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 high school that changed magnificently once Bryan Medlin took over the ILUSA-W Team around 2005, has what is more an “Illinois Pride” and feel to it, and Trails champions Ellis Coleman (67kg, OPRF), Kamal Bey (77kg, OPRF), and Joe Rau (97kg, Chicago St. Patrick) all have that bloodline running through their veins.
Out of the eight Greco-Roman entrants from Illinois, three were champions, and three placed fourth overall. If nothing else, it show just how strong of a state Illinois is when it comes to upper-body wrestling.
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