"You Call This the ILLINI Wrestling Blog and You Haven't Posted the Marianetti Video?"

That's what my Mom yelled down to the basement thirty minutes ago. She's right. The match between Steve Marianetti and Lincoln McIlravy is one of the greatest matches in NCAA history. It kept a Hawkeye from becoming a four-timer, and it snapped a 58-match winning streak.

All of that on national TV during the NCAA finals. So, Momcat, this one's for you:



Is it the greatest match by an ILLINI ever? Jon Llewellyn can make a case for his championship final. Matt Lackey as well. Here's the bracket:


McIlravy's wikipedia entry states that he "was a three-time NCAA Division I champion, winning in 1993, 1994 and 1997. He was also a runner-up in 1995, losing to Steve Marianetti of University of Illinois." On the strength of championships from Steve Marianetti and Ernest Benion in 1995, the ILLINI finished in the Top 10. 

The Steve Marianetti story is unlike any other.

He didn't win a state title in high school. He didn't win a Big Ten title in college, but he did finish fourth, fifth and first in the NCAA championships. After the University of ILLINOIS, he became an assistant coach for the ILLINI before taking over the reins at Elmhurst College. There, he has been named National Coach of the Year twice, while coaching numerous NCAA champions and All-Americans. 

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