CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - University of Illinois wrestling head coach Jim Heffernan has announced the signing of three Class of 2015 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Eric Barone of Crystal Lake, Ill., Carver James of Rock City, Ill. and Xavier Montalvo of Wood Dale, Ill. will join the Illini wrestling program in the fall of 2015.

"We are very pleased with the start of this year's recruiting class," said Heffernan. "We are really happy to have all three of these young men joining our program and feel like all will contribute great things to the team during their careers."

Notes: A member of the Illinois National Scholastic Dual Team ... Two-time Team Illinois member ... 2014 FVC Conference, sectional and regional champ at 145 pounds ... Finished fifth in the 145-pound weight class at the 2014 state meet ... 2013 FVC Conference champion at 132 pounds ... Placed second at his team's sectional and regional en route to qualifying for the Illinois State at 132 pounds in 2013 ... Finished second in the Central Regional at 132 pounds as a sophomore ... Placed fourth at the state meet at 152 pounds as a sophomore ... Regional, sectional, state and national AAU champion at 132 pounds as a freshman ... Finished second in Illinois Class 3A freestyle at 132 pounds as a freshman ... Was second in the FVC Conference and in the regional at 132 pounds as a freshman.

Coach Heffernan on Barone: "Eric Barone is a guy that we feel like is just starting to reach his potential. He has a great attitude, work ethic, and a huge gas tank. Eric will wrestle 149 or 157 in college."


Notes: Two-time IHSA 1A State Champion, winning titles at 138 pounds as a sophomore and 152 pounds as a junior ... Finished third in his weight class in the state meet as a freshman ... Carries a 137 - 12 record into his senior year ... Helped lead the Dakota Wrestling Nation to back-to-back team state titles. James is a two time placer at the Al Dvorak Invitational, 7th as a sophomore and 2nd as a junior ... Three-time place winner at the Princeton Invitational Tournament, taking fourth as a freshman and first as a sophomore and junior ... Three-time champion of the Orion Open Tournament, winning outstanding wrestler his sophomore year ... Helped lead the Dakota Wrestling Nation to an AAU Disney Duals title this past summer ... Was the 2013 Cadet 145-pound champion at USA Wrestling's Folk style National Championships ... Won an IKWF State title in seventh grade, and was runner up as an eighth grader ... Currently ranked 7th nationally in his weight class by WIN Magazine.

Coach Heffernan on James: "Carver James will also be competing for his third state championship this year for Dakota High School. Carver has always impressed us and always seems to be in a gym somewhere training. We project Carver to wrestle at 157 or 165 in the future."

Notes: Ranked third nationally in his weight class by FloWrestling.com ... Fourth-ranked high school wrestlers in his weight class by The Open Mat and WIN Magazine ... Four-time Fargo National Wrestling Championships All-American ... Two-time Illinois state champion ... Flonationals champion ...Two-time preseason national champion ... Two-time Walsh Ironman Tournament place winner ... Dvorak Memorial Invitational champion ... Finalist at the Cheesehead Wrestling Invitational ... Finished 6-0 at The Clash National High School Wrestling Duals.

Coach Heffernan on Montalvo: "We feel like we got the best prospect in Illinois this year in Xavier Montalvo. He has been very competitive nationally, and will be competing for his third state championship this year for national power Montini Catholic. Xavier has really strong work habits and is an extremely tough and talented kid. Xavier will wrestle at 174 or 184 in college."