2018-19 Wrestling Roster
Emery Parker
- Year:
- 184
- Ht./Wt.:
- 5-10 / 184
- Hometown:
- Wadsworth, Ill.
- High School:
- Warren Township
Career Highlights
- Two-Time All-American
- 2018 All-American - 3rd Place
- 2019 All-American - 5th Place
- Three-time NCAA Qualifier
- 2019 Big Ten Championships third place
- Two-time Big Ten 5th Place
- 16th in win-percentage (86-23, .788)
- 24th best single-season win percentage in Illinois history (.875) in 2017-18
- Big Ten Wrestler of the Week (1/9/18)
- 2017 NWCA All-Academic
2018-19
- Earned All-American Honors for the second time in his career and second consecutive year with fifth place finish at 184-pounds at NCAA Championships
- Placed third at 184-pounds at Big Ten Championships, going 4-1
- Finished the 2018-19 season with a 24-5 record, leading the team in wins
- Led the team in dual points with 31
- Ends his career with a record of 86-23, with his .788 win-percentage ranking 16th in Illinois program history.
- Started every dual of the season for the Illini at 184-pounds
- Went 11-0 to start the season
- Academic All-Big Ten
2017-18
- All-American at 184 pounds
- .875 win-percentage (28-4) ties for 24th all-time single season mark in Illinois history
- Won seven straight matches in wrestlebacks to place 3rd at NCAA Championships, defeating No. 7 seed Taylor Venz (Nebraska), 8-1, in third place match
- Placed fifth at Big Ten Championships with a 3-2 record
- Midlands champion at 184 pounds, defeating Nate Jackson in the final
- Won 15 straight matches from Dec. 1 to March 3
- 10-0 in duals, including 8-0 in the Big Ten
- Second on team with 35 team dual points
- Named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week on Jan. 9
- NWCA All-Academic
2016-17
- Finished 2-2 at NCAA Championships
- Upset No. 6 seed Myles Martin (OSU) at NCAA Championships
- Placed fifth at Big Ten Championships with a record of 4-2
- Recorded his fastest pin of the season (0:37) against Ernest Battaglia (Michigan)
- Upset #11 Nicholas Gravina at Rutgers (1/6), 8-6
- Went 2-2 at Midlands
- UNI Open 184 pound champion
- Won the 184-pound bracket at the Kaufman Brand Open, going 4-0 and outscoring his opponents 61-14
- Academic All-Big Ten
- NWCA All-Academic
2015-16
- Placed second at the Reno Tournament of Champions with a 4-1 record
- Competed in the Grapple at the Garden
- Filled in for injured Zac Brunson at 174 pounds against Michigan and Minnesota
- Finished the season with a 4-4 record
2014-15
- Compiled an overall record of 9-6
- Went 2-2 at Midlands
- Placed fifth at Joe Parisi Open
High School
- 2014 IHSA runner-up
- 2014 Conference, Regional and Sectional Champion
- Placed fourth at Senior Nationals in 2014
- Earned varisty letters in wrestling (2012-'14)
Personal
- Born July 8, 1996
- Son of Danny and Christine Parker
- Cousin Eric Parker played in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers
- Favorite hobby is playing his guitar
- Cites former Illini Mike Poeta as the most influential person in his athletic career because Poeta spent a lot of time helping Parker get to the next level
Career Record
| Year | W | L | F | Big Ten | NCAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15* | 9 | 3 | 1 | --- | --- |
| 2015-16 | 4 | 4 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2016-17 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 5th | DNP |
| 2017-18 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 5th | 3rd |
| 2018-19 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 3rd | 5th |
| Total | 86 | 23 | 8 |
*redshirt season
Updated September 2019
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