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Baseball

Coach: Dan Hartleb

Record: 29-29, 15-17 Big Ten

Plays at: Illinois Field

Recap: In his first season as head coach, Dan Hartleb was looking for a repeat performance from the year before when the Illini brought home the Big Ten Championship. Senior pitcher Matt Whitmore., who started the season in the bullpen and earned six saves before moving to the starting rotation, finished the season with a 3-1 record and 2.49 ERA. A pair of victories in its final two Big Ten games against Michigan State catapulted them into the Big Ten Tournament. However, the team was ousted after their first two games.

What to expect: Illinois will take the field this season with its top five returning hitters, including senior outfielder Ryan Snowden, who earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors after leading the Illini in hitting with a .342 batting average. Along with Snowden, the Illini will feature sophomore starting pitchers Tanner Roark and Ben Reeser, who combined for seven wins and 44 strikeouts in their first season.

Basketball

Coach: Bruce Weber

Record: 26-7, 11-4 Big Ten

Plays at: Assembly Hall

Recap: A year after making its remarkable run at perfection and a National Championship, the Illinois men’s basketball team took to the hardwood with hopes of picking up where it left off the year before. Led by seniors Dee Brown and James Augustine, the Illini began the season with a perfect 14-0 record in non-conference games, including a 68-64 win against North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

The Illini opened the Big Ten at home against Michigan State for what will be remembered as one of the most memorable performances by Brown. Behind Brown’s career high 34 points the Illini beat the Spartans 60-50. The ’05-’06 season didn’t come without its low moments, however. In February, the Illini’s 34-game home winning streak at Assembly Hall came to an abrupt end when they were stunned by Penn State 66-65 when Rich McBride’s three point at the buzzer was ruled no good.

The Illini would bounce back and win its final three Big Ten games to finish second in the Big Ten behind Ohio State, and earned a four seed in the NCAA Tournament. After defeating Air Force, Washington knocked off Illinois in the second round.

What to expect: Illinois returns sophomores Jamar Smith and Chester Frazier, juniors Brian Randle and Shaun Pruitt and senior guard Rich McBride in addition to incoming freshmen Richard Semrau and Brian Carlwell.

Football

Coach: Ron Zook

Record: 2-9, 0-8 Big Ten

Plays at: Memorial Stadium

Recap: The Ron Zook Era at Illinois couldn’t have gotten off to a better start in 2005. In Zook’s first game, Illinois pulled off a remarkable come from behind overtime win to defeat the Scarlet Knights 33-30 after trailing 27-10 going into the fourth quarter. Illinois carried the momentum into its next game, pounding San Jose State 40-19 to start the season 2-0.

Unfortunately, that would be the last win in 2005. The low point of the season came during Homecoming when the Illini were trounced 63-10 by Penn State. The 53-point loss was the program’s worst loss since the Illini were defeated 69-13 by Michigan in 1986, and came right on the heels of a 61-14 drubbing by Michigan State two weeks earlier.

What to expect: Despite a disappointing season, the Illini return the main core of its offense for the 2006 season, including receiver Kyle Hudson who had a breakout season for the Illini as a freshman. On the defensive side of the ball, junior defensive back Kevin Mitchell and junior linebacker J Leman, who finished first and second for the Illini in tackles last season, will lead the way. The incoming freshman class was ranked No. 28 in the country by Scout.com.

Gymnastics

Coach: Yoshi Hayasaki

Plays at: Huff Hall

Recap: Senior Justin Spring led the Illinois men’s gymnastics team to one of its best finishes is school history. Spring and company were ranked in the top five nationally for most of the season and finished second behind Oklahoma at the NCAA Championships by just .425 of a point.

While the team just missed its first National Championship since 1989, Spring won two individual titles on the parallel bars and the high bar. Along with Spring’s titles, the Illini swept away the competition on the parallel bars, finishing 1-2-3 with Spring taking home the title and senior Adam Plummer and sophomore Wesley Haagensen placing second and third.

What to expect: Despite losing Spring and Plummer, junior All-Americans Haagensen, Ross Bradley and Tyler Yamauchi will return along with sophomore standout Chris Lung to keep the Illini in the running for another chance at a National Championship.

Tennis

Coach: Brad Dancer

Record: 23-1, 9-1 Big Ten

Plays at: Atkins Tennis Center

Recap: A Sweet Sixteen finish may not have been what the men’s tennis team had hoped for, but last year’s squad still upheld the Illinois tennis program’s prestige. Despite losing their first match in regular season conference play since 1997, the Illini went on to finish second in the Big Ten behind the Buckeyes.

