A few weeks ago I asked my Twitter followers how they would put together an all-time great college dual team with the current weights using athletes from their home states. The responses were great and really got me curious. So, I did the research and have now putting together the best possible team for some of the top states, including some formidable back-up teams.

Across the next handful of days/weeks, we will unveil these teams before pitting them against each other in a national duals format type competition.

Previous States: Pennsylvania, California, Oklahoma, Iowa, New Jersey, Ohio, New York, Michigan

Now, to the land of Lincoln.

125 Starter: Bill Kelly, 1984-87

Hometown: Worth

College: Iowa State

NCAA Finishes: NQ, (118), NQ, 1 (126)

While only a one-time All-American, Kelly’s NCAA finals match is one of the most famous finals matches in wrestling history. Down with a minute to go, Kelly pinned three-time NCAA finalist and returning champion Brad Penrith. The pin sealed the title for the Cyclones and stopped Dan Gable and the Hawkeyes from winning their 10th-straight championship. Also while only being a one-time AA, Kelly put together a very respectable 106-23-8 career record.

125 Backup: Mike Menna, 1994-97

Hometown: Rock Falls

College: Iowa

NCAA Finishes: 7, 3, 5 (118), 2 (126)

A four-time All-American at Iowa, Mike Mena’s best finish came his senior year when he defeated Dwight Hinson in the NCAA semifinals before losing in the finals in OT to Eric Guerrero. Mena also won the Big Ten title that year. The two years prior, Mena was seeded #1 at the national tournament but fell short of the top spot. All-in-all Mena put together a 118-24 record while at Iowa.

125 Honorable Mention

Arnold Plaza - 3X finalist and two-time NCAA champion for Purdue in the late at 114/121 40s

Terry McCaan - 3X AA and two-time NCAA champion for Iowa at 115 in the 50s

Brandon Precin - 3X AA for Northwestern in 08, 09, and 11

133 Starter: Tony Ramos, 2011-14

Hometown: Carol Stream

College: Iowa

NCAA Finishes: R12, 3, 2, 1 (133)

It’s unfortunate for Tony Ramos that he overlapped with two of the greatest NCAA wrestlers of all-time in Jordan Oliver and Logan Stieber. Although he did beat Oliver in Carver in 2012, those two kept him from winning NCAA titles both his sophomore and junior seasons. That changed his senior year when Ramos beat Zane Richards, Mason Beckman, AJ Schopp, and Tyler Graff for the 133 title. Ramos compiled a 120-14 with 36 pins, 13 techs, and 24 majors. He only gave up bonus points one time in his career. 

Watch the RAMOS trailer below.

133 Backup: Dan Dennis, 2006-10

Hometown: Ingleside

College: Iowa

NCAA Finishes: DNQ, 7, 2 (133)

Dan Dennis as a freshman and Dan Dennis as a senior are two totally different wrestlers. As a freshman, Dennis went 15-18 and just 1-7 in Big Ten duals. As a senior, Dennis went 22-4 and 7-1 in Big Ten duals. Although Dennis famously lost on a last-second takedown and back points to Jayson Ness (who won the Hodge that year), he still outplaced Jordan Oliver, Franklin Gomez, Tyler Graff, Boris Novachkov, Mike Grey, Dan Mitcheff, Nick Fanthorpe, and Ian Paddock. Dan Dennis would go on to become Team USA’s 2016 Olympic rep at 57 kg over the aforementioned Tony Ramos.

133 Honorable Mention

Chris Dardanes - 3X AA for Minnesota in the mid-2010s

Phil Parker - 3X AA and 1972 NCAA finalist for Iowa State

141 Starter: Brad Smith, 1974-76

Hometown: Hersey

College: Iowa

NCAA Finishes: DNQ, NQ, R8, 1 (142)

With a 12-4 major decision over Gene Costello, Brad Smith won the 1976 NCAA 142-pound title. While wrestling for Coach Gable, Smith compiled a 95-20 record. Smith is perhaps better known in the wrestling community for his coaching career. Smith holds the Iowa high school records for most team state titles and dual meet victories.

