Illinois Wrestler Podcast

The Illinois Wrestler Podcast is back with another action-packed episode, keeping you plugged into the athletes, coaches, meets, and moments shaping wrestling across the state. This week, Dalton, Jim, Dustin, Aidan, Mark, and Buddy team up to preview one of the most anticipated events of the early season — the Marmion Academy Cadet Classic. We break down every weight class, dive into potential see...

In this episode, we sit down with Marmion Academy coach Sparty Chino for an in-depth look at one of Illinois’ premier wrestling programs. Sparty shares his own journey through high school and college wrestling, how he found his way into coaching at Marmion, and the evolution of the program’s culture and expectations. We also preview the upcoming Cadet Classic — including why it’s become such a tou...

In this episode, the crew dives into the latest college wrestling action, breaking down key results from the past week and unpacking the biggest stories coming out of the National Duals. We also look ahead to March with an early preview of the NCAA Championships — discussing team races, potential matchups, and athletes trending in the right direction. A packed show with analysis, insight, and plen...

Introducing the 2025–26 Top Incoming Freshman All-Class List — our first look at the next wave of talent entering Illinois high school wrestling. This list highlights the state’s most promising new athletes as they transition into the high school scene, based on past performance, trajectory, and competitive potential. These freshmen represent the future of Illinois wrestling, and we’ll be tracking...

In this episode of the College Wrestling Show, we sit down with Daryl Thomas, Associate Head Coach at SIUE — and the program’s next Head Coach, set to take over in April. An Illinois native and former University of Illinois wrestler, Daryl shares insight into the Cougars’ preseason, recent competitions, and what’s ahead for the SIUE wrestling program. We talk about his coaching journey, the cultur...

In the debut episode of Yak Sessions, we introduce a new space for honest, thoughtful, and drama-free wrestling conversations. We break down what Yak Sessions is all about, why we created it, and the principles guiding every discussion—debate ideas, not people; avoid gossip; and always aim to offer constructive solutions that strengthen the sport. Whether it’s coaching philosophy, rules, culture,...

In this episode of the Illinois Wrestler Podcast we dive into a wide range of topics, from how the top high school wrestlers are reaching new levels of skill, to catching up on the latest college results we missed last episode. We also look ahead to the official start of the high school wrestling season and what fans can expect in the weeks to come. This episode is brought to you by Combat Soap. C...

In this week’s episode of the Illinois Wrestler Podcast, we recap an action-packed weekend of college open tournaments featuring dozens of former Illinois high school wrestlers now competing at programs across the country. The crew breaks down standout performances, early-season results, and how Illinois alumni are making an impact at the college level. We also look ahead to the start of the Illin...

In this episode of the Illinois Wrestler High School Ranking Show, Dalton, Jim, Mark, Aiden, and Dustin Ehler reveal and discuss the top 5 wrestlers at each weight class across all divisions in the state of Illinois. The crew breaks down the state’s most talented athletes, debates close calls, and offers insight into who might rise or fall as the season unfolds. It’s the ultimate showcase of Illin...

In this week’s episode of the Illinois Wrestler Podcast, Dalton, Jim, Mark, Aiden, and special guest Dustin Ehler cover a packed lineup of topics from across the Illinois wrestling scene. The crew discusses the latest college commitments, Midwest Preseason Nationals results, and highlights from Relentless Fright Night. They dive into the impressive skill level emerging at the youth level, recap th...

In this week’s episode of the Illinois Wrestler Podcast, Dalton, Jim, and Mark cover a full slate of topics as the high school wrestling season approaches. The crew breaks down results from this past weekend’s Preseason Nationals, looks ahead to the next big events, and dives into early individual and team rankings across Illinois. They also discuss the weekend camp with Jimmy Mastny, share though...

In this week’s episode of the Illinois Wrestler Podcast, Dalton, Jim, and Mark recap all the action from the Super 32 National Tournament — one of the toughest high school wrestling events in the country. The crew breaks down how Illinois wrestlers performed across all weight classes, highlighting standout matches, top finishes, and key takeaways from the weekend. Illinois Wrestler is dedicated to...

