"We feel very fortunate to have signed these three student-athletes this fall," Heffernan said. "All have extremely high goals and have achieved a high level of success at the national level. They fit in well with our current wrestlers and are the type of competitors we want to have. I am anxious to get them to Illinois and look forward to their impact on our program."
Clark, from St. Edward High School - Heffernan's alma mater - is a two-time Ohio state champ, earning titles at 112 in 2008 and 119 in 2009. He also finished runner-up to current Illinois freshman Sam White at 103 pounds in 2007. He's the top-ranked national recruit at 130 and was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the Freestyle Cadet Nationals in 2007. Clark will wrestle at 133 for the Illini.
"It is nice to get Jamie Clark from national powerhouse St. Edward," Heffernan said. "He has been a major factor in their success, leading them to three team championships and winning two individual state titles with a runner-up finish as a freshman."
Lightfoot was the 2009 IHSA Class 2A runner-up at 125 pounds, finishing the season 25-5. He also earned Junior National All-America status, finishing eighth in both 2008 and 2009. Lightfoot led Yorkville to a team runner-up finish at the 2009 IHSA Class 2A dual team state tournament. He will wrestle either at 141 or 149 for Illinois.
"Jed was the state runner-up last year as an individual and competed for Yorkville High School, who was the state team runner-up in Illinois," Heffernan said. "Jed also has proven that he can wrestle at the national level, placing twice at the Junior Nationals."
Morse won consecutive Michigan Division 2 state titles at 140 in 2008 and 152 in 2009 after finishing runner-up at 125 in 2007. He's the No. 2 national recruit at 152 and the No. 21 overall national recruit, having won consecutive titles at the Super 32 tournament, one of the top national high school tournaments. He won the 145-pound championship in 2008 and took the 152-pound title in 2009, beating the No. 1 national recruit in the title match. Morse also led Lowell High School to the 2009 Michigan state championship. He will wrestle at 157 in college.
"Jackson Morse has very similar credentials as Jamie Clark, also winning two state championships along with a runner-up finish," Heffernan said. "Jackson's team, Lowell High School, was the Michigan state team champions last year as well. Both have had a great deal of success individually as well as part of their teams."
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