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The University of Illinois wrestling team was created in 1911.
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NCAA Champions:
Matt Lackey (165, 2003)
Adam Tirapelle (149, 2001)
John Lockhart (heavyweight, 2001)
Carl Perry (141, 2000)
Eric Siebert (150, 1998)
Ernest Benion, Jr. (158, 1995)
Steve Marianetti (150, 1995)
Jon Llewellyn (heavyweight, 1991)
Jim Hefferman (150, 1986)
Bob Norman (heavyweight, 1957 and 1958)
Larry Tenpas (157, 1956)
David Shapiro (165, 1956)
Archie Deutschman (136, 1939)
John Ginay (165, 1936)
Allen Sapora(126, 1936)
Ralph Silverstein (175, 1935)
Joe Puerta (121, 1932)
Joe Sapora (115, 1929 and 1930)
George Minot (135, 1929)
Matt Lackey (165, 2003)
Adam Tirapelle (149, 2001)
John Lockhart (heavyweight, 2001)
Carl Perry (141, 2000)
Eric Siebert (150, 1998)
Ernest Benion, Jr. (158, 1995)
Steve Marianetti (150, 1995)
Jon Llewellyn (heavyweight, 1991)
Jim Hefferman (150, 1986)
Bob Norman (heavyweight, 1957 and 1958)
Larry Tenpas (157, 1956)
David Shapiro (165, 1956)
Archie Deutschman (136, 1939)
John Ginay (165, 1936)
Allen Sapora(126, 1936)
Ralph Silverstein (175, 1935)
Joe Puerta (121, 1932)
Joe Sapora (115, 1929 and 1930)
George Minot (135, 1929)
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Allie Morrison:
Allie Morrison is considered the greatest wrestler to ever come through U of I even though he never won an NCAA title. That is because he came in in 1926 and never lost a single match. The NCAA national wrestling tournament wasn't introduced until 1928 but it wasn't as important as the AAU national freestyle tournament to most colleges. Morrison won the AAU national tournament in '26, '27, and '28 and was part of the 1928 United States Olympic team. At the 1928 Olympics he won gold at the 134 pound weight class without having a single close match and was also the only American to win a gold medal that year.
When he returned to Champaign in 1926 he broke a vertebrae in his neck and never wrestled in competition again. He went on to having a very successful coaching career in Nebraska, winning four state team titles.
Allie Morrison is considered the greatest wrestler to ever come through U of I even though he never won an NCAA title. That is because he came in in 1926 and never lost a single match. The NCAA national wrestling tournament wasn't introduced until 1928 but it wasn't as important as the AAU national freestyle tournament to most colleges. Morrison won the AAU national tournament in '26, '27, and '28 and was part of the 1928 United States Olympic team. At the 1928 Olympics he won gold at the 134 pound weight class without having a single close match and was also the only American to win a gold medal that year.
When he returned to Champaign in 1926 he broke a vertebrae in his neck and never wrestled in competition again. He went on to having a very successful coaching career in Nebraska, winning four state team titles.
Sources:
http://www.win-magazine.com/Archives/v14%20archives/v14i5%20stuff/chapmancolumn.html
www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-wrestl/ill-m-wrestl-body.html
http://www.win-magazine.com/Archives/v14%20archives/v14i5%20stuff/chapmancolumn.html
www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-wrestl/ill-m-wrestl-body.html