Champagne – The 2022 calendar year may have been the first long period of relative stability for Illinois athletics.
The men’s basketball program won its share of the Big Ten Championship. The football team won the Big Ten West in his second season under coach Brett Biemerehead, putting together an eight-win season. The women’s basketball program saw coaching changes with the retirement of Nancy Fahey and the hiring of Shauna Green. These results look positive. Men’s golf continues to be one of the best programs on campus.
Of course, there were also many disappointments. The men’s basketball team lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament for his second year in a row. The football team ruined their chances of winning the West. The women’s basketball record for most of 2022 under former coach Nancy Fahey was a disaster. Volleyball was a .500 team.
But athletic director Josh Whitman He has a strong group of coaches and seems well equipped to help Illinois track and field take a step forward.
Take a look at the Top 10 Illini Sports Stories for 2022.
honorable mention
Isaiah Martinez Return, New Wrestling Facility Announced
It was a very profitable year for wrestling in Illinois. beginning, Isaiah Martinez He returned to the program as an assistant coach in June, and a new independent practice facility was announced in the fall.
The California native has the highest winning percentage (.975) in Illini history, and his 116 wins ranks 10th all-time. He was his four-time NCAA finalist, winning the NCAA championship in 2015 and 2016 (both he weighed 157 pounds), and 2017 and 2018 (both he weighed 157 pounds). He was runner-up at 165 pounds). He won his four Big Ten his championships in Illinois and finished his career with a record of 116 wins and three losses. From his November 9, 2014 to January 23, 2016 he had a 54-game winning streak. In freestyle he wrestling, Martinez is a two-time US Open National Champion (three-time finalist) and in 2017 he was a member of the US U23 World Team.
The wrestling facility will become a $14 million independent wrestling facility, the athletics department announced Thursday.The new Illinois Wrestling Training Center will be located on the lawn south of the State Farm Center across St. will be Illinois said he received a $10 million private donation for the facility.
According to the State of Illinois, the facility has approximately 19,000 square feet of space and includes a wrestling room with three mats, a strength and conditioning and sports medicine facility, a team locker room, a coach’s locker room and offices, and a multipurpose conference room. will be The project also includes $1.3 million in site work and State Farm Center parking improvements.
