Illinois Wrestler Podcast

The Illinois high school wrestling season is right around the corner, and there's plenty to talk about!In this episode of the Illinois Wrestler Podcast, Dalton and Mark discuss Ben Davino's impressive U23 World Championship performance, Morgan Turner's bronze medal, and what the success of Illinois wrestlers on the international stage means for the future of the sport.The conversation then shifts to Illinois Matmen's Test of the Best, breaking down standout performances, notable matchups, and what the results could mean for the upcoming IHSA wrestling season. They also discuss the impact of last-minute withdrawals on preseason events.Finally, Dalton and Mark look ahead to Super 32, one of the nation's premier preseason wrestling tournaments. Which Illinois wrestlers could make a statement on the national stage?Subscribe to Illinois Wrestler for more wrestling news, rankings, interviews, and coverage throughout the season.00:00 – Ben Davino Wins U23 World Gold01:13 – Davino's 2028 Olympic Plans02:02 – Ben Davino's Development at Ohio State04:24 – The Depth of American Wrestling at 61 kg05:35 – Morgan Turner Earns U23 World Bronze06:31 – What Illinois' World Success Means for Young Wrestlers09:17 – Illinois Matmen's Test of the Best Recap11:26 – Are 1A and 2A Wrestlers Overlooked?14:08 – Test of the Best: Last-Minute Withdrawals17:28 – Super 32 Preview: What Makes It Special?19:16 – Illinois Wrestlers to Watch at Super 3220:39 – Super 32 Preseeds and Championship Contenders25:31 – Super 32 Recruiting and National Exposure27:11 – Illinois Breakout Candidates at Super 3229:11 – What Separates Elite Wrestlers?31:37 – IHSA Girls State Tournament Venue Controversy38:11 – Final Thoughts and Super 32 Send-Off

What does the Protect College Sports Act really mean for the future of college wrestling?In this episode, Dalton and Mark break down the proposed legislation, including scholarship protections, roster protections, the new age-based eligibility proposal, and support for athletes who need additional time to finish their degree.They also discuss the cancellation of the Mr. Illinois tournament after the IHSA determined the original event format did not comply with its rules.The original idea was to bring together some of the best wrestlers from 1A, 2A, and 3A and answer a question wrestling fans ask every year: Who is really the best in Illinois?Dalton and Mark discuss:

• What the Protect College Sports Act could mean for wrestling
• Whether college wrestling programs will actually be better protected
• The proposed age-based eligibility rule
• Scholarship and degree-completion protections
• Why the Mr. Illinois tournament was canceled
• Whether Illinois should allow all-star wrestling events
• How an event like Mr. Illinois could still happen in the future
• Are the rules protecting wrestling opportunities or sometimes getting in the way of them?

Subscribe to Illinois Wrestler for more Illinois wrestling news, rankings, interviews, and podcast episodes.

Dalton and Mark are back to break down a busy weekend of preseason wrestling.The episode starts with FloWrestling’s Who’s Number One, including Jimmy Mastny’s performance at 215, some of the biggest matches of the event, and a discussion about the surprisingly small crowd in Stillwater.Then we turn our attention to the Grappler Fall Classic and what the results actually tell us about Illinois wrestlers heading into the high school season. We look beyond the podium at tough draws, Illinois wrestlers knocking each other out of the tournament, young wrestlers making an impact, and several performances that may influence the next rankings update.We also discuss Chaz Robinson winning the 126-pound title, Providence Catholic’s potential lineup and crowded weight classes, and what we learned about where wrestlers may compete this season.Finally, the conversation shifts to some bigger issues surrounding wrestling: recruiting and transfers, how rules are enforced across programs, the growing battle over wrestling’s streaming ecosystem, and whether fans are getting enough value from increasingly expensive pay-per-event broadcasts.Topics include:• Who’s Number One reactions • Jimmy Mastny at 215 • Grappler Fall Classic results • Chaz Robinson’s championship at 126 • Tough draws and Illinois vs. Illinois matchups • Providence Catholic lineup possibilities • What preseason results mean for the rankings • Super 32 coming up next • Recruiting, transfers and enforcement • The changing wrestling streaming landscape

Dalton and Mark preview a big weekend for Illinois wrestling on the latest episode of the Illinois Wrestler Podcast.They start with Flowrestling’s Who’s Number One, where nationally ranked #2 Jimmy Mastny will compete at 215 pounds against the country’s #4-ranked wrestler.The conversation then shifts to the Grappler Fall Classic, where 237 Illinois wrestlers are entered to compete this weekend. Dalton and Mark discuss what they’ll be watching for and how the event can provide an early look at projected weights and where some of the state’s top wrestlers stand heading into the high school season.They also break down the latest changes to the Illinois Wrestler preseason rankings, including the decision to initially keep seniors who appear to be leaving high school early to begin training with their future college programs in the preseason rankings.Plus, Brendan Nardin, previously ranked #1 in 2A at 157 pounds, has been removed from the Illinois rankings after moving to Iowa, where he’ll wrestle for Southeast Polk.A busy weekend of national competition is here, and the Illinois high school wrestling season is getting closer.

