EC Men’s Wrestling Announces Inaugural Recruiting Class
EUREKA – Eureka wrestling coach Eric Biehl announced the addition of 21 wrestlers to the inaugural Eureka men's wrestling team on Friday afternoon.
Nineteen of the 21 are Red Devil newcomers, while two are current Eureka students. The class features 11 transfers from Lincoln College, where Biehl previously coached, six freshmen right out of high school and two transfers from other schools.
"I'm very excited about this team," Biehl said. "Most start-up programs have to go through growing pains, but I don't think we will. I am very blessed to have such a talented roster in year one. I have five individuals who have qualified for nationals in college on my roster – that's huge. On top of that, we have multiple athletes with prestigious high school careers. Many of these athletes I worked with at Lincoln, so I know our hard-working family culture is going to translate to Eureka and carry us to success."
Biehl's squad will start preseason training after Labor Day and begin official practice in October. The first wrestling meet in Red Devil history for both the women's and men's team will be at the Pointer Open at Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Nov. 5.
Biehl expects to add more wrestlers to the roster in the coming weeks.
The Class of 2022-23 includes:
A 6-foot-2 senior from Metamora, Alex is joining the wrestling team after previously running cross country for the Red Devils in 2020. He is projected to wrestle at 165.
A 5-foot-10 sophomore transfer from Calumet College of St Joseph, Nathan was a 2022 NAIA National Championship for the Crimson Wave. The year before that, he was an IHSA 3A state qualifier at Minooka. He was a 2022 Calumet College Dean's List in the fall and spring semesters, and is projected to wrestle at 141.
A 5-foot-9 sophomore transfer from Lincoln College, Blake is looking to build on a decorated career at Havana. He was a state qualifier and top eight-placer in 2021, a two-time regional champion, a 2021 sectional runner-up and a Disney Dual National runner-up in 2019. He finished his high school career in the 100-win club, going 114-31 overall. A former Prairieland Scholar Athlete, Blake is projected to wrestle at 133.
A 5-foot-11 sophomore transfer from Lincoln College, Robert was previously an All-Western Big 6 wrestler at 195 pounds for Galesburg. He was a 2018 IHSA state medalist, placing fourth in Class 2A at 195. He is projected to wrestle at 197.
A 6-foot-3 sophomore transfer from Lincoln College, Jackson comes to Eureka after qualifying for the NAIA National Championship, winning an American Midwest Conference title at 197 and earning All-AMC honors with the Lynx last season. He was one of only three Lynx wrestlers to win his first match at nationals.
He was previously a two-time state placer at School of the Osage in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. He set a school record with 158 wins and 112 pins, going 40-1 during his senior year. At Eureka, he is projected to wrestle at 197.
A 6-foot sophomore transfer from Lincoln College, Thomas joins the Red Devils after qualifying for the NAIA National Championship, receiving All-American Midwest Conference honors and the AMC Freshman of the Year award with the Lynx last season.
He was previously a Class 3A state champion at 195 pounds, a three-time state qualifier and a three-time All-Western Big 6 honoree. Last summer, he earned All-American honors at USA Wrestling's 50th Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D., as he placed fourth in the 195-pound Greco-Roman Junior Division. He is projected to wrestle at 184 at Eureka.
A 5-foot-9 freshman from Mount Vernon, Bradden was a three-time All-South Seven honoree and a two-time regional champion for the Rams. He is projected to wrestle at 149 for the Red Devils.
A 6-foot freshman from East Peoria, Zach recently won an Illinois Greco-Roman state title. In 2021, he placed fourth in the IWCOA state championships at 195 pounds for the Raiders. He is projected to wrestle at 184 for the Red Devils.
A 5-foot-8 freshman from Peoria Manual, Taijaun racked up 31 wins for the Rams. He is projected to wrestle at 157 for the Red Devils.
A 5-foot-8 junior transfer from Lincoln College, Jake joins the Red Devils after qualifying for the NAIA National Championship, winning an American Midwest Conference championship at 125 and receiving All-AMC honors. A graduate of Grayslake North, he previously placed fifth in Class 2A in the IHSA state tournament in 2020 for the Knights. He is projected to wrestle at 125 for Eureka.
A 6-foot-3 freshman from Hillcrest, Lammale joins the Red Devils after wrestling for the Hawks. He is projected to wrestle at 157 for Eureka.
A 6-foot freshman from Palos Heights, Alex was an All-South Suburban honoree and regional champion at Shepard who helped the Astros win three conference team titles. He is projected to wrestle at 157 for the Red Devils.
A 6-foot-2 senior transfer from Lincoln College, Robert wrestled varsity for Coach Eric Biehl for two seasons, including during the 2021-22 undefeated season. Before that, he wrestled at Loras College as a freshman and wrestled for Shepard in high school. At Eureka, he is projected to wrestle at 157.
A 6-foot sophomore transfer from Lincoln College, Brock joins the Red Devils after starting his collegiate career with the Lynx. He previously wrestled for LaSalle-Peru and was a 2020 state qualifier for the Cavaliers. He is projected to wrestle at 174 for Eureka.
A 6-foot-1 junior transfer from Iowa Wesleyan, Gaige was previously a four-year standout at Marion.
He tallied the most career wins, takedowns and near fall points in program history while going 158-37 overall. During his senior year, he set a school-record with 48 wins, won a South Seven Conference title and became the first Wildcat to place at state in seven year, placing sixth at 126. He finished with the 14th-most points in a career and seventh-most points in a season in state history. He is projected to wrestle at 133 for the Red Devils.
A 5-foot-9 junior transfer from Lincoln College, Seth follows Coach Eric Biehl to Eureka after three seasons with the Lynx. He was previously a two-time regional champion and a two-time All-Southern Illinois honoree at Benton. He is projected to wrestle at 125 for the Red Devils.
A 5-foot-7 junior transfer from Lincoln College, Andrew was the first Lynx in school history to win a match at the NAIA National Championship last season. He was an All-American Midwest Conference honoree, an AMC conference champion at 165 pounds and a key contributor to the Lynx's undefeated season.
Sims started his collegiate career at Campellsville. Prior to that, he was a four-time state qualifier at Heyworth, helping the Hornets place fourth in the state in Class 1A and taking state runner-up at 138 pounds in 2019. He is projected to wrestle at 165 for the Red Devils.
A 5-foot-8 junior transfer from Lincoln College, Dominic follows Coach Eric Biehl to Eureka after helping the Lynx capture the American Midwest Conference title and an undefeated season in 2021-22. He was previously an All-Fox Valley Conference at Harry. D Jacobs High School in Algonquin, and he was an academic all-conference honoree at Lincoln. He will also be playing baseball at Eureka. He is projected to wrestle at 141 for the Red Devils.
A 5-foot-11 junior from Las Cruces, New Mexico, Wyatt joins the wrestling team to become a multi-sport athlete at Eureka. A junior defensive lineman on the football team, Wyatt was previously a two-time New Mexico state qualifier for Centennial. He is projected to wrestle at 285.
A 6-foot-1 freshman from Pontiac, Kristian becomes a Red Devil after helping the Indians win their first conference championship in 20 years and garnering All-Illini Prairie honors. He is projected to wrestle at 175 for the Red Devils.
A 6-foot-3 freshman transfer from Lincoln College, Hunter follows Coach Eric Biehl to the Red Devils after starting his collegiate career with the Lynx.
He was previously a three-time All-Western Big 6 honoree at Quincy and took state runner-up in Class 3A at 160 pounds in 2019, becoming the first Blue Devil finalist since 2000 and medal-winner since 2013. He is projected to wrestle at 165 for Eureka.