June 10, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A pair of former Fighting Illini wrestlers have earned pre-seeds for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, with Lindsey Durlacher (55 kg/121 lbs.) grabbing the No. 2 seed in the Greco-Roman competition and Matt Lackey (74 kg/163 lbs) taking the No. 4 seed in freestyle. The Greco/Roman trials get underway on Friday, June 13, and the freestyle begins on Saturday, June 14.

Durlacher was a two-time All-American at 118 pounds in 1996-97 and a four-time NCAA qualifier, posting consecutive 32-win seasons in those two years. Lackey was the 2003 NCAA champion at 165 pounds after compiling a school-record 38-0 mark. He was a three-time All-American and two-time Big Ten champion.

Fighting Illini head coach Mark Johnson also will be at the trials in Las Vegas, where he will serve as Lackey's coach during the competition and will be honored as part of the 1980 Olympic team on Saturday, June 14.