Welcome to the Illinois Wrestler Podcast, your ultimate source for everything wrestling in Illinois. Join us as we discuss the latest matches, tournament results, and rankings of our state's top wrestlers. We will also be bringing you exclusive interviews with athletes and coaches from around the state who help shape the Illinois wrestling community.
Will the Protect College Sports Act Save Wrestling? + Mr. Illinois Canceled
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?
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30 Sept 2026
Who’s Number One Reactions, Grappler Fall Classic Results & What We Learned
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
24 Sept 2026
Who’s Number One, Grappler Fall Classic & Preseason Rankings Updates
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.
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