In this episode, Dalton, Jim, and Aiden dive into all the latest wrestling action, previewing Super 32 weekend, looking ahead to Preseason Nationals, and breaking down some of the newest high school commitments to college programs.

In this week’s episode of the Illinois Wrestler Podcast, Dalton, Jim, and newcomer Aiden Nardin break down which wrestlers from the state of Illinois will be competing at next weekend’s Super 32. The crew discusses where each athlete is seeded, which weight class they’ll be competing in, and some of the potential matchups fans should be excited about. Super 32 is one of the toughest folkstyle wres...

In this week’s episode of the Illinois Wrestler Podcast, Dalton, Jim, and Mark cover a wide range of topics as they preview the upcoming high school wrestling season. The crew starts by highlighting top-ranked juniors and seniors that were missed in last week’s episode, then dives into the college recruiting process, NCAA D1 National Duals, and the ongoing evolution of college NIL.They also break...

In this week’s episode of the Illinois Wrestler Podcast, Dalton, Jim, and Mark take a deep dive into the top Illinois high school wrestlers returning for the 2025 season. With more than a dozen wrestlers ranked in the top 20 nationally, Illinois continues to prove itself as one of the strongest wrestling states in the country. We break down the athletes to watch, their impact on the national scene...

In this episode, we break down the latest action from the Elite 8 Duals, highlighting standout performances and key results that set the tone for the fall season. We also preview the upcoming Super 32 Challenge, one of the toughest high school wrestling tournaments in the country, and discuss which Illinois athletes to keep an eye on as they test themselves against the nation’s best. Illinois Wres...

In this episode of the Illinois Wrestler College Wrestling Show, Dalton and Brian are joined by 2025 NCAA Champion Lucas Byrd of the University of Illinois. Fresh off his national title at 133 lbs., Lucas reflects on his championship season, the mindset that fueled his run, and what lies ahead in his wrestling journey. Don’t miss this candid conversation with one of the top competitors in the coun...

In this episode of the Illinois Wrestler College Wrestling Show, Dalton and Brian are joined by Daryl Thomas, Associate Head Coach at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Daryl shares his journey through the sport—from growing up in Edwardsville to wrestling at the University of Illinois, and now making an impact as a coach at the college level. We talk about the lessons he’s learned along t...

In this episode of the Illinois Wrestler College Wrestling Show, Dalton and Brian are joined by Jacob Warner, former Washington High School standout and University of Iowa All-American. Jacob shares his journey from being one of Illinois’ top high school wrestlers to competing at the highest level in college. The conversation dives into the current landscape of NCAA wrestling, including the impact...

In this episode of the Illinois Wrestler College Wrestling Show, Dalton Bullard and Brian Swaw break down all the action from the 2025 NCAA Championships! From thrilling upsets to dominant performances, they recap the biggest moments, standout wrestlers, and how Illinois athletes fared on the national stage. Tune in for expert analysis and a deep dive into the toughest tournament of the year!

In this episode of the Illinois Wrestler Podcast, Dalton, Jim, and Mark catch up on recent events before diving into a deep discussion on high school wrestling schedules. They break down the importance of strength of schedule, how coaches can get creative with their team’s competition lineup, and what tournament directors should consider when building elite events throughout the season.

In the first-ever Illinois Wrestler College Wrestling Show, Dalton is joined by Brian Swaw, the voice of Illini Wrestling on the Big Ten Network, and Jordan Blanton, a 3x All-American for the Illini. Together, they break down the 2025 Big Ten Championships, where Illinois finished 5th with one individual champion, and dive into the brackets for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. From top contenders to...

In this episode Dalton Bullard, Mark Stewart, and Jim Mastny dive into the action from the 2025 IHSA State Finals! We break down the individual state tournament in Champaign and the team state tournament in Bloomington, covering standout performances, key matchups, and team dual results. Don’t miss this in-depth analysis of the biggest weekends in Illinois wrestling!

In this episode of the Illinois Wrestler Podcast, Dalton, Mark, and Jim dive into the Class 1A IHSA State Brackets, breaking down the most exciting matchups and potential finals showdowns. From opening round battles to key semifinal clashes, the crew offers their insights on who’s poised to make a deep run and who could surprise the field. With expert analysis and a deep knowledge of Illinois wres...