2016-17 Wrestling Roster
Zane Richards
- Ht./Wt.:
- 5-3 / 133
- Hometown:
- Carbondale, Ill.
- High School:
- Carbondale Community
Two-time All-American
University Nationals 61kg Champion & World Championships Qualifier
2016 Big Ten Runner-Up
Three-Time NCAA Qualifier
Ranks 12th on Illinois' all-time win percentage list (.810)
13th on Illinois' career wins list (111)
2016-17
- Earned his second All-America honor with a 7th place finish at NCAA Championships
- Placed fourth at Big Ten Championships with a 4-2 record.
- Earned his 100th career victory against Jason Ipsarides (Northwestern) on Feb. 3
- Defeated No. 4 Stevan Micic (Michigan) 7-4 on Jan. 20
- Placed runner-up at Midlands, going 5-1 in the tournament
- Defeated Eric Montoya 9-7 at the NWCA All-Star Classic
- Won the 133-pound title at the Kaufman Brand Open and Joe Parisi Open
2015-16
- NCAA All-American at 133 pounds, placing 4th at NCAA Championships
- University Nationals 61kg Champion
- 2016 runner-up at Big Ten Championships
- Started the season 23-0 and finished with a 26-2 overall record
- Recorded nine wins over ranked opponents
- Finished second on the team with 71 dual points scored
- Won the Reno Tournament with a perfect 5-0 record
- Went undefeated during the regular season
- Ranked as high as #2 by WIN Magazine
2014-15
- Starter at 133 pounds
- Qualified for the NCAA Championships after placing fifth at the Big Ten Championships for the second year in a row
- Went 1-2 at nationals
- Began the season with 15 consectuive wins
- Midlands Championships runner-up
- Joe Parisi Open and Michigan State Open champion
- Compiled a 28-8 record, including 6-3 in the Big Ten
- Reached a career-high No. 2 ranking by WIN Magazine
- Career-high in wins (28)
2012-13
- Redshirt season
- Recorded a 19-5 overall record
- Won the Loras and Michigan State Open
- Finished runner-up at the Northern Iowa Open
- Placed fourth at the Lindenwood Open
High School
- Won two IHSA Class 2A state championships at 125 and 132 pounds
- Was the 2009 and 2010 Cadet Nationals champion at 125 and 130 pounds
- Crowned 2011 Junior National champion at 130 pounds
- Was a member of the FILA Cadet world team where he competed in the 2011 World Championships in Hungary
- Earned six varsity letters including four in wrestling and two in cross country
Personal
- Born on February 4, 1994
- Parents are Jerry Richards and Kelley Bushur
- Majoring in general studies
- Has five siblings: Aaron, Hannah, Ryan, Katie, and Maddi
- National Honor Society member
Career Record
| Year | W | L | F | Big Ten | NCAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13* | 19 | 5 | 5 | --- | --- |
| 2013-14 | 27 | 9 | 0 | 5th | DNP |
| 2014-15 | 28 | 8 | 3 | 5th |
DNP |
| 2015-16 | 27 | 3 | 5 | 2nd | 4th |
| 2016-17 | 29 | 6 | 1 | 4th | 7th |
| Total | 111 | 26 | 9 |
*redshirt season
Updated March 2017
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