EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE wrestling begins the 2024-25 season Saturday with a 6 p.m. dual match against Illinois at First Community Arena.

The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

The Fighting Illini enter the event ranked as high as 13th nationally (Intermat) and have nine wrestlers ranked in the top 25 among their respective weight classes.

"They're a very good team," said SIUE Associate Head Coach Daryl Thomas. "It's about our guys individually going out there and putting their best foot forward and matching the intensity or setting the intensity."

SIUE will send out a lineup that includes two Mid-American Conference placewinners from last season. Marcel Lopez placed third last season at 133 pounds. Deron Pulliam was fifth at 184 pounds.

The Cougars have a mix of wrestlers who were starters last season and others who will be making their SIUE debut Saturday.

That includes 125-pounder Drew Davis, a true freshman, and 174-pounder Griffin Ray, a redshirt transfer from Nebraska.

"It's exciting to have the depth now," said Thomas. "We know there is still work to be done, but we're just excited to have that depth."

Below is the tentative lineup for both teams.

SIUE Lineup
125 – Drew Davis
133 – Marcel Lopez
141 – Danny Martinez
149 – Hayden Whidden
157 – Brock Woodcock
165 – Bradley Gillum
174 – Griffin Ray
184 – Deron Pulliam
197 – Nick Nosler
HWT – Bryson Buhk

Illinois Lineup
125 – #17 Ramazan Attasauov
133 – #3 Lucas Byrd
141 –  #19 Danny Pucino
149 –  #10 Kannon Webster
157 – #23 Jason Kraisser
165 – Braeden Scoles
174 – #20 Danny Braunagel
184 – #8 Edmond Ruth
197 – #10 Zac Braunagel
285 – #13 Luke Luffman