The Secret Lives of ILLINOIS Wrestling Redshirts and Recruits

What are ILLINOIS recruits and redshirts up to? Where can I find out about them? Here, my friend. Here's a short list of some of their recent accomplishments. If you know of any more, please drop me a line.

Additionally, we'll drop a short video tomorrow reprising this information. Mostly the same stuff, but with dolby sound! 

DYLAN CONNELL

Freshman redshirt Dylan Connell has been very busy over the school year winning open tournaments. He won a tournament at Wisconsin-Parkside (the Jim Koch Open) not too long ago, and last weekend, he won the Harper Open. Here's his bracket:

As you can see, it went techfall, then pinfalls all the way through. Of note, Dylan's first opponent, Devonjae Hudson of Northern ILLINOIS University is a really good wrestler, somebody that will win a lot of matches for NIU, but he keeps getting paired early in tournaments with Connell, and that never works out for the Huskie. 

Here are some pictures of Dylan at the Harper Open:

The top left picture below is of Dylan Connell, but there were also a couple of Covid redshirt freshmen at the Harper Open, and they placed first and second respectively at 197. 

Isiah Pettigrew and Chase Waggoner had to wrestle each other for the title. ILLINI versus ILLINI, brother versus brother. This is what their bracket looked like:

HUDSON GOEBEL

That was an emphatic finish to a single-leg takedown. The sequence of still images was very impressive. So impressive, there had to be an encore:

And Hudson, you better get this checked out:

KANNON WEBSTER

The Fargo champ has been busy getting ready for the State series by whipping through his conference and tournament opponents. One of the big matches against rival Tremont is called the Dubtown Throwdown. 

  

How did Kannon do at the Dubtown Throwdown? He pinned his opponent in about fifteen seconds, leading Washington to the victory over their bitter rival:

Then, it was on to the Batavia Invitational. Washington and Tremont joined a slew of 3A schools for a Battle Royale. How did Kannon do? 

That plaque in his hand is for Most Outstanding Wrestler award for the lower weights at the tournament. Here is the writeup at the IWCOA website:

WILLIAM BAYSINGAR

An important milestone reached by young William Baysingar:

Later, Will won his conference tournament:

Earlier in the month, he was getting some love from ILLINOISMatmen (Rokfin subscription required):

KOLE BROWER

This just in: Kole Brower has broken the Moline single-season takedown record. That is quite an achievement as the record had once been held by none other than ILLINI Legend Matt Lackey. 

About two weeks ago, Kole finished first and was named Outstanding Wrestler for the lower weights at the Geneseo Invitational:

Congratulations to all the Redshirts and Recruits and their family and friends! Good luck at State and at the Loras Open!