141 Backup: Jimmy Kennedy, 2007-11

Hometown: Ingleside

College: Illinois

NCAA Finishes: R12, 4, 5 (133), 5 (141)

After a very successful high school career at Grant Community High School in Fox Lake, Kennedy would go on to have a successful career at the University of Illinois. After his freshman year, he never finished lower than fifth at the national tournament and recorded 119 wins against only 24 losses in his career. Kennedy would go on to make the 2014 World Team.

141 Honorable Mention

Scott Trizzino - 3X AA and 2X NCAA finalist for Iowa in late 70s/early 80s

149 Starter: Tony Davis, 1999-2000

Hometown: Chicago

College: Northern Iowa

NCAA Finishes: 2, 1 (149)

After winning two JUCO national titles at Iowa Central, Tony Davis transferred to UNI where he went 46-5, made two NCAA finals appearances, and won the 2000 149-pound national title. At the 1999 NCAA tournament, Davis fell to TJ Williams 5-3 in the finals. At the 2000 NCAA tournament, Davis took out Adam Tirapelle 5-1.

149 Backup: Jarrett Hubbard, 1971-74

Hometown: Joliet

College: Michigan

NCAA Finishes: 4, 2, 1, 1 (150)

After losing in the NCAA finals as a sophomore to Wade Schalles, Jarrett Hubbard would only lose one match during the regular season his junior year and would go undefeated his final two years at the national tournament. He was a three-time Big Ten champion and two-time NCAA champion.

149 Honorable Mention

Eric Siebert - 2X AA and 1998 NCAA champion for Illinois

Steve Marianetti - 3X AA and 1995 NCAA champion for Illinois

Lavion Mayes - 3X AA and 2017 NCAA finalist for Missouri

157 Starter: TJ Williams, 1999-2001

Hometown: Harvey

College: Iowa

NCAA Finishes: 1 (149), 3, 1 (157)

After spending the first year of his college career at Lassen Community College in California, TJ Williams transferred to Iowa where he would only lose one match in his entire three-year career as a Hawkeye. That match came in the 2000 NCAA Championship semifinals. That loss was sandwiched in between two undefeated NCAA Championship seasons for Williams. With a record of 98-1, he holds the Iowa record for career winning percentage.

Watch TJ Williams beat Adam Tirapelle below.

157 Backup: Ernest Benion, 1994-97

Hometown: Romeoville

College: Illinois

NCAA Finishes: DNQ, 1, 2, 3 (158)

After winning the 1995 NCAA Championship, Ernest Benion had two heartbreaking losses at the national tournament his junior and senior seasons; one to Joe Williams and one to Tony Robie. Benion's career record for Illinois was 113-34.

157 Honorable Mention

Michael Poeta - 3X AA and two-time NCAA finalist for Illinois in the late 2000s

Dan Holm - 3X AA and 1975 NCAA champion for Iowa

Bill Weick - 2X NCAA champion for Northern Iowa in the 50s

Sean Bormett - 2X AA and 1994 NCAA finalist for Michigan

Vic Marcucci - 3X AA and 1967 NCAA champion for Iowa State

165 Starter: Joe Williams, 1994-98

Hometown: Harvey

College: Iowa

NCAA Finishes: 7, 1, 1 (158), 1 (167)

Which is more impressive, three NCAA titles or 10 Midlands titles? Okay probably three NCAA titles, but 10 Midlands titles is absurd. Anyway, it doesn’t matter because Joe Williams did them both. He won three-straight NCAA titles from 96-98 and 10-straight Midlands titles from '94-'03. At the 1998 NCAA tournament Williams defeated Brandon Slay in the finals and was awarded OW. Williams would go on to win multiple World medals and be a 2004 Olympian.

165 Backup: Eric Tannenbaum, 2005-08

Hometown: Naperville

College: Michigan

NCAA Finishes: 4, 6 (149), 4, 2 (165)

Eric Tannenbaum posted a record of 143-21 en route to four All-American finishes, two Big Ten titles, two CKLV titles, and a 2008 NCAA finals appearance. Although Mark Perry won the 2008 NCAA title over Tannenbaum, Tannenbaum beat him just two weeks prior in the Big Ten finals. Tannebaum also took out Zack Esposito at the 2005 All Star Meet.

Watch Eric Tannenbaum defeat Zack Esposito at the 2005 All Star Meet Below.

