Byrd is now about 47 years old. Okay, more exactly, he will be in his 7th year next year. That just seems to be too much.
2024-25
NCAA Champion at 133 pounds
Big Ten Champion at 133 pounds
Became the 21st Fighting Illini wrestler to win a national championship and earned the program's 25th individual national title
First NCAA Champion at Illinois since 2016 and first ever in the 133 pound weight class
Became Illinois' 79th Big Ten Champion and the second ever at 133 pounds
12th wrestler in program history to win both Big Ten and NCAA titles in the same season
Seventh-highest career win percentage in school history, 96-16 (.857)
Went 23-1 overall, 12-1 in duals and 7-1 in Big Ten duals
Led the team in major decisions with six
Third on the team in dual points scored with 42
Academic All-Big Ten
2023-24
Did not compete - Medical redshirt
Academic All-Big Ten
2022-23
NCAA Championships qualifier at 133 pounds
Placed third at the Big Ten Championships
Went 30-6 overall, 11-1 in duals and 8-0 in Big Ten duals
Highest win percentages on the team: Overall (.833), Duals (.917), Big Ten Duals (1.000)
Tied for second on the team in dual points scored with 33
Recorded a career-high 4 falls, fastest fall (0:36) at the Michigan State Open
5 major decisions
Academic All-Big Ten
2021-22
Earned All-American honors at 133-pounds
Finished fifth at 133-pounds at NCAA Championships
NCAA Qualifier at 133-pounds
Team-high 39 dual points
Went 8-0 in Big Ten duals and 10-0 overall in duals
Academic All-Big Ten
2020-21
Earned All-American honors at 133-pounds
Finished fifth at 133-pounds at NCAA Championships
NCAA Qualifier at 133-pounds
Went 17-4 in his first season in the starting lineup
Scored a team-high 29 dual points and posted a 7-1 dual record on the season
2019-20
Went 11-4 overall in his redshirt freshman season
Won the Findlay Open 133-pound title, going 4-0 with two tech. falls
Finished second in the 133-pound Fresh/Soph Division at the MSU Open, going 3-1
Recorded two wins by fall, with his fastest at 2:08 against Marshall Craig of Purdue at Midlands