Category: Uncategorized (Page 85 of 174)

Ferne Clyffe State Park

Ferne Clyffe Falls is said to be the most visited waterfall in Illinois, and for good reason; you can actually walk behind this waterfall! This 2400 acre park has incredible geological features that people have taken notice of for at least the past 100 years.  To visit Ferne Clyffe State Park, drive south on IL-37 from Downtown Goreville. In just 2 minutes, you will arrive at the entrance to the park. For more information, click here.

Matthiessen State Park

Matthiessen State Park is located just 2.5 miles south of the famous Starved Rock!  Matthiessen is a paradise for those interested in geology, as well as recreation. Visitors can expect to see beautiful rock formations in addition to unusual and abundant vegetation and wildlife. The main hiking trails are separated into two sections by a 45 foot drop from  the upper dells to the lower dells.  The trails navigate you through the limestone canyon, and feature stunning sites, including a cave, towering bluffs, and several waterfalls. Come visit Matthiessen State Park and find out why it’s considered one of Illinois’s best kept secrets! Matthiessen State Park is an Illinois state park located a few miles south of the more famous Starved Rock State Park. The main entrances to both parks are located on Illinois State Route 178, the entrance is located at 2500 IL-178, Oglesby, IL 61348 For more information, click here.

Jackson Falls Recreation Area

Jackson Falls is one of the best waterfalls in all of Illinois.  During the 5 mile hike to get to the base of the falls, you can also see two other waterfalls, along a beautiful canyon. During the summer months, Jackson Falls is one of the most popular swimming holes in the state.  But what’s even more stunning is the rocks that surround this area. There are numerous sandstone bluffs and freestanding boulders. The area is also a popular place for rock climbing.  In fact, there are 60 climbing locations to choose from, each about 50-60 feet in height. Jackson Falls is located in Shawnee National Forest at Glen St Falls Rd, Simpson, IL 62985. For more information, click here.

Starved Rock State Park

Tonya Boyd Photography

When its comes to beautiful scenery, very few parks in the Midwest can compare to Starved Rock State Park.  Whether you enjoy hiking along the nature trails or viewing the many spectacular overlooks along the Illinois River, recreational opportunities abound. In 1966 Starved Rock State Park was named a National Historic Landmark, and now boosts more than 13 miles of well marked hiking trails, 18 canyons, and 14 different waterfalls!  From picnicking to fishing to boating, from horseback riding to camping to enjoying winter sports, there’s so much to do that you’ll want to come back again and again. Starved Rock State Park is situated along the south bank of the Illinois River, less than 100 miles from Chicago, at 2668 E 875th Rd., Oglesby, IL 61348. For more information, click here.

Castle Rock State Park

Castle Rock State Park is located three miles south of Oregon, Illinois on Highway 2 located along the west bank of the Rock River in Ogle County. The park is spread out across 2,000 acres of rolling topography, and includes six miles of marked hiking trails, and a public boat ramp/parking facility is located across from the park’s main entrance. Castle Rock is named after a sandstone bluff, adjacent to the river, that offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding river valley.  The picnic area includes tables, shelters, grills, toilets, drinking water and playground equipment. The park is located at 1365 W. Castle Rd. Oregon Illinois For more information click here.

Penn State Has a long rich history of producing some of the nations best wrestlers. Ranking these elite athletics, was no easy task. This is just for fun and to give us all something to talk about during the off season, so try not to take it to seriously.

10 Sanshiro Abe

Sanshiro was a 4x all-american, and 1x NCAA champion. Placing 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st, in consecutive years. In 1996 he competed in the Summer Olympics in Atlanta Georgia. Sanshiro has quality wins over 2x NCAA Champion Jeff  McGinness, 3x NCAA champion Eric Guerrero and 4x all-american Dwight Hinson. After his college career, he competed in the 97, and 98 world championships in freestyle.

9 Ken Chertow

Ken has found success at all levels of competition, both as a competitor and a coach. After winning 2 State Championships and Outstanding Wrestler Awards, Ken culminated his prep career by winning Junior Nationals in both freestyle and Greco and the Junior World Championship. While studying and training at PENN STATE, Ken was a 3x NCAA All-American, 2x Junior World Champion, Pan American Champion, and U.S. Olympian. Ken also excelled in the classroom as he became a 3X Academic All-American, graduating from Penn State with a 3.6 GPA. Ken had a college record of 96-8.

8 Jeff Prescott

During his high school years, Jeff was a 3x state champion,and a 1987 Junior National Champion, a USA High School All-American and named the Most Outstanding Wrestler for the 1986 NYSPHSAA Tournament. In college, The Nittany Lion was a 2x  NCAA champion at 118 pounds (1990 & 1991), becoming only the second Penn State grappler to achieve that recognition. His 51 dual meet wins rank 17th in school history and he shares the single season school record for dual wins at 22. In addition to his NCAA titles, Jeff was the University Freestyle champion at 125.5 in 1990 and a member of the 2002 Pan-Am team, where he collected a silver medal.  Jeff was the first Penn State wrestler to win the outstanding wrestler award at the NCAA Tournament and had a career record of 88-15.

7 Phil Davis

Phil is a rare 4x all-american, finishing 7th, 2nd, and 5th, before finally winning the National Title in 2008. He finished his college wrestling career with an overall record of 116–20. Phil has quality wins over Ryan Bader,  and 3x NCAA Champion Jake Rosholt. After graduating from Penn State, Phil pursued a career in MMA where he found immediate success. Eventually he won the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship. Phil is still active today and has a MMA record of 24-6.

6 Kerry McCoy

Kerry was a