The New ILLINI Roster
In 1761, the first Banzuke was created in Japan. It was a list of the Sumo wrestlers, by rank, who would be competing in the next tournament. To add some perspective, George Washington had married Martha two years before this.
In Japan, the sumo federation still publishes their Banzuke before each tournament with an illustrated list of all the wresters by rank. Here's a pretty recent example:
Here at The ILLINI Wrestling Blog and Forum and Beyond, we'll go alphabetically and not by rank. In the spirit of the Banzuke, these are your 2023-2024 Fighting ILLINI Wrestlers:
This is a great time of year! There are the new faces, seeing the veterans back, who transferred in, who has the new beard and all of that. So, let's talk first about the unexpected new faces, followed by the transfers, then the new faces we knew about, the returning starters, and finally, the other veterans.
THE UNEXPECTED NEW FACES
A new face that we learned about when FightingILLINI.com dropped the roster was Antonio Alvarado. This young fellow finished in third and fifth in his last two IHSA tournaments and was runner up at the Brian Keck Preseason Nationals. To us, Alvarado just looks like a wrestler.
Another unexpected new face is Sungyup Ryu. We think this is Richard Ryu who started off as a Freshman for the ILLINI a few years back. Same guy? Not sure! Maybe a brother or cousin? This addition isn't completely unexpected, as he has been featured as a drill partner of the IRTC's Erkmak Kardanov on his hit Instagram channel.
TRANSFERS
The ILLINI shored up the 125 pound weight with the addition of Caelan Riley from the Citadel, and before that, Libertyville, where he was a teammate of Danny Pucino. With Justin Cardani coming back from surgery, you can never be too careful.
Then, from Ohio University, there's Charlie Heydorn. Hailing from Lake Forest, he was an IHSA state medalist who returned home. A former Izzy Style and Team Poeta wrestler, he'll fit right in. Moreover, he can challenge as the muscle-iest wrestler on the squad.
The biggest name transfer for the ILLINI is Anthony "Tony" Madrigal. He's coming in as a Graduate student after five years at Oklahoma. He qualified for the NCAA tournament three times for the Sooners, but he only got to wrestle twice because of the Covid year. Although he has an upset win over Lucas Byrd at the MSU Open a couple years ago, he won't be wrestling at 133 unless Lucas moves up a weight class, or it might be that he challenges at 141, so what his role will be is still a mystery.
THE FRESH-FACED RECRUITS
The ILLINI had a huge recruiting class that is ranked in the Top Ten, and it may have been higher if the rankers waited until after Fargo, where these recruits came away with three titles and four finals appearances.
Much has already been written about Kannon Webster, Braeden Scoles, Will Baysingar, Chris Moore, Logan Swaw, Peter Marinopoulos, Hudson Goebel and Tegan Chumbley. That is a serious amount of firepower to add to the lineup!
We expect team trophies from this group.
The immediate question that will need to be answered is whether any of the young-uns will start the whole season. Because of the new rule, it appears they can each grab five dual lineup starts if they earn it.
But will there be more?
Fans of the ILLINI cannot wait to see these kids in action at the MSU Open, which usually gets underway during the first week of November. That's less than two months away!
[NOTE: The nonconference schedule dropped right after this article was published. The ILLINI, as a team, will not be at the MSU Open. However, the Orange and Blue always send their newbies to early season tournaments like Lindenwood. Maybe Coach Poeta'll send some wrestlers to the MSU Open? It will be a pleasure to watch them get their first taste of college fire.]
Hudson Goebel was a two-sport star in high school, but faced injuries during his Junior and Senior year late in each wrestling season. Watching him come back from that and level-up to the college ranks will be a story. Also, will Tegan Chumbley tick, tick, tick like a bomb ready to explode on the college scene like his brother Trevor?
THE RETURNING STARTERS
The University of ILLINOIS brings back an entire squad of starters. A couple of them, Justin Cardani at 125 and Luuuke Luffman at 285, were off for a year undergoing surgery. Additionally, some of the returning starters were mainly used for spot starts in the past, such as Kole Brower at 133 and Luke Odom at 157.
Then there's Joe Roberts at 157 who is coming off of a redshirt year but who started almost all of the 2021-2022 season. (He did get five matches at the MSU Open last year).
The Braunagel twins, Danny and Zac are returning, although could there be an Olympic redshirt year? Lucas Byrd had been entered in the US Open this Summer, but had to withdraw with a hand or forearm injury. He's shed the cast and will be seeking a National Title and a third AA honor.
Edmond Ruth was a tick away from AA honors at 174 pounds last year in a blood round match with Nelson Brands. Guess who might not be wrestling next season? I hope you bet on Brands!
Dylan Connell, Jake Harrier and Danny Pucino round out the returning starters. Each of them showed a great deal of promise during their first season (last year) as regular starters. Can they build on that? Sophomore jump?
THE RETURNING VETERANS
Providing veteran leadership and a NIL-ready brand is Jake Reicin, much beloved by Fiesta Cafe and other fine Champaign institutions. Joey Braunagel, Isiah Pettigrew, Chase Waggoner and Daniel Renshaw need to be ready to step in if one of the fatties get hurt along the way.
Finally, Caden Ernd, Charlie Fifield, Brian Beers and Cooper Wettig could start at a lot of places, so the ILLINI are blessed to have them in the room. It has always been a blast to watch these youngsters progress in open tournaments, and we can't wait to see them later this year!
THE STAFF
Ed Ruth plans to travel with his wife to her home country, which left an opening for Austin O'Connor. The rest of the staff stays the same, and all of them do double duty with the ILLINI RTC.
Here's your incredible University of ILLINOIS Coaching Staff:
Please let me know about any corrections. Cheers! So excite!
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