Welcome Ruzic, Bennett and Colon to ILLINI Wrestling! (and tīnē illini)

Coach Poeta and his amazing staff announced this year's class of ILLINI wrestlers: Anthony "Joey" Ruzic, Ryan Bennett and Jayden Colon. Since their verbal commitments, The ILLINI Wrestling Blog & Forum & Beyond has followed their progress. Among the well over 200 wins the ILLINI scored this Summer, you'll see these recruits with their hands raised. 

We've celebrated their verbal commitments, again here and here. There are five State Championships represented among the three wrestlers, and each has another year to possibly up that total to eight. That's on top of numerous other wrestling accomplishments. 

WELCOME VIDEO

You really can't say too much about three people in a two-minute video. But what you can do is to have fun! Great class! Congratulations to Coaches Mike Poeta, Jeremy Hunter, IMAR, Austin O'Connor and Bryan Medlin. Also, in preparing this video, we saw Zane Richards out there coaching at least one of these guys. A true team effort! 

Also congratulations to the athletes for their hard work--IT PAID OFF--and to their teammates and coaches, as well as to their families who provided them with the structure to become Champions and ILLINI! 

RYAN BENNETT

Ryan Bennett hails from St. Edwards in Ohio, perhaps the best wrestling high school in American history. Remember Mark Jayne? John and Jim Heffernan? Bennett's list of accolades is long, including an Ohio state championship and Powerade finals.

Check out that cradle of his in the video above. Slick as. 

JAYDEN COLON

Jayden Colon is a two-time State Champion (going for number three) and a stalwart on the ILLINOIS Freestyle and Greco Nationals scene, he has earned Fargo AA honors and been a representative for the United States, as well as a Pan Am Champion. 

The St. Charles East and Izzy Style wrestler will make his wrestling home in Champaign. 

ANTHONY "JOEY" RUZIC

Another two-time IHSA State Champion going for number three, Ruzic also AAed four times at Fargo, including two Championships. Ruzic was awarded the "ILLINOIS Wrestler of the Year" award after his State Championship in 2022. 

Ruzic wrestles for Auburn High School, ILLINOIS National Dual teams and soon, the ILLINI. 

This was the FightingILLINI.com writeup for each of these student-athletes. 

tīnē illini

This is our second post in a new and semi-regular feature that we're going to call "tīnē illini." Why? Because ILLINI Wrestling Babies are the best babies in the World. Ever. Shut up. Don't Even Try to Argue This With Me. They are the best hands down. 

Today's tīnē illini was stolen off the Instagram of Joe Barczak, who kicked butt for the ILLINI from 2006 to 2011. Now we see the man's man with his companion walking the trail. Look at that giant coat on the little illini! The matching bow! Those awesome tīnē hiking boots! Again, we must go out of character to say what must be said: Adorbs!