Bill Zeman

Class of 2016

LaGrange (Lyons Township)

Bill Zeman grew up in a wrestling environment. His father Otto was an All-State wrestler from Riverside-Brookfield and an All-American at Northwestern. His brother Matt was an All-State wrestler twice and an NJCAA All-American for Triton. While at Lagrange (Lyons) Township High School, Bill Zeman wrestled for two IWCOA Hall of Famers, his head coach Mark King, and his father Otto Zeman.

Bill was a four-year varsity letter winner at LTHS, compiling a school record 165 wins. While in high school, he was All-Conference 4 times. He was an IHSA Sectional Champion 3 times. Bill reached the pinnacle of Illinois High School wrestling when he won the IHSA State Championship in both his Junior and Senior years at 152 lb. and 160 lb. respectively. Bill was a Cadet National Freestyle All-American and an Illinois State Freestyle Champion in 1994.

Bill is proud of the Lyons Township wrestling program and their third place finish in the 1992 Dual Team State Championships. The 1995 LTHS team and coaches had high hopes, and they were undefeated, when the Dual Team State Championships were unexpectedly cancelled.

Bill wrestled for IWCOA Hall of Fame coach Mark Johnson and Jim Heffernan while at the University of Illinois. He qualified for the NCAA Tournament 3 times and his U of I team placed in the top ten nationally in 3 out of his 4 years. Bill placed in the Big Ten Wrestling Tournament four times finishing third in 1999. As a junior, Bill reached the round of twelve in the NCAA Division I National Tournament. His collegiate record was 88-52.

In 2000, Bill earned his Bachelor of Science in Recreation Management. Bill is currently an Ice Arena Associate for the University of Illinois Campus Recreation Department.

Bill and his wife of 11 years Erica reside in Urban, Illinois with their five year old son Kai.