The Greatest Footsweep in History--My Favorite ILLINI Takedown

THE BEST ILLINI TAKEDOWN

The greatest foot sweep in history wasn’t by the Cobra Kai’s Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid. That wasn’t real. It was written down on paper by a screenwriter and then dramatized by actors. What’s seen in the video below by Matt Lackey was organic, it was real, and that’s why--among other reasons-- Lackey’s was the Greatest Footsweep in history, as well as my favorite ILLINI takedown.

Matt Lackey was a wrestling phenomenon.

The ILLINI hero and Moline product won Junior National Freestyle, NCAA and multiple Big Ten titles. He went undefeated his Senior year at ILLINOIS and attempted to make the US Olympic team in 2004. He is listed numerous times in the ILLINI record books, and was the #7 pick for ILLINI athlete of the decade.

His opponent in the match, Troy Letters, was another wrestling phenomenon.

THE BACKSTORY:  Matt Lackey was in the NCAA finals the year before and lost a nail-biter to Joe Heskett of Iowa State. With the score tied 2-2 and only :38 remaining in the match, Lackey swung the Cyclone around and shot a beautiful head-inside single, only to lose his grip. With :20 to go, the ILLINI hit an ankle pick that he moved up to a single, only to again lose his grip. Heskett would get the winning takedown with only :04 to go on the clock. Thus, the finals against Troy Letters would become Lackey’s redemption song.

THE BEAUTY:  There is nothing as abruptly beautiful as a well-executed footsweep. Suplex and headlock throws are also beautiful, but you can find 10-minute videos showing all of those throws from last year or the year before. Footsweeps are rare. When they do occur, many of them can be more aptly categorized as foot trips. Unlike a trip, the footsweep goes completely through the pendulum motion, and the good practitioners like Lackey will keep the leg extended to ensure that a sweep (or at least a trip) occurs.

THE BÊTE NOIRE:  His opponent was fearsome. After finishing second this year, Troy Letters would win an NCAA Championship the very next season. Injuries hampered him after that, but he still placed third another time. Letters has been enshrined in the EIWA and the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association Halls of Fame.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:  Thus, because of the drama of the match--an NCAA Finals--in the waning seconds of a close one, because the opponent was fearsome, because of the abruptness of the takedown and the change in circumstances, because of the aesthetics of the movement, and because it involved one of the greatest ILLINI athletes of all time, this is the Best ILLINI Takedown and the Best Footsweep in History. 

This video is not to be monetized

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Audio credit to Audio Beats and ESPN. Video credits to ESPN, the NCAA, frontheadlock, Libertyville Wrestling and Columbia Pictures.