2015 NCAA Brackets

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - For the first time since 2006, the Illinois wrestling team will head to the NCAA Wrestling Championships with its full 10-man lineup. The NCAA Championships will be held at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri March 19-21.

The Illini had nine automatic qualifiers and one at-large bid among the 330 national participants. Jesse Delgado (125), Zane Richards (133), Kyle Langenderfer (149), Isaiah Martinez (157), Jackson Morse (165), Zac Brunson (174), Nikko Reyes (184), Jeff Koepke (197) and Brooks Black (HWT) all met the automatic qualifying standard at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships. Today, the NCAA released the list of at-large bids, and the Illini received word that Steven Rodrigues (141) was on that list.

Martinez, the Big Ten Champion at 157 pounds, was awarded the No. 1 seed in his NCAA Championships debut. He will face Russell Parsons of Army in the opening round.

Three other Illini were awarded seeds in their respective weight classes. Richards (No. 5), Morse (No. 9), Brunson (No. 11) were each recognized by the committee for their strong seasons.

Delgado, the two-time defending national champion at 125 pounds, was not awarded a seed in his weight class. He will face No. 8 seed Tyler Cox of Wyoming in the first round of the tournament.

Rodrigues, Langenderfer, Reyes, Koepke and Black will also enter the tournament unseeded in their respective weight classes.

The NCAA Championships begin at 11 a.m. CT on March 19 at the Scottrade Center. Fans can follow the entire tournament on ESPN3. The semifinals and finals will air live on ESPN. Every other session will be televised on ESPNU.