iowa’s No. 4 Drake Ayala highlighted the early slate of matches with a massive upset win over Illinois’ No.

The 2nd-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes kick off a big Friday night of wrestling on BTN with a top-10 Big Ten battle with the No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Once in a while — amid the clamor and chaos of crowds and jeers and protests and press — someone would walk up to a 45-pound, third-grade Tricia Saunders and thank her for “what you’re doing for women’s lib.

Ranked as Intermat's No. 10 dual team in college wrestling (No. 13 as a tournament team), the Fighting Illini present a worthy challenge for the No. 2 Hawkeyes with nine-ranked wrestlers, eight of whom are ranked 20th or higher.

Plenty of numbers could tell the tale of #2 Iowa wrestling’s beatdown of #9 Illinois on Friday night. The final score? Iowa – 28, Illinois – 6. Total match points? Iowa – 69, Illinois, 21. Or how about the most basic premise in all of wrestling – takedowns scored?