165 Honorable Mention

Ron Ray - 1975 NCAA champion for Oklahoma State

174 Starter: Matt Lackey, 2000-03

Hometown: Moline

College: Illinois

NCAA Finishes: DNQ, 3, 2, 1 (165)

Yes I know Matt Lackey only competed at 165 lbs. However, I think bumping up to 174 really is the best option for Illinois. After being defeated by Iowa State’s Joe Heskett on a last-second takedown in the 2002 NCAA finals, Lackey put together an undefeated senior season capped off with an NCAA title. A perfect 38-0, making his career record 120-14. Lackey defeated Troy Letters in the finals to become champion.

174 Backup: Jordan Blanton, 2009-13

Hometown: Richmond

College: Illinois

NCAA Finishes: NQ (184), 5, 4, 7 (174)

After qualifying for the NCAA tournament while up a weight his freshman year, Blanton dropped to '74 and earned All-American status three times. The Richmond native ended his collegiate career with a record of 115-43. His biggest win came at the NCAA tournament his junior year when he defeated Logan Storley.

174 Honorable Mention

Roy Conrad - 1960 NCAA champion for Northern Illinois

184 Starter: Sammy Brooks, 2014-17

Hometown: Oak Park

College: Iowa

NCAA Finishes: R12, 8, 4 (184)

A two-time Big Ten champion and All-American, Sammy Brooks had a career record of 102-24 while at Iowa. Three of those 102 wins came against NCAA champion Myles Martin, who Brooks never lost to; 59 of those 102 wins came by bonus, including 27 pins. Also he had a mullet that he very much enjoyed talking about.

Watch Sammy Brooks beat Myles Martin in the Big Ten finals below.

184 Backup: Emery Parker, 2016-19

Hometown: Wadsworth

College: Illinois

NCAA Finishes: R12, 3, 5 (184)

After losing his first-round match at the 2018 NCAA tournament, Emery Parker battled all the way back for third place. He beat Ryan Preisch, Drew Foster, Chip Ness (who beat him the first match), Domenic Abounader, and Taylor Venz in the process. Parker’s college record was 86-23 for a .788 winning percentage.

184 Honorable Mention

Bryan Glynn - 2X AA for Illinois in the mid 2000s

197 Starter: Frank Santana, 1976-78

Hometown: Skokie

College: Iowa State

NCAA Finishes: 2, 1, 2 (190)

From Iowa State Athletics, Frank Santana established himself as one of Iowa State's best upper-weight wrestlers in school history, earning All-America honors and competing in the 190-pound national championship match three times. A native of Skokie, Ill., Santana compiled an 84-9 record and won two Big Eight titles (1976 & 1977) and one NCAA championship (1977). In 1976 and 1978, the Cyclone suffered knee injuries at the NCAA tournament which hampered his performance.

197 Backup: John Kading, 1994-97

Hometown: Glen Ellyn

College: Oklahoma

NCAA Finishes: 6 (275), 5, 1, 2 (190)

John Kading’s final two seasons as a Sooner he went 51-3 and made two NCAA finals appearances. His junior year, he defeated Paschal Duru 7-3 in the finals, but his senior year he fell to Lee Fullhart 4-3 in OT. 

197 Honorable Mention

Al Nacin - 4X AA and 1975 NCAA champion for Iowa State

285 Starter: Jon Llewellyn, 1989-91

Hometown: Burr Ridge

College: Illinois

NCAA Finishes: 3, 3, 1 (275)

Jon Llewellyn’s Illinois career was capped off by a perfect 34-0 season where he beat returning champion and future World and Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle 6-3 in the finals. He also avenged the man who beat him at the NCAA Championships the year prior in the semifinals, David Jones. Llewellyn’s career record at Illinois was 98-10.

Watch Jon Llewellyn defeat Kurt Angle in the 1991 NCAA finals below.

285 Backup: John Lockhart, 1999-2002

Hometown: Mahomet

College: Illinois

NCAA Finishes: DNQ, 7, 1 3 (285)

At the 2001 NCAA tournament, John Lockhart beat Garrett Lowney, who had already won a bronze medal at the Olympics in Greco, and Tommy Rowlands, who would go on to be a two-time NCAA champion. Over his four years as a Fighting Illini, Lockhart compiled a 123-26 record.

There you have it, the greatest Illinois D1 lineup of all-time.