CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Former Fighting Illini wrestling Lindsey Durlacher will be inducted into the Alan and Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions on Saturday, October 22. Durlacher was a two-time All-American at Illinois and a bronze medalist at the 2006 World Championships in Guangzhou, China. He was inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame in 2007.
"The Durlacher Family, former Fighting Illini Wrestler Dave Durlacher (86-90) and a U of I alum myself, are excited to see that Lindsey will be inducted into the Greco Hall of Fame and take his place among the truly outstanding American wrestlers," said Michael Durlacher. "May his memory and accomplishments live on and inspire a new crop of Illinois wrestlers."
Competing at Illinois from 1994-1997, Durlacher was a four-time NCAA qualifier, reaching the podium in each of his final two seasons. As a senior, Durlacher compiled a 32-8 record on his way to a runner-up finish at NCAA Championships. In total, the Illini 125-pounder compiled an 82-60-career record. Upon graduating with a degree in sports management, Durlacher was tied for 10th on Illinois' all-time wins list.
At the professional level, Durlacher made three-straight World Championships teams, including a 2006 run to the 55kg/121 lbs. bronze medal in Guangzhou, China. He followed that up with a fifth-place finish in 2007 and helped the United States to its first-ever World Team title in Greco-Roman wrestling.
In addition to his success at World Championships, Durlacher won the 2006 U.S. Open, earned a silver medal at the 2003 and 2007 Pan American Games, as well as multiple gold medals at the Maccabiah Games.
Before coming to Illinois, Durlacher compiled an impressive 44-0-1 mark en route to the 1992 state title with Buffalo Grove High School. Prior to his senior season in 1992, Durlacher wrestled at Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, winning the state title as a junior in 1991.
The Alan and Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions is located inside the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Waterloo, Iowa, named after Alan Rice who was a Big Ten champion and All-American at the University of Minnesota. Rice won national titles in both the Greco-Roman division and the freestyle division in 1956 before coaching the 1972 Greco-Roman Olympic team.
