Illinois wrestling recruit Ryan Berger of Mahomet, competing at 143 pounds in the freestyle division, improved to 6-1 Friday at the ASICS Tiger Junior National Championships in Fargo, N.D., after claiming a controversial 6-4 overtime victory against Mike Kulczycki of Ohio.
FARGO, N.D. Ryan Berger has taken his wrestling act on the road this week.
And taken the national competition by storm.
The two-time state champion from Mahomet-Seymour High School won all 10 of his matches to capture the 143-pound Greco-Roman title at the ASICS Tiger Junior National Championships.
For Steve Marianetti, it was the crowning achievement of a wrestling career ... minus the crowning ceremony.
Seconds before, the former NCAA champion from the University of Illinois had qualified for the premier event in his sport, the World Freestyle Championships.
Former University of Illinois wrestler Steve Marianetti earned a spot on the U.S. World Championships Team on Saturday in Waterloo, Iowa, by defeating Rob Koll of Ithaca, N.Y., in the 1671/2-pound weight class.
Former University of Illinois wrestling standout Steve Marianetti will try for a spot on the U.S. World Championships Team today in Waterloo, Iowa.
Brian Cravens, a Class A state runner-up from Mount Zion, signed a letter of intent this week with the University of Illinois wrestling program.
Mahomet-Seymour wrestler Ryan Berger was ranked third nationally among seniors at 135 pounds in the third annual InterMat National Top 12 High School Wrestlers listing.
MAHOMET – Ryan Berger had been in the stands at Huff Hall plenty of times before, taking in the sights and sounds of Illinois wrestling meets.
On Jan. 23, 1997, he experienced what it was like to wrestle at the historic UI building.