When looking over the state of Illinois I was rather surprised that considering that the first state tournament was held in 1937 that the first four time champion wasn't crowned until 1981. I understand that a lot of states didn't allow freshmen to participate on the varsity & I'm sure that Illinois was one of those states. I don't know for sure but I would imagine this having something to do with why it took as long as what it did.
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| Mark Ruettiger |
The name Ruettiger probably looks familiar to you and for good reason. The 1993 classic Rudy starring Sean Astin as the underweight, under height underdog who defies all odds to play one down of one game for Notre Dame football is a favorite among sports fans. That character is the real life Daniel Ruettiger aka Rudy. Ruettiger's brother is Mark, the state of Illinois first four time champion in wrestling. Representing Providence Catholic, Ruettiger won his titles from 78'-81'. Collegiately he competed for Eastern Illinois placing 6th at the 1985 NCAA championships.
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| Joey Gilbert |
Joey Gilbert won four Illinois State titles from 86'-89' for Andrew. Collegiately he started off competing for Michigan where in his sophomore & junior seasons he was twice runner-up at the BIG 10's, earning All American statuses of 3rd & 6th place respectively. He also took 3rd twice at the Midlands during this time as well. His final season he competed for Boise State where he was one match shy of earning his third All American medal.
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| Mike Mena |
Winning four Illinois State titles for Newman from 89'-92', Mike Mena had an outstanding career competing for Iowa while in college. A four time All American, he was 7th in 1994, 3rd in 1995, 5th in 1996 & the 1997 NCAA runner-up. His collegiate record stood at 118-24.
Representing Mt Carmel, Joe Williams won his four Illinois State titles from 90'-93'. Like Mena, he too had an outstanding career for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Capturing 7th place at the NCAA's as a true freshman in 1994, Williams would take a redshirt in 1995, winning NCAA titles in 96', 97' & 98'.
Like older brother Joe, T.J. Williams won four Illinois State titles for Mt Carmel (93'-96'). Starting his career off at Lassen, Williams was the NJCAA runner up his freshman year. He then attended Iowa where he won two NCAA titles his sophomore & senior seasons, taking 3rd as a junior. His record stood at 98-1.
David Douglas won his four Illinois State titles for Luther South 94' & then for Thornridge from 95'-97'. Collegiately he competed for Arizona State where he was a two time All American in his junior & senior seasons. 7th in 2001 & 5th in 2002. Along with these accomplishments he also won a PAC-12 title as a junior & he placed at CKLV as well as Reno on many occasions.
Representing Montini, Chase Beebe won four Illinois State titles from 00'-03'. Collegiately he wrestled for Purdue as a freshman, competing for Eastern Illinois as a sophomore. He decided to go the MMA route afterwards.
As did brother Chase, Conor Beebe won four Illinois State titles for Montini (02'-05'). Collegiately he competed for Central Michigan where he was a four time NCAA qualifier. After placing 3rd at the MAC championships as a freshman & sophomore, he was then the runner-up his junior season of 2009, before capping off his career with an MAC title in 2010.
Another four time Illinois State champion of Montini is Mike Benefiel who won his titles from 04'-07'. Collegiately he started off at Northwestern. He then competed for Oklahoma State where he was a two time BIG 12 runner-up in 2010 & 2011. For his final season of eligibility he competed for Elmhurst where he won the 2013 NCAA Division III title.
Albert White won four Illinois State titles from 04'-07' for St. Rita. Collegiately he started out at NIACC (North Iowa Area Community College) where he won the NJCAA title as a freshman in 2008. Transferring to Oklahoma State his sophomore & junior seasons were plagued by injuries. He did recover enough as a senior to qualify for the NCAA championships with a 3rd place finish at the BIG 12's.
Winning four Illinois State titles from 06'-09', Seth Milks wrestled collegiately for Wisconsin-Platteville.
Johnny Jimenez won his four Illinois High School State titles for Marmion Academy from 11'-14'. Collegiately he competed for Wisconsin where he qualified for the NCAA championships his sophomore & junior seasons of 2016 & 2017. H was also 7th at the Midlands his junior year.
Jared Cortez was a four time Illinois State champion from 11'-14' for Glenbard North. Collegiately he wrestled for Penn State where despite never being the full time starter he put together a record of 29-3. Among his wins, two over All American Scott DelVecchio of Rutgers.