Illini All-American sophomores Kevin Anderson and Ryan Rowe took home the 2006 NCAA Doubles National Championship and were named Doubles Team of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for their 23-1 record during the season.

Two-time senior All-American Ryler DeHeart advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in NCAA singles tournament before being beaten, ended his career with a record of 39-8, third best in Illini history.

What to expect: With the loss of DeHeart and Dabir, the Illini will look to NCAA doubles champions and juniors-to-be Rowe and Anderson to lead the Illini and return them to the top of the Big Ten and national championship picture this season.

Wrestling

Coach: Mark Johnson

Record: 10-2-1, 5-2-1 Big Ten

Plays at: Huff Hall

Recap: The 2005-06 Illinois wrestling squad’s 25 of 69 finish at the 2006 NCAA Championships at the end of the season may have been disappointing, but the Illini’s regular season and Big Ten season didn’t reflect the Illini’s finish at all. Illinois was ranked nationally throughout the season and the squad also took home a first place finish at the Midlands Meet.

The highlight of the season was senior All-American Alex Tirapelle’s run to becoming Illinois’ all-time winningest wrestler, overthrowing Adam Tirapelle, his brother, with 128 wins. Even thought Alex Tirapelle’s career has ended, the Tirapelle legacy at Illinois will still be carried on by Alex and Adam’s younger brother, redshirt sophomore Troy.

What to expect: Troy, along with fellow redshirt sophomore Mike Poeta and junior Gabe Flores, will lead this year’s Illini squad in hopes of avenging their disappointing finish to last season.

Hockey

Coach: Chad Cassel

Record: 32-6-1

Plays at: Ice Arena

Recap: Coming off its first American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championship in 2005, the Illini hockey club took the ice as the pre-season No.1-ranked team in the country. Illinois proved its No. 1 ranking wasn’t a fluke either, opening the season 18-0.

Behind great goaltending by junior Mike DeGeorge and an explosive offense led by senior Mike Roesch the Illini finished the season 32-6-1 and won the Central States Collegiate Hockey League Conference Tournament.

In the 2006 ACHA National Tournament the Illini reached the Final Four, but were beaten 1-0 by Penn State and finished the season third overall in the ACHA.

What to expect: Illinois returns the core of its team from last year, including DeGeorge and sophomore Johnny Liang, who led the Illini in goals and points as a freshman last season.

WOMEN’S SPORTS

Basketball

Coach: Theresa Grentz

Record: 16-15, 6-10 Big Ten

Plays at: Assembly Hall

Recap: The highlight of the women’s basketball season came Dec. 18 when the Illini women upset No. 15-ranked Oklahoma 86-75 at home. Illinois was led on the season by senior guard Janelle Hughes, who averaged 12.9 points per game for the Illini.

What to expect: The Illini women will take to the court this year led by senior forward Erin Wigley and sophomore guard Lori Bjork. Both Wigley and Bjork averaged in double digits in scoring for the Illini last season.

Gymnastics

Coach: Bob Starkell

Plays at: Huff Hall

Recap: While overshadowed by the success of the men on the mats, the Illinois women’s gymnastics equaled their best-ever regional finish last season. Led by freshman Julie Crall and junior Cara Pomeroy the Illini women finished fourth at the South Central Regional Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.

What to expect: Both Crall and Pomeroy will return next year to provide a strong backbone for this year’s women’s gymnastics team with hopes to improve on last years finish.

Soccer

Coach: Janet Rayfield

Record: 12-7-3, 6-3-1 Big Ten

Plays at: Track & Soccer Stadium

Recap: The Illinois women’s soccer team entered the season ranked No. 13 in the nation after a stellar finish to its 2004 season, in which they came one win away from advancing to the Final Four. The Illini finished the season 12-7-3 and 6-3-1 in conference play, good enough for a fourth place finish in the Big Ten.

The Illini escaped an NCAA Tournament first round match-up with Florida 1-0, but were knocked out in the second round by Florida State with the score of 2-1.

What to expect: Illinois will welcome the ninth best recruiting class in the country to Champaign for the 2006 season in hopes of returning the to Elite Eight and making it to its first ever Final Four.

Softball

Coach: Terri Sullivan

Record: 24-31, 8-11 Big Ten

Plays at: Eichelberger Field

Recap: The Illinois softball team suffered a down year in 2006, finishing with a 24-31 overall record and a 8-11 Big Ten record. But while the team struggled, senior first baseman Jenna Hall had one of the best seasons ever by an Illini softball player.

