ilwrestling.com's

The ilwrestling.com Triple Crown is awarded to wrestlers who have won State Championships in all three styles of wrestling.  The events are the IKWF Novice/Senior Folkstyle State Finals, IL-USAW Freestyle State Finals and the IL-USAW Greco-Roman State Finals.

2007 Triple Crown Winner

Michael Avelar- Morton Little Mustangs

2006 Triple Crown winners

Brett Lunn- Edwardsville WC

Jacob Gregerson- Sons Of Thunder

Brian Strenk- Oak Forest Warriors

Khari Washington- Gladiators

Ryan Dix- Gomez WA

ilwrestling would also like to give special mention to three wrestlers that won IL-USAW Freestyle State, IL-USAW Greco State and Midget Championships:

Ignacio Frias- Lemont Bears

Corbett Oughton- Minoonka Little Indians

Michael Johnson- Martinez Fox Valley Elite

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ilwrestling's Preseason Top 10 Clubs

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1. Harvey Park District Twisters- No surprise here. Novice State champs in '07 and 4th in the Senior division. Red Storm is gonna roll this year. 87-92 all over again?

2. Vittum Catz- If the new additions are true, Catz will be contending for that elusive Dual Team State Championship. Central Chicago section never rebuilds. It reloads. Catz cradle is fatal.

3. Crystal Lake Wizards- Lost a ton of kids to the IHSA, but this program is now one of the mega clubs in the IKWF. Be on the look out for the next generation of Wizards.

4. Orland Park Pioneers- Qualified ten in the Novice division last year and six move up to Seniors this year. The South Chicago grind always pays off at the end of the year.

5. Wrestling Factory- They just keep producing. After last year's tie for second in the Novice, the FACTORY could finish the job this year. They return six of their seven Novice state qualifiers.

6. Gomez Wrestling Academy- Second place tie in the Novice and a fourth place finish in the Senior Duals last year were only stepping stones for the silver and black attack.

7. Granite City JR. Warriors- I believe this is the team to beat in the South. Junior Warriors return eight Novice state qualifiers from last years squad and look to improve on their seventh place finish in Rockford.

8. Broncos WC- Broncos loose a few key guys but, I have a feeling they will replace them. Fifth in Novice and eight in Seniors was a great showing last year. Look for similar results this year. Solid, very solid.

9. Force WC (Plainfield)- Strong Midget group but can they stretch that into the Novice and Seniors? Maybe a year away but this club is ready to burst onto the IKWF scene big time.

10. Bethalto Bulls- Word on the street is SOT has folded and the kids they had left over went to the Bulls. Not a bad option at all. Discipline and hard work will go a long way. Bulls on parade!