Jordan Blanton Class: Sophomore Hometown: Richmond, Ill. High School: Richmond-Burton Height / Weight: 5-10 / 184 Birthdate: 10/06/1989

Qualified for the 2009 NCAA Championships, earning an automatic berth with his fourth-place finish at Big Tens ... Went 0-2 at NCAAs ... Placed second at the Missouri Open, fifth at Midlands and seventh at the Las Vegas Invitational ... Earned Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honors after registering two pins and an injury default in the ACC/Big Ten Clash, his first collegiate tournament ... Wrestled up at 197 against Northwestern and defeated John Schoen 11-4 ... Led team with eight pins

HIGH SCHOOL: Three-time Illinois state champion, winning the 171-pound Class AA title in 2008, the 160-pound Class A title in 2006 and the 152-pound Class A title in 2005 ... Also placed second in the 171-pound Class AA bracket in 2007 ... Held a final 2008 national ranking of No. 4 according to W.I.N. Magazine ... Cadet National All-American ... Two-time Junior National All-American ... 2008 Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Class AA Wrestler of the Year ... Compiled a 152-1 career record, with his only career loss coming in the 2007 state title bout ... Four-time Big Northern Conference champion.

PERSONAL: Born on Oct. 6, 1989 ... Parents are Jack and Stacey Blanton ... Enrolled in the general curriculum ... Full given name is Jordan Mitchell Blanton ... Has an older brother, Jake, and a younger sister, Grace ... His biggest thrill in sports was winning his third state title in 2008 ... Lists Michael Phelps as his favorite athlete ... Former Illinois national champion Steve Marianetti was his Fighting Illini hero growing up.

Blanton's career Record

Year	W	L	F	Big Tens	NCAAs
2008-09	27	11	8	4th	DNP
Total	27	11	8