TULSA, OKLAHOMA • For those on the backside of the bracket with opportunity to wrestle and push themselves into the “Blood Round,” an entire season came down to one match. One match that would give them a title that they could never be stripped of. One match that would etch them into their school’s and the nation’s history books. One match that would forever change their memory of this year’s national championships in Tulsa.
For the Illinois wrestlers with that opportunity, five would claim All-American honors through that very “Blood Round” and allow themselves one more day of competition on Saturday—and this time it is to see how high on the podium they will stand. In addition to these five All-Americans, two others will join them in the All-American Round after dropping their semifinal matches.
