May 1, 2003

The University of Illinois wrestling squad celebrated its team and individual accomplishments, which included the crowning of its seventh NCAA Champion in 10 years in Matt Lackey and its seventh Top-10 finish in the same time period, at the annual banquet Wednesday evening.

Senior NCAA Champion Lackey was awarded the team Sapora Brothers Most Valuable Wrestler as well as the Larry Tenpas Most Falls Award. He led the team as the squad's captain with five pins and an unblemished record of 38-0. He became the first wrestler under head coach Mark Johnson to win the national and Big Ten title in the same season. Lackey wraps up his career with 120 wins, fourth-most in school history, and a three-time All-American.

The Jon Llewellyn Most Improved Wrestler Award went to two individuals this season in 174-pounder Brian Glynn and 133-pounder Mark Jayne. Glynn started his season losing the intrasquad match to teammate Pete Friedl, but won the Missouri Open to regain his position in the starting lineup. He ranked as high as seventh during the season and took fourth at the Big Ten Championships en route to his second straight NCAA Championships. Jayne steadily moved up the rankings in his first season in the lineup, coming within one match of All-America status. He took the defending national champion down to the wire in his potential upset of Johnny Thompson of Oklahoma State at nationals and lost in overtime to Zach Roberson of Iowa State in his quest to become and All-American.

The final award, Eric Siebert Most Courageous Wrestler, went to freshman Kyle Ott. Ott's season was cut short with a knee injury that forced the Ohio native to have his 11th surgery, since his high school junior year.