2011 Indiana vs. Illinois Classic Preview

Time: 1pm

When: Sunday March 13th

Where: Wabash College Chadwick Court

Once again Indiana and Illinois will match up their best senior for their annual dual meet.  This year the event will be held at Wabash College with wrestling action scheduled to start at 1pm. This is a great event and one worth going to on a lazy Sunday afternoon.  This year’s event will feature seven state champions from Indiana and eleven from Illinois.  Here are some wrestlers and match-ups to watch on Sunday.

Illinois Wrestlers to Watch

125lbs- Danny Sabatello- Ranked 17th at 130lbs by Interman and 11^th by TOM, attending Purdue

130lbs- Joey Gosinski- Ranked 71^st best recruit and 12th at 130lbs by Intermat and 12^th by TOM

145lbs- Edwin Cooper- Ranked 23^rd best recruit and 3rd at 145lbs by Intermat and 4^th by TOM

152lbs- Joey Kielbasa- Ranked 53^rd best recruit and 8th at 152lbs by Intermat and 8^th by TOM, attending Central Michigan

215lbs- Austin Mardsen- Ranked 31^st best recruit and 4th at 215lbs by Intermat and 4^th by TOM, attending Oklahoma State

285lbs- Chris Lopez- Ranked 11th at 285lbs by Intermat and 8^th by TOM

Matches to Watch

*A is Illinois’ biggest school division vs. Indiana’s top senior

*AA is Illinois’ small school division vs. Indiana’s second highest senior

125lbs A- Josh Kieffer(Indiana) vs. Danny Sabatello(Illinois)

This match-up features a state runner-up against a nationally ranked state champion.  Kieffer has shown he can wrestle with the best in the nation.

135lbs A- Ethan Raley(Indiana) vs. Austin Miller(Illinois)

Raley was a late replacement which will make this one of the best matches of the day.  Two state champions battling it out.

152lbs A- Doug Welch(Indiana) vs. Joey Kielbasa(Illinois)

Another match-up of state champions, Kielbasa is nationally ranked and going to Central Michigan next year, while Welch will be attending Purdue.

160lbs A- Chad Welch(Indiana) vs. Dmitri Willis(Illinois)

This is the third of four champion vs. champion matchups. 

215lbs A- Trey Reese(Indiana) vs. Austin Mardsen(Illinois)

Reese tore through the Indiana state tournament, but he has a tough foe in future Oklahoma State Cowboy Mardsen.

130lbs AA- Travis Barroquillo(Indiana) vs. Thorian Twyner(Illinois)

Barroquillo had a great year with only one blemish on his record.  Twyner is a Northern Illinois recruit who won the DIII(small school) state title in Illinois.

152lbs AA- Reece Lefever(Indiana) vs. Spartak Chino(Illinois)

Both of these wrestlers have had success on the national level.

160lbs AA- Conner Lefever(Indiana) vs. Andy Hoselton(Illinois)

Hoselton was his school’s first state champion.

171lbs AA- Nick Manning(Indiana) vs. Sam Apland(Illinois)

Manning had a breakout year this year and Apland comes from a strong wrestling family.

215lbs AA- Logan Cooper(Indiana) vs. Joe Gonzalez(Illinois)

Two runner-ups battling it out.

285lbs AA- Damon Howe(Indiana) vs. Jason Huebbe(Illinois)

This pits two very good big guys against eachother.

Line-ups(Subject to change)