Josh Alber of Dakota who won four Illinois State titles between 11'-14' is another who I personally consider to be one of the best of his era to never be an All American during his collegiate career. Competing for the Northern Iowa Panthers, Alber put together a varsity record of 111-34, among many accomplishments. A four time NCAA qualifier, after a wild card entry as a freshman he finished 3rd at the MAC's as a sophomore. He then took back to back 3rd place finishes at the BIG 12's his junior & senior seasons. A three time CKLV place-winner, Alber was runner-up his junior season, taking 5th place finishes his freshman and senior seasons. 3rd place finishes at the Southern Scuffle in his sophomore & junior seasons, he was the Midlands runner-up as a freshman, winning a Midlands title as a senior.
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As of right now we have Austin O'Connor who won his titles for St Rita at North Carolina where this upcoming season he will be going for his fourth All American medal & his second NCAA title.
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| Joe Williams |
Representing Mt Carmel, Joe Williams won his four Illinois State titles from 90'-93'. Like Mena, he too had an outstanding career for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Capturing 7th place at the NCAA's as a true freshman in 1994, Williams would take a redshirt in 1995, winning NCAA titles in 96', 97' & 98'.
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| T.J. Williams |
Like older brother Joe, T.J. Williams won four Illinois State titles for Mt Carmel (93'-96'). Starting his career off at Lassen, Williams was the NJCAA runner up his freshman year. He then attended Iowa where he won two NCAA titles his sophomore & senior seasons, taking 3rd as a junior. His record stood at 98-1.
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| David Douglas |
David Douglas won his four Illinois State titles for Luther South 94' & then for Thornridge from 95'-97'. Collegiately he competed for Arizona State where he was a two time All American in his junior & senior seasons. 7th in 2001 & 5th in 2002. Along with these accomplishments he also won a PAC-12 title as a junior & he placed at CKLV as well as Reno on many occasions.
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| Chase Beebe |
Representing Montini, Chase Beebe won four Illinois State titles from 00'-03'. Collegiately he wrestled for Purdue as a freshman, competing for Eastern Illinois as a sophomore. He decided to go the MMA route afterwards.
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| Conor Beebe |
As did brother Chase, Conor Beebe won four Illinois State titles for Montini (02'-05'). Collegiately he competed for Central Michigan where he was a four time NCAA qualifier. After placing 3rd at the MAC championships as a freshman & sophomore, he was then the runner-up his junior season of 2009, before capping off his career with an MAC title in 2010.
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| Mike Benefiel |
Another four time Illinois State champion of Montini is Mike Benefiel who won his titles from 04'-07'. Collegiately he started off at Northwestern. He then competed for Oklahoma State where he was a two time BIG 12 runner-up in 2010 & 2011. For his final season of eligibility he competed for Elmhurst where he won the 2013 NCAA Division III title.
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| Albert White |
Albert White won four Illinois State titles from 04'-07' for St. Rita. Collegiately he started out at NIACC (North Iowa Area Community College) where he won the NJCAA title as a freshman in 2008. Transferring to Oklahoma State his sophomore & junior seasons were plagued by injuries. He did recover enough as a senior to qualify for the NCAA championships with a 3rd place finish at the BIG 12's.
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| Seth Milks |
Winning four Illinois State titles from 06'-09', Seth Milks wrestled collegiately for Wisconsin-Platteville.
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| Johnny Jimenez |
Johnny Jimenez won his four Illinois High School State titles for Marmion Academy from 11'-14'. Collegiately he competed for Wisconsin where he qualified for the NCAA championships his sophomore & junior seasons of 2016 & 2017. H was also 7th at the Midlands his junior year.
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| Jared Cortez |
Jared Cortez was a four time Illinois State champion from 11'-14' for Glenbard North. Collegiately he wrestled for Penn State where despite never being the full time starter he put together a record of 29-3. Among his wins, two over All American Scott DelVecchio of Rutgers.
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| Josh Alber |
Josh Alber of Dakota who won four Illinois State titles between 11'-14' is another who I personally consider to be one of the best of his era to never be an All American during his collegiate career. Competing for the Northern Iowa Panthers, Alber put together a varsity record of 111-34, among many accomplishments. A four time NCAA qualifier, after a wild card entry as a freshman he finished 3rd at the MAC's as a sophomore. He then took back to back 3rd place finishes at the BIG 12's his junior & senior seasons. A three time CKLV place-winner, Alber was runner-up his junior season, taking 5th place finishes his freshman and senior seasons. 3rd place finishes at the Southern Scuffle in his sophomore & junior seasons, he was the Midlands runner-up as a freshman, winning a Midlands title as a senior.
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As of right now we have Austin O'Connor who won his titles for St Rita at North Carolina where this upcoming season he will be going for his fourth All American medal & his second NCAA title.
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