Alber Shoots For Record 2/20/13
By: Scott Leber
Updated: February 20, 2013
Dakota, Illinois-When it comes to wrestling excellence look no farther than Dakota High School and Josh Alber. He has won three individual state championships, and he's undefeated so far through three years of high school.
He has won 131 consecutive matches. That puts him one victory away from tieing the all-time record in Illinois. That record of 132 matches was set in the early '80s by Chicago Fenton wrestler Ed Giese.
This Saturday when Dakota wrestles in the State Quarterfinals Alber can tie Giese's record. If Dakota wins as a team over LeRoy in that match then Alber will get a shot to break the record Saturday afternoon in the semifinals.
Alber has a strong sense of what the record would men.
"Illinois is probably one of the top three hardest states for wrestling competition," said Alber to WTVO. "I know how great the guys who came before me were in Illinois, so to have that record that would mean a lot. I've been working toward it my whole high school career."
Alber says he began thinking about the record since midway through his sophomore year. He's only a junior, so he had another year to add to that record streak if he can get it.
He has won 131 consecutive matches. That puts him one victory away from tieing the all-time record in Illinois. That record of 132 matches was set in the early '80s by Chicago Fenton wrestler Ed Giese.
This Saturday when Dakota wrestles in the State Quarterfinals Alber can tie Giese's record. If Dakota wins as a team over LeRoy in that match then Alber will get a shot to break the record Saturday afternoon in the semifinals.
Alber has a strong sense of what the record would men.
"Illinois is probably one of the top three hardest states for wrestling competition," said Alber to WTVO. "I know how great the guys who came before me were in Illinois, so to have that record that would mean a lot. I've been working toward it my whole high school career."
Alber says he began thinking about the record since midway through his sophomore year. He's only a junior, so he had another year to add to that record streak if he can get it.
