DEKALB • This past weekend in DeKalb Country, Illinois showed why it is just such a strong wrestling state, and an even more difficult state to qualify for Fargo through. The turnout numbers for both the Greco-Roman and Freestyle State Championships each spring never seems to lower; thus, the level of competition and the level of […] More

LAS VEGAS, NV • In the U20 Division, Illinois came to Greco. And of all the Illinoisians who stepped onto the mat, one would be champion while four others would make their way to the podium. In all, each of the medalists showed dominance in a variety of ways, and each showed their Illinois Greco roots […] More

LAS VEGAS, NV • Domenic Munaretto came into his U.S. Open weekend with one goal—one goal in two phases: win the Greco-Roman nomination for the U.S. World Team, and then win the Freestyle nomination for the U.S. World Team. He accomplished both tasks, and he did them in grand fashion.  In total, three wrestlers won titles […] More

LAS VEGAS, NV • The U17 World Team Trials saw a slew of Illinois wrestlers enter the field and, of those wrestlers looking to make a Greco-Roman World Team, one would accomplish his goal while a strong contingent would place. As for the champion, Domenic Munaretto, he would dominate his 51kg bracket with his only loss […] More

LAS VEGAS, NV • There is nothing easy about earning two medals at the U.S. Open. However, this past weekend, Thomas Banas, who was a Greco-Roman champion one day, came through a strong Freestyle field and placed third. Isaac Barrientos, similarly, placed third in Greco-Roman competition, and then fourth in Freestyle. Two young stars on the […] More

LAS VEGAS, NV • Illinois came away from the U15 Greco-Roman championships with two titles—no surprise that Illinois is known for its Greco—and that is at any age. U.S. Open champions Robert Ruscitti and Thomas Banas moved through their weights in a most impressive fashion. For Ruscitti, he undeniably dominated the 48kg bracket as his longest […] More

STATE COLLEGE, PA • Fifty percent of the United States Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling team is from Illinois—that is half. Now, two of those weight still need to be qualified—67kg and 77kg—but three of the six Trials champions come the Land of Lincoln; come August, the Land of Greco. In state, Greco-Roman wrestling, a style in Illinois […] More

STATE COLLEGE, PA • Kennedy Blades has done what no other woman in America has been able to do since before 2011, and that is defeat the United States’ most decorated female wrestler, Adeline Gray. In the Bryce Jordan Center, on the campus of Penn State University, Blades, now 20 years old, cruised through the Challenge […] More

STATE COLLEGE, PA • Joe Rau was on a comeback that saw him win the Olympic Team Trials in 2016, only to not qualify the weight; qualify the weight for 2021, and then lose in the Trials; and now, after being on all possible ends, he will head to Paris, where the weight has already been […] More

STATE COLLEGE, PA • Ellis Coleman was an Olympian back in 2012; since, he has competed off and on with some success, has had multiple surgeries on various parts of his body, has retired, and now he has returned. Twelve years after his London Games Olympic experience at 20 years old, Coleman is now looking forward […] More

STATE COLLEGE, PA • Kamal Bey came out of the Olympic Qualifier last month angry—angry at how he lost, and angry at himself for allowing his anger to impact his wrestling. Moving forward he said he was going to re-center himself for the Trials, and that was what he did. His calmness, patience, positioning, and, as […] More