How this Illini recruit quietly built a legacy and grew into the Peoria area's top wrestler

WASHINGTON — Kannon Webster has become synonymous with winning over the last four years.

The Washington senior has a 146-2 career mark and two Illinois state titles — and very likely would have another if not for a pandemic-shortened sophomore year. He is something to behold for a program with plenty of superlatives like six Illinois High School Association state trophies in the last decade, including four straight titles between 2015-18.

As Webster embarks on his final weeks as a prep wrestler, he looks to wrap up that highly decorated tenure with a third individual state championship. Sweeping through the field at the State Farm Center in two weeks would put him in elite company at state power Washington; only Jacob Warner (2015-17) and Dylan Reel (2009-10, 2012) have won three state titles for the Peoria area's premiere program.

“I just keep trying to get better every single day,” the soft-spoken Webster said. “… Just kind of do what I know how to do, go out and wrestle.”

IHSA playoffs:Here are the 131 Peoria-area boys wrestlers who advanced to the 2023 IHSA sectionals

Growing into a leader

But before any thoughts of titles can occur, Webster, who wrestled at 145 pounds at the Mid-Illini Conference Tournament, and the host Panthers head into Saturday’s Class 2A regional with their sights on a ninth successive plaque. He’s embraced the responsibility of being a senior leader like the upperclassmen before him like Zeke Hulet, Brody Norman, Josh Biagini and Donnie Hidden.

Webster sees his role less as a burden but more as a Washington wrestling tradition.

“That’s a big part of like what they leave behind is how they encourage the rest of the team,” he said, “and encourage the leaders that come next.

“Being a senior and all, I just kind of like looking after everyone, making sure everyone’s doing the right things.”

Wrestling became a part of Webster’s life at a very young age thanks to his dad, Matt Webster. Dad was Washington’s first champion, taking home the 1995 Class AA 140-pound title before a career at Missouri.

The elder Webster, who is also an assistant on the Washington staff, coached his son to four state titles in the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation. The younger Wester also won the 2021 Junior Freestyle National Championship at 120 pounds the summer before his junior season.

Now at 145 pounds, Webster has gone from 106 pounds as a freshman to 120 the next year to 132 last season where he was 48-1 with his second 2A title. He was able to naturally allow his body to grow and not hold himself back to be a smaller wrestler.

It also kind of snuck up on as him being a "bigger guy" on the team, according to Webster.

“I still can’t believe that I was that small my freshman year,” he said with a laugh.

As much as Webster has evolved over his last four seasons, a lot remains the same.

“Talk about things that haven’t changed with Kannon — he’s an extreme competitor,” Washington Nick Miller said. "That comes out in his work ethic. The way he prepares in the (wrestling) room, you see everything is geared towards something.”

Best of the best:Here are the top 15 high school wrestlers in the Peoria area for the 2022-23 season

Off to the University of Illinois

One direction wrestling has taken Webster is to compete collegiately. After his 50-0, 106-pound state championship freshman champaign, he made his verbal commitment to the University of Illinois, becoming Illini wrestling coach Mike Poeta’s first pledge.

He chose Champaign in part because former Washington coach Bryan Medlin was named the program's director of operations.

“(After his hiring), I knew it’s kind of really where I want to be,” said Webster, who signed this past November and is unsure of his college major.

So, how does one of the nation’s top wrestlers practice?

A lot of Webster’s teammates in weight classes around and above him grapple each other daily. Peyton Cox (138 pounds), Cael Miller (152) and Blake Hinrichsen (170) all have battled with Webster.

“He’s just probably one of the best practice partners I could ask for,” Hinrichsen said. “… I try to implement some of the things that he does a lot better than me, just being able to wrestle with him almost at a higher level.”

Webster agrees that this has helped him immensely.

“I’m at the point now where I kind of go against some bigger guys, too, who also push me,” he said. “Not only wrestling-wise, but strength-wise.”

Once his season ends, Webster may be better equipped to reflect on his Washington wrestling legacy. Now? He’s not sure what to think about the mark he’ll leave on the Washington wrestling community.

Even if he’s one of the best to ever don an orange-and-black singlet.

IHSA girls wrestling:As girls wrestling explodes, Richwoods is building one of the nation's top programs

“I don’t really know what to think about it,” Webster said. “Everybody’s been asking me that, kind of, ‘What’s your legacy going out?’ I don’t really have that clear of an answer, I guess.

“I’m just going to kind of keep doing the same thing I have all four years.”

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA wrestling: Illinois Fighting Illini recruit Kannon Webster profile