November 2 Dual with SIU-E to Benefit IKWF!

 



This sounds like a big winner! 

The first dual of the season will be at State Farm Center on November 2nd against SIU-E. All proceeds from the event will go to benefit IKWF. This was just announced at FightingILLINI.com, and it is shaping up to be a real nice treat. 


    "Illini for the Kids" vs. SIUE
WhenThursday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. CT
WhereState Farm Center // Champaign, Ill.
Ticket Pricing$10 - Adults // $5 - Students // UI Students - Free with ICard
Purchase TicketsFightingIllini.com
Social MediaTwitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube


Besides donations to a great nonprofit in the IKWF, this is our favorite part of the announcement: "The dual will be hosted in State Farm Center's theater-style configuration, showcasing the matches on a stage with spotlights and other lighting features." Showmanship! Excitement! 

Here is what Coach Poeta had to say:

"The IKWF holds a special place in my heart. While in elementary school, I idolized the IKWF state champions, dreaming of one day being part of the grand march and competing on the stage for the state finals," said Mike Poeta, Illinois wrestling head coach. "Im confident there's no other wrestling organization in the country as prestigious and well-organized as the IKWF. Its influence has undeniably contributed to Illinois' success at the NCAA level. Knowing that this dual meet can support the IKWF fills me with pride. It has given me so much, and this is our way of giving back."

This is what the University of ILLINOIS can do with a raised-stage configuration at State Farm Center:





That will be quite an experience for the fans and for the wrestlers. 

On another note, we did a quick analysis of the ILLINI and SIU-E rosters to see how many ILLINOIS residents are on the two teams. It appears that there are 29 on the Orange and Blue list not including Coaches Poeta, Medlin and O'Connor. There are 12 natives from the Land of Lincoln on the Cougar roster not including former ILLINI Wrestler and Edwardsville native Daryl Thomas. 

Finally, the IKWF was part of my son's journey to manhood, and there was nothing better than watching him wrestle in one of their tournaments. In high school, our coach was the first to start a kid's wrestling program in the area, and helping out at those camps was outrageously fun. They were just like us except smaller, and they made stupid decisions. So, they were just smaller us's, full of enthusiasm, pride and joy. 



SIDENOTE: Stay tuned to this space for a preseason interview of University of ILLINOIS Wrestling Head Coach Mike Poeta. Additionally, we are in the process of setting up a giant group  interview of all of the ILLINI Wrestling freshmen. GO ILLINI!!!



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