2016-17 Wrestling Roster
Zac Brunson
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-0 / 174
- Hometown:
- Eugene, Ore.
- High School:
- Churchill
2017 All-American
Four-time NCAA Qualifier
2016 Big Ten Runner-Up
Four-time Big Ten Placer
Ranks 16th on Illinois' all-time win list (107)
Big Ten Wrestler of the Week (11/18/14)
2016-17
- Earned All-America honors with a 6th place finish at NCAA Championships
- Placed fourth at Big Ten Championships with a 3-2 record
- Tied the Big Ten Championships record for fastest pin with a 0:16 fall against Braxton Cody (Northwestern) in first round
- Won his 100th career match on Senior Day against Indiana
- Entered Illinois' all-time win list with a 3-2 decision over No. 8 Myles Amine
- Took third place at Midlands, going 5-1 with a victory over No. 2 seed Alex Meyer in the third-place match
- Defeated Ethan Ramos (UNC) at the NWCA All-Star Classic, 5-4
- Finished runner-up at the UNI Open
- Won the 174-pound bracket at the Kaufman Brand Open and finished third at the Joe Parisi Open
- Academic All-Big Ten
- NWCA All-Academic
2015-16
- NCAA Qualifier after finishing runner-up at Big Ten Championships
- Pinned Iowa's Alex Meyer in the Big Ten Championships semifinal round in 2:00
- Went 2-2 at NCAA Championships
- Finished the season with a 22-5 record
- Led the team in pins with 9
- Recorded three wins over ranked opponents
- Won his first 14 matches
- Missed four duals due to injury in January
- Went 7-2 during the regular season against Big Ten opponents
2014-15
- Started at 174 pounds
- Qualified for the NCAA Championships and posted a 3-2 record
- Placed sixth at the Big Ten Championships
- Won the 2014 Roadrunner Open
- Went 6-3 in Big Ten duals
- 2014 Midlands Championships runner-up
- Career-high in wins with 29
- Reached a season-high No. 5 ranking by W.I.N. Magazine
- Finished fourth on the team in dual meet points scored (52)
- Academic All-Big Ten
2013-14
- Full-time starter at 157 pounds
- Qualified for the NCAA Championships and posted a 2-2 record
- Placed seventh at the Big Ten Championships
- Defeated #7 Dylan Alton (PSU) by a major decision at the conference championships
- Went 5-3 in Big Ten duals
- Placed seventh at the Midlands Championships
- Won the Loras Open
- Reached a season-high No. 13 ranking by W.I.N. Magazine
- Academic All-Big Ten
2012-13
- Redshirt season
- Went 23-4 overall
- Won the Loras and Michigan State Open
- Placed third at the Lindenwood and Northern Iowa Open
- Compiled a 4-2 record at the Midlands Championships
High School
- Was a four-time state champion at 135, 145, 160 and 170 pounds
- Champion of the 2011 Junior Nationals and NW Junior Regional
- 2010 NW Junior Regional champion and placed second at the 2009 Cadet Nationals at 140 pounds
- Earned four varsity letters in wrestling
Personal
- Born on April 6, 1993
- Parents are Sean and Trisha Brunson
- Has three siblings: Jenna, Zoe, and Cael
Career Record
| Year | W | L | F | Big Ten | NCAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13* | 23 | 4 | 3 | --- | --- |
| 2013-14 | 24 | 14 | 2 | 7th | DNP |
| 2014-15 | 29 | 10 | 1 | 6th | DNP |
| 2015-16 | 22 | 5 | 9 | 2nd | DNP |
| 2016-17 | 32 | 11 | 7 | 4th | 6th |
| Total | 107 | 40 | 19 |
*redshirt season
Updated April 2017
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