During every stage of his life, former Illini wrestler Eric Siebert has made an impact.
As a prep at LaSalle-Peru High School under his dad, Mark Siebert, Eric won the first state title in Cavaliers wrestling history (145 pounds).
At the University of Illinois from 1995-98, he was a four-time NCAA tournament qualifier. Siebert's senior season was particularly impressive, finishing with a perfect 36-0 record at 150 pounds, including Illinois' 16th national individual title. He finished with a career record of 112-30.
Siebert was selected as UI's 1998 Male Athlete of the Year, beating out such Illini greats as gymnastics' Travis Romagnoli, football's Robert Holcombe, basketball's Kevin Turner and baseball's D.