Dalton and Mark break down the role events like Super 32 play for wrestlers hoping to compete at the Division I level, whether strong results in Illinois can still be enough to get noticed, and what college coaches are actually looking for when they watch athletes compete on the national stage.They also discuss the growing debate between playing football and wrestling during the fall. Does football help develop a better wrestler, or are high-level prospects giving up valuable recruiting opportunities by missing national events? And as wrestling continues to become more competitive, is specialization becoming necessary for athletes trying to reach the highest levels?Plus, Dalton and Mark project the Providence Catholic lineup and discuss just how high the Celtics’ ceiling could be this season.

The Illinois Wrestler Podcast is back.Dalton and Mark return to preview the 2026-27 Illinois high school wrestling season and break down some of the biggest storylines heading into the year.They discuss reports that several top seniors could forgo their final high school seasons to begin training full-time with their future college programs, along with what that growing trend could mean for Illinois wrestling.The guys also break down the latest classification changes, including Grant and Libertyville moving from 3A to 2A and IC Catholic making the jump to 3A, and how those moves could reshape the state tournament picture.Mark gives his early favorites to win team state, and the episode wraps up with a look at a new elite high school tournament expected to bring many of Illinois' top wrestlers together this season.Plenty has changed since last season, and this episode sets the table for what could be a fascinating 2026-27 season.Introduction to the 2026-27 Season: (0:12 - 0:45)Seniors Forgoing Final High School Season: (0:45 - 14:38)IHSA Classification Changes (Grant, Libertyville, JCA, IC Catholic): (14:38 - 20:30)Team State Favorites by Class: (20:30 - 22:15)Transfer Rumors and School Changes: (22:15 - 25:50)New 'Mr. Illinois' Tournament Discussion: (25:50 - 34:10)Final Thoughts and Closing: (34:10 - 36:05)

In this episode of the Illinois Wrestler Podcast, we break down the 2026 Illinois Freestyle State results for the Junior division.We go weight-by-weight through the action, highlight the champions, top placers, standout performances, and key takeaways from one of the biggest freestyle events of the spring. The Junior division always gives a strong look at some of the best high school wrestlers in Illinois, and this year’s results gave us plenty to talk about.We discuss what stood out, which wrestlers made a statement, and what these results could mean as athletes continue through the freestyle season.Whether you were at the event, following from home, or catching up on the results, this episode gives you a full breakdown of the Junior division at the 2026 Illinois Freestyle State Championships.Topics include:2026 Illinois Freestyle State resultsJunior division champions and placersWeight-by-weight breakdownsStandout performancesIllinois high school wrestling freestyle coveragePresented by 815Digital.com

Dalton and Dustin sit down with University of Illinois Assistant Coach Eric Schultz for a conversation that hits close to home for Illinois wrestling fans. A native of the state and a Tinley Park High School graduate, Schultz shares his journey from IHSA State Champion to competing at the highest level in college wrestling.Schultz takes us through his career at the University of Nebraska, where he became a five-time NCAA qualifier, Big Ten finalist, and 2022 All-American at 197 pounds. He reflects on that All-American run, including tight battles with top competition and what it took to finish on the podium.Now back in Illinois after being hired in July 2025, Schultz talks about what it means to coach in his home state, his perspective on developing athletes at the college level, and how Illinois Wrestling can continue to grow moving forward.

On this episode of the Illinois Wrestler Podcast, Dalton, Mark, and Jim preview the NCAA D1 & D3 Nationals. The crew starts by going through the 18 wrestlers from Illinois who qualified for the 2026 Division 1 National Championships, breaking down the brackets and where everyone stands heading into the tournament. After that, the conversation shifts to Division 3 Nationals, with a full preview of this weekend’s tournament and the top contenders to watch.

Iowa State assistant coach Chris Perry joins the podcast to talk about the Cyclones’ season, the upcoming Big 12 Championships, and what lies ahead as the final month of the Division I wrestling season begins. The crew also recaps the IHSA Team State Tournament and discusses the recent coaching change at the University of Illinois.