Best Team In Illinois Ever

[eaglefan123]

Many teams are worthy who do you guys think it is?

[golden eagle 157]

In my opinion, the best IL team was 1995 Mt. Carmel. Unfortunately, did not win a state championship because they were accused of wrestling too many varsity tournaments and they sued the IHSA so the state tournament was suspended that year.

Placed 7 guys and qualified all but 1 or 2 weights. Future NCAA champs TJ Williams and Tony Davis plus guys like Malik Elliot and Ryan Stonitsch, who both went on to have successful college careers.

People from the 70's will say the Leyden team that set the team record others will say one of the Montini or Providence teams from recent years.

In a dual meet situation, I do not think there was a more solid line up that I have ever seen in Illinois than Mt. Carmel in 1995.

[MR TWISTER]

1994 or 1995 Mt. Carmel...either one is good enough for my vote.

[John H]

1. 1978 Leyden High School-This team scored a record 129 1/2 points at the state tournament. 3 State Champ (only 12 weight classes at that time) and one third place finisher for a total of 4 state placers. Did not lose a dual meet from 1975 to 1979. Led by Randy Conrad and Jim Farina.

2. 2006 Carl Sandburg 3 State Champs 7 total state placers. Led by Precin, Polz, and Cusick. Won the Clash and was ranked #2 nationally in 2006. Statistically better than any of the great Providence Catholic or Mt. Carmel teams.

3. 1995 Chicago Mt. Carmel 1 State Champs, total of 7 state placers. Led by Tony Davies and TJ Williams. Three state finalist and a solid team from top to bottom. I give this team a slight edge over the other two great Mt. Carmel teams. The 1994 team had two state champs and five state placers, while the 1993 team had two state champs and six placers.

4. 1989 Providence Catholic 3 State Champs, total of 5 State placers out of 12 weight classes. Led by Sean Bormet, Ken Gerdes and Mike McClarence. Did not lose a dual from 1987-1990. The 88 team probably was a better dual team, but the 89 team had more individual success at state.

5. 2000 Providence Catholic 1 State Champ, total of 6 State placers. Beat Conant 42-6 in state finals. Led by Nick Passalano, Brian Glynn, Matt Kucala and Don Reynolds. Team had 9 state qualifiers that year.

[Warrior70]

Originally Posted by eaglefan123

Many teams are worthy who do you guys think it is?

John H has a very nice list. However, so many overlook the teams from earlier in the century. The 1941 team from East St. louis had 4 state champions, but still only finished 2nd place as a team. The Champaign High School team had 8 individual place winners, but did not have any state champions. Both of those teams should be ranked in the top 10 of all time. The Waukegan team from 1963 had 4 state champions and a total of 6 individual place winners.

In addition, when arguing for the 1995 Mt. Carmel team, remember that the highest ranked team in the state that year was Granite City. They were also ranked high in the national publications. So, that would argue against the specific MTC team.

My list would be the following:

1. Waukegan 1963
2. East Leydon (Franklin Park) 1978
3. East St. Louis 1941
4. Carl Sandburg 2006
5. Granite City 1995
6. Champaign 1941
7. Mt. Carmel 1994
8. Providence 1989

[WGC]

Originally Posted by John H

1. 1978 Leyden High School-This team scored a record 129 1/2 points at the state tournament. 3 State Champ (only 12 weight classes at that time) and one third place finisher for a total of 4 state placers. Did not lose a dual meet from 1975 to 1979. Led by Randy Conrad and Jim Farina.

2. 2006 Carl Sandburg 3 State Champs 7 total state placers. Led by Precin, Polz, and Cusick. Won the Clash and was ranked #2 nationally in 2006. Statistically better than any of the great Providence Catholic or Mt. Carmel teams.

3. 1995 Chicago Mt. Carmel 1 State Champs, total of 7 state placers. Led by Tony Davies and TJ Williams. Three state finalist and a solid team from top to bottom. I give this team a slight edge over the other two great Mt. Carmel teams. The 1994 team had two state champs and five state placers, while the 1993 team had two state champs and six placers.

4. 1989 Providence Catholic 3 State Champs, total of 5 State placers out of 12 weight classes. Led by Sean Bormet, Ken Gerdes and Mike McClarence. Did not lose a dual from 1987-1990. The 88 team probably was a better dual team, but the 89 team had more individual success at state.

5. 2000 Providence Catholic 1 State Champ, total of 6 State placers. Beat Conant 42-6 in state finals. Led by Nick Passalano, Brian Glynn, Matt Kucala and Don Reynolds. Team had 9 state qualifiers that year.

1978 Leyden Team had 4 Champs and 1 placer (I think it was a third might be wrong).

[ouch]

I have been around wrestling for over 3 decades and have seen all the teams people are talking about. Without a doubt the best team was Farina's team in 78. Hands down the toughest, hard nosed wrestlers on the mat.

Originally Posted by golden eagle 157

In my opinion, the best IL team was 1995 Mt. Carmel. Unfortunately, did not win a state championship because they were accused of wrestling too many varsity tournaments and they sued the IHSA so the state tournament was suspended that year.

Placed 7 guys and qualified all but 1 or 2 weights. Future NCAA champs TJ Williams and Tony Davis plus guys like Malik Elliot and Ryan Stonitsch, who both went on to have successful college careers.

People from the 70's will say the Leyden team that set the team record others will say one of the Montini or Providence teams from recent years.

In a dual meet situation, I do not think there was a more solid line up that I have ever seen in Illinois than Mt. Carmel in 1995.

[BIRDMAN66]

I believe that this would have been a barn burner
13 ALL-STATE Wrestlers
4 Different State Champs
11 Individual Final Apperences by both teams
2 State Champs named TJ
Tons of Qualifiers NOT MENTIONED
AWESOME

Light Weights - EVEN
Middle Weights - MT. CARMEL
Upper Weights - Granite City

It all comes from Bonus Points
Granite's Top 3 Weights would Win or Pin
TJ Williams & Tony Pins
TJ SLAY Points in the Middle


Granite City 1995
Tim Fulkerson 1995AA 112 4
Bob Chaulsett 1996AA 119 4
T.J. Slay 1995AA 130 1
John Venne 1996AA 160 1
Tony Buchek 1995AA 171 2
Chris Janek 1995AA 275 6
1996AA 275 2

Mt. Carmel 1995
Milton Blakely 1994AA 112 3
1995AA 119 5
1996AA 125 3
Tony Davis 1994AA 125 1
1995AA 135 2
Ryan DeLira 1995AA 103 6
Malik Elliott 1995AA 125 4
1996AA 135 3
Joe Opiola 1995AA 140 2
Ryan Stonitsch 1994AA 160 4
1995AA 171 6
T.J. Williams 1993AA 135 1
1994AA 140 1
1995AA 145 1
1996AA 145 1

[will-I-am]

sorry, but we saw Granite City at Geneseo that year and crushed them. thanks for playing though.

[James_Oliva]

Originally Posted by will-I-am

sorry, but we saw Granite City at Geneseo that year and crushed them. thanks for playing though.

Geneseo's not a dual team event, though. Is it?