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University of Illinois Athletics

2025-26 Wrestling Roster

Caelan Riley

  • Class Redshirt Junior
  • Hometown Libertyville, Ill.
  • High School Libertyville
  • Major Advertising
  • Position 125
  • Instagram caelan.riley
  • NIL caelan-riley

Biography

NIL Opportunities

2024-25

  • Went 6-16 overall, 1-11 in duals and 1-7 in Big Ten Duals
  • Recorded one pin and one tech. fall

2023-24

  • Went 10-7 overall, 0-1 in duals and Big Ten duals
  • Recorded one fall, five tech. falls and two major decisions

At the Citadel 2022-23

  • Went 6-7 overall with one major decision and a tech. fall

Career Record

Year Overall Dual Conference Falls TF MD Big Ten NCAA
2022-23* 6-7 -- -- 0 1 1 -- --
2023-24 10-7 0-1 0-1 1 5 2 -- --
2024-25 6-16 1-11 1-7 1 1 0 -- --
Total 16-23 1-12 1-8 2 6 2

*Redshirt Season

High School

  • 2022 state championships bronze medalist
  • 2021 sixth place finish at state championships
  • 4x letterwinner

Personal

Son of Christopher and Gabriela Riley... Has one brother named Ian... List his dad as his biggest influence since he introduced him to the sport and was his very first coach... His father Christopher was also Mike Poeta's assistant coach in high school, Poeta also coached Caelan at his youth club... Chose Illinois because "It stuck out from other schools and was a place that I knew what I saw was what I got. The coaching staff is the best in the country and will bring me to the best I can be. Academics are a huge importance to me and the resources available here to achieve success are unmatched; walking away with a degree from Illinois is an excellent achievement."

Historical Player Information

  • 2023-24Sophomore

    125
  • 2024-25Junior

    125
  • 2025-26Redshirt Junior

    125