Illinois wrestling head coach announced the addition of nine wrestlers to the 2018-19 roster, adding three signees and six walk-ons to the Illini roster. Headlining the nine newcomers is junior transfer Joseph Gunther who has qualified for each of the last two NCAA Championships.
"This is a really good group to finish our recruiting class this spring," said head coach Jim Heffernan. "In addition, having Joey Gunther transfer unexpectedly will bring a ton of real experience to the team. They each have good work habits and are solid students."
The nine newcomers also feature a pair of Illini connections, as Dane Durlacher and twins We and Baan Rachal join the program. Dane is the nephew of Illini great Lindsey Durlacher, while We and Baan are younger brothers of Illini starting heavyweight wrestler Deuce Rachal.
Joseph Gunther // Libertyville, Illinois // University of Iowa // Junior // 174 Pounds
Christian Kanzler // Fox Lake, Ill. // Lincoln College // Junior // 141 Pounds
Kenny Kerstein // Deerfield, Ill. // Deerfield High School // 157 Pounds
Dane Durlacher // Mundelein, Ill. // Mundelein High School // 125 Pounds
Seamus O’Donnell // Central High School // Crystal Lake, Ill. // Heavyweight
Eddie Ordonez // Oak Park, Ill. // Oak Park-River Forest // 157 Pounds
We Rachal // Chicago, Ill. // Chicago Washington High School // 141 Pounds
Baan Rachal // Chicago, Ill. // Chicago Washington High School // 157 Pounds
Garrett Rich // Washington, Ill. // Washington High School // 174 Pounds
"This is a really good group to finish our recruiting class this spring," said head coach Jim Heffernan. "In addition, having Joey Gunther transfer unexpectedly will bring a ton of real experience to the team. They each have good work habits and are solid students."
The nine newcomers also feature a pair of Illini connections, as Dane Durlacher and twins We and Baan Rachal join the program. Dane is the nephew of Illini great Lindsey Durlacher, while We and Baan are younger brothers of Illini starting heavyweight wrestler Deuce Rachal.
Joseph Gunther // Libertyville, Illinois // University of Iowa // Junior // 174 Pounds
- Two-time NCAA Qualifier
- 2017 Big Ten Championships 174 Pounds 6th Place
- 36-19 combined record, 10-4 in Big Ten duals over two seasons at Iowa
- 2015 IHSA Class 3A 160 Pound Runner-Up
- Two-time Greco-Roman National Finalist and State Champion
Christian Kanzler // Fox Lake, Ill. // Lincoln College // Junior // 141 Pounds
- 2018 JUCO 141-Pound Runner-Up
- 2018 NJCAA Second Team All-American
- 2017 NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American
- 2016 IHSA Class 3A 126 Pounds 6th Place
Kenny Kerstein // Deerfield, Ill. // Deerfield High School // 157 Pounds
- 2018 IHSA Class 3A 152 Pounds 5th Place
- Two-time IHSA Class Barrington Sectional Champion
- Three-time IHSA Class 3A Gurnee Regional Champion
Dane Durlacher // Mundelein, Ill. // Mundelein High School // 125 Pounds
- Nephew of Lindsey Durlacher
- Two-time IHSA Class 3A 113-Pound 3rd Place
- 2017 IHSA Class 3A 106-Pound 4th Place
- 2017 Illinois Greco-Roman State 113-Pound Runner-Up
Seamus O’Donnell // Central High School // Crystal Lake, Ill. // Heavyweight
- 2018 IHSA Class 2A 220-Pound 4th Place
- 2017 IHSA Class 2A 195-Pound 6th Place
Eddie Ordonez // Oak Park, Ill. // Oak Park-River Forest // 157 Pounds
- 2018 Illinois Greco-Roman 152-Pound Runner-Up
- 2018 Illinois Freestyle 152-Pound 4th Place
- Member of 2018 IHSA Class 3A Dual Team Championships Runner-Up
- 2018 IHSA Class 3A State Qualifier
- 2018 IHSA Class 3A Elgin Sectional Champion
We Rachal // Chicago, Ill. // Chicago Washington High School // 141 Pounds
- Two-time IHSA Class 2A 132-Pound Champion (2017, 2018)
- 2018 IHSA Class 2A 138-Pound Runner-Up
- Two-time IHSA Class 2A Sectional Champion
- Twin brother of Baan, brother of current Illini Deuce Rachal
Baan Rachal // Chicago, Ill. // Chicago Washington High School // 157 Pounds
- 2018 IHSA Class 2A 152-Pound 5th Place
- 2017 IHSA Class 2A 138-Pound 6th Place
- Twin brother of We, brother of current Illini Deuce Rachal
Garrett Rich // Washington, Ill. // Washington High School // 174 Pounds
- 2018 IHSA Class 2A 170-Pound 4th Place