Hall hit an outstanding .481 with 13 home runs despite being walked 60 times. For her efforts Hall was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America First Team, and signed a contract to play professional softball for the Philadelphia Force.

What to expect: Without Hall the Illini hope to jump back into the mix in the Big Ten and improve on their eighth place Big Ten finish. Leading them will be senior outfielder Molly Lawhead and junior pitcher Claire DeVreese, who was the Illini’s top starter last season with 18 wins.

Swimming and Diving

Coach: Sue Novitsky

Plays at: IMPE

Recap: The Illini women’s swimming and diving team saw four of its members advance to the NCAA Championships in 2006. Juniors Megan Farrell, Becca Poetz, Barbie Viney and senior Christina Brunka made their first appearances of their career at the NCAA Championships. Farrell, Poetz, Viney and Brunka set a new school record in the 400 relay with a time 3:22.00 at the Big Ten Championships.

What to expect: All except Brunka will return to the relay team for next season with their hopes set on breaking their own record and qualifying for consecutive NCAA Championship appearances.

Tennis

Coach: Michelle Dasso

Record: 8-15, 2-8 Big Ten

Plays at: Atkins Tennis Center

Recap: Unlike the Illinois men’s tennis team, the Illini women’s tennis team tied for last in the Big Ten with a 2-8 conference record and an 8-15 record overall. Despite a down season, the Illini women have made some noise already this off-season, welcoming in one of the top young coaches around the country, Michelle Dasso, to take over the team for the 2006-07 season.

What to expect: Dasso will be looking rebuild the program after longtime head coach Sujay Lama stepped down as coach at the end of last season.

Volleyball

Coach: Don Hardin

Record: 16-15, 7-13 Big Ten

Plays at: Huff Hall

Recap: The Illini volleyball squad entered the 2005 season with hopes of continuing its recent success over the years. But injuries plagued the Illini women throughout the year.

Despite starting the 9-2 in its non-conference season, Illinois couldn’t maintain its momentum during the Big Ten season. Illinois finished 7-13 and tied for seventh in the Big Ten and just missed out on qualifying for its 18th appearance in the NCAA tournament.

What to expect: The Illini are hoping to overcome the losses of departed seniors Rachel VanMeter and Rasa Virsilaite to jump back into the upper tier of the Big Ten in 2006.

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S

Cross Country

fCoach: Wendel McRaven (M), Karen Harvey (W)

Plays at: Track & Soccer Stadium

Recap: In 2005 the Illinois’ men’s cross country team was led by sophomore Dan Stock, who was the lone Illini to advance to the NCAA Championships and finished in 136th-place in the 10k. On the women’s side the Illini were led by junior Cassie Hunt and experienced one of their best seasons to date.

The Illini women’s team ended the season with a school best fifth place finish at the 2005 NCAA Nationals and finished the season ranked No. 14 in the final FinishLynx Top 30 Poll.

What to expect: Both Stock and Hunt will return for this season in hopes of improving on their great finishes in 2005 and catapulting Illinois cross country into the ranks of the top teams of 2006.

Golf

Coach: Mike Small (M), Renee Slone (W)

Plays at: UI Golf Course

Recap: The Illinois men’s golf team finished last season ranked No. 48 in the final Golfweek/Sagarin Top 50 poll. The Illini were led by junior Patrick Nagle, who the Illinois team with an average round of 73.61 and shot a team low round of 66 during the season.

Nagle, however, was forced to withdrawal from his NCAA Regional because of an injured hand. He will return this season to lead the Illini once again in hopes of improving on last year.

The women’s golf team didn’t experience as much success as the men in 2005-06 but the Illini women will return its top golfer from last year, junior Seul Ki Park, who shot an average round of 76.68 on the season.

What to expect: Park and the rest of the women’s golf team will be led by newly hired coach Renee Slone this upcoming season.

Track and Field

Coach: Wayne Angel (M), Gary Winckler (W)

Plays at: Track & Soccer Stadium

Recap: Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2006.

The men sent four competitors to the championships, including senior Abe Jones and freshman Dominique Worsley, while the women sent five participants, including junior Yvonne Mensah.

While Jones failed to advance in the 400-meter hurdles, sophomore Nick Brown finished eight in the triple jump.

On the women’s side Mensah and fellow junior Camile Robinson placed in their events as well. Mensah finished 12th in triple jump and Robinson finished 6th in the 400-meter hurdles.

What to expect: Worsley, Brown, Mensah and Robinson will all be back for the Illini this season and will have their sights set on the possibility of brining home championships for the Illini.

Compiled by Jason Grodsky