The 2015-16 campaign will feature seven returning starts from last year’s team that finished 11th at NCAA Championships and sixth at Big Ten Championships. They return National Champion Isaiah Martinez who will look to defend his 157 pound title. Joining him will be Big Ten Championship placers Zane Richards, Kyle Langenderfer, Zac Brunson, Jeff Koepke, and Brooks Black. The Orange and Blue will enter the season ranked 10th by WIN Magazine.
125
Francis Edelen will take over the 125 position after two-time national champion Jesse Delgado graduated last May. Edelen hails from Oak Forest, Ill. and owns the fastest pin at the IHSA State Championship (0:10). Like Radcliffe, he was also named to the IHSA All-State team two times. Dan Radcliffe, a freshman from Lockport, Illinois will serve as the backup. In high school, he earnedAll-State honors twice.
133
After qualifying for NCAA Championships in each of his first two seasons as an Illini, Zane Richards will once again control the 133 pound weight class for the Illini. Richards placed fifth at Big Ten Championships last season after beginning the season with 15 straight wins and ranking as high as No. 2 by WIN Magazine. Over the course of the season, he compiled a 28-8 record, including 6-3 in the Big Ten.
141
The Illini will feature a new starter at 141 this season after Steven Rodrigues held down the position the last couple seasons. Sophomore Brock Ervin finished the 2014-15 campaign with a 21-4 record and recorded six falls, winning the Michigan State Open and going 4-2 and Midlands.
149
Caleb Ervin, a redshirt senior, is expected to return to full-time duties after battling injuries the last two seasons. In 2013-14, Ervin finished eighth at Big Ten Championships after missing two months of action due to injury, posting a final overall record of 8-8. Also seeing time will be 2015 NCAA Qualifier Kyle Langenderfer. Filling in for Ervin, Langenderfer finished third at Big Ten Championships and tied for the team lead in pins with six.
157
The Illini will return defending National Champion Isaiah Martinez as he enters his sophomore campaign after a freshman season for the record books. Martinez finished an undefeated season (35-0) in route to Big Ten and NCAA titles. Martinez led NCAA Division I in wins by technical fall (11) and 24 of his 35 wins came by major decision or greater. Martinez’s success brought him Big Ten, InterMat, and Amateur Wrestling News Freshman of the Year honors. Backing Martinez up will be freshmen Carver James and Tim McCarthy.
165
Making the switch from 141 pounds will be senior Steven Rodrigues. Rodrigues is a two-time NCAA Qualifier and went 6-3 in Big Ten play last season and finished sixth on the team in dual meet points scored with 35. Mike Kozyra will serve as the primary backup to Rodrigues.
174
Zac Brunson will man this positon for the second year in a row and looks to build upon his first two seasons where he qualified for NCAA Championships and placed sixth at Big Tens last season. Brunson was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week on November 18 last season and went on to finished runner-up at Midlands, go 6-3 during Big Ten season, and set a career high in wins (29).
184
Jeff Koepke moves to 184 pounds for the 2015-16 campaign after qualifying for NCAA Championships and placing sixth at Big Ten Championships while at 197 pounds. He set a career-high in wins with 21 and recorded three wins over top-15 opponents. Danny Hicks will back up Koepke this season.
197
Sophomore Andre Lee enters the season as the favorite to start at 197 pounds after a 9-3 record as a freshman. Lee won the Michigan State Open and recorded six falls over the course of the season. Colton Emmerich will also get some looks this season behind Lee after having a 5-3 record as a freshman.
HWT
After redshirting as a freshman in 2013-14, Brooks Black became the heavyweight starter last season, qualifying for his first NCAA Championships. Black knocked off a ranked opponent three times last season and was ranked as high as No. 18. Christopher Lopez and Deuce Rachal will serve as backups at heavyweight.
125
Francis Edelen will take over the 125 position after two-time national champion Jesse Delgado graduated last May. Edelen hails from Oak Forest, Ill. and owns the fastest pin at the IHSA State Championship (0:10). Like Radcliffe, he was also named to the IHSA All-State team two times. Dan Radcliffe, a freshman from Lockport, Illinois will serve as the backup. In high school, he earnedAll-State honors twice.
133
After qualifying for NCAA Championships in each of his first two seasons as an Illini, Zane Richards will once again control the 133 pound weight class for the Illini. Richards placed fifth at Big Ten Championships last season after beginning the season with 15 straight wins and ranking as high as No. 2 by WIN Magazine. Over the course of the season, he compiled a 28-8 record, including 6-3 in the Big Ten.
141
The Illini will feature a new starter at 141 this season after Steven Rodrigues held down the position the last couple seasons. Sophomore Brock Ervin finished the 2014-15 campaign with a 21-4 record and recorded six falls, winning the Michigan State Open and going 4-2 and Midlands.
149
Caleb Ervin, a redshirt senior, is expected to return to full-time duties after battling injuries the last two seasons. In 2013-14, Ervin finished eighth at Big Ten Championships after missing two months of action due to injury, posting a final overall record of 8-8. Also seeing time will be 2015 NCAA Qualifier Kyle Langenderfer. Filling in for Ervin, Langenderfer finished third at Big Ten Championships and tied for the team lead in pins with six.
157
The Illini will return defending National Champion Isaiah Martinez as he enters his sophomore campaign after a freshman season for the record books. Martinez finished an undefeated season (35-0) in route to Big Ten and NCAA titles. Martinez led NCAA Division I in wins by technical fall (11) and 24 of his 35 wins came by major decision or greater. Martinez’s success brought him Big Ten, InterMat, and Amateur Wrestling News Freshman of the Year honors. Backing Martinez up will be freshmen Carver James and Tim McCarthy.
165
Making the switch from 141 pounds will be senior Steven Rodrigues. Rodrigues is a two-time NCAA Qualifier and went 6-3 in Big Ten play last season and finished sixth on the team in dual meet points scored with 35. Mike Kozyra will serve as the primary backup to Rodrigues.
174
Zac Brunson will man this positon for the second year in a row and looks to build upon his first two seasons where he qualified for NCAA Championships and placed sixth at Big Tens last season. Brunson was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week on November 18 last season and went on to finished runner-up at Midlands, go 6-3 during Big Ten season, and set a career high in wins (29).
184
Jeff Koepke moves to 184 pounds for the 2015-16 campaign after qualifying for NCAA Championships and placing sixth at Big Ten Championships while at 197 pounds. He set a career-high in wins with 21 and recorded three wins over top-15 opponents. Danny Hicks will back up Koepke this season.
197
Sophomore Andre Lee enters the season as the favorite to start at 197 pounds after a 9-3 record as a freshman. Lee won the Michigan State Open and recorded six falls over the course of the season. Colton Emmerich will also get some looks this season behind Lee after having a 5-3 record as a freshman.
HWT
After redshirting as a freshman in 2013-14, Brooks Black became the heavyweight starter last season, qualifying for his first NCAA Championships. Black knocked off a ranked opponent three times last season and was ranked as high as No. 18. Christopher Lopez and Deuce Rachal will serve as backups at heavyweight.
