CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- 133-pound national champion Lucas Byrd and four-time NCAA Championships qualifier Luke Luffman each announced that they will return to the Fighting Illini for their final seasons of eligibility in 2025-26 on Tuesday (Aug. 12).

Byrd wrestled in 24 matches last season, carrying a 23-1 (.958) record en route to winning both NCAA and Big Ten titles, the program's 25th national title and 79th Big Ten title. His 95.8% win rate would be the seventh-best single season win percentage in program history, but there is a 25-match minimum required to be on that list.

He boasts a career record of 96-16 (.857), which is the seventh-best career win percentage in program history. He is four wins away from joining an exclusive club of wrestlers who have secured 100 wins, a feat only 25 Illini grapplers have accomplished in the program's history.

He recorded a pin and six major decisions with 42 points scored in dual action, the second-most on the team, during his historic 2024-25 campaign. Now, he sets his sights on becoming the first Illinois wrestler to win the Dan Hodge Trophy (wrestling's version of the Heisman Trophy) and winning a second-straight national title. Only four other Illini wrestlers have won two-straight national titles: Isaiah Martinez (2015-16), Jesse Delgado (2013-14), Bob Norman (1957-58), and Joe Sapora (1929-30).

Luffman wrestled in 27 matches last season with a 19-8 (.703) record on his way to qualifying for his fourth NCAA Championships at 285 pounds. He went 11-2 in duals and 6-2 in Big Ten duals in his 2024-25 campaign scoring 41 dual points, the third most on the team. Additionally, he recorded four major decisions (the second most on the squad behind Byrd), two tech. falls and two pins. The Urbana, Ill. native placed sixth at the Big Ten Championships last season and owns a career record of 69-41 (.627).