I think that brother was a football stud, and wrestling was is 2nd sport.

I think you are right. If I recall correctly, he was a linebacker. I remember playing against him.

If memory serves, Benion, after placing first and second in prior years, would lose something like 10-9, or 10-8, in the Big Ten Championships to the great Joe Williams? The bout was controversial and many looked forward to a repeat in the D1 finals. Might have happened but for Tony Robie (Edinboro) who nipped Benion in overtime in the semis. Ernest ultimately takes third and Joe beat Robie for the title.

In one of the Big 10's, I remember Benion was anticipated meeting Joe Williams in the finals. Mark Bybee upsetted Benion in an earlier round, Williams beat Bybee in the finals.

Always smart to check the record books before "speaking". After looking at the Big Ten Wrestling web site and perusing a 1997 NCAA D1 program I should clarify. Benion BEAT Williams at the Big Ten meet, but would, as stated earlier, lose to Robie in the semis. He then wrestled back to take third, while Williams won the championship at 158lbs.

What an outstanding match! I am struck (again) by the riding skills of both wrestlers. How far have we fallen in Illinois?!

As a side note, Ernest Benion's coach, Bill Winke, is a very good of my uncle. He looks young in this video. He is now a football coach at Northcentral College in Naperville.

You are so right. That match would look totally different today the way the sport is being coached. I doubt there would have been much effort expended on the mat. I wouldn't say it is just an Illinois problem but we could be the poster child. That's the very reason I'm sending my kid to a Granby School camp this summer. I'm counting on an emphasis on mat work.

Some coaches are better than others at teaching techniques on their feet. Some coaches are better at teaching techniques on the mat.

I think we have more coaches in the first category in this state. However, I know of a couple schools whose wrestlers are consistently better mat wrestlers than their opponents. It's no fluke. I think it takes a greater level of understanding of the sport (usually collegiate folkstyle) to teach these advanced riding and turning techniques (and getting out from underneath as well). When you get to college most turns are either from a leg ride or turk or some type of cheap tilt. Funny how you see the most successful high school wrestlers (with some exceptions) scoring from these turns as well.

I'll watch the match when I get home.

Good matches no doubt but can we see some single A stuff???? Put up Mena's 4th title, or Hurry pinning everyone through the series.

Now you have done it, the class vs. class thing. I will just say most of these matches are two studs going head to head. Not stud killing everyone. It has happend but how often do you see two D1 wrestlers in class A. (D1 wrestlers that were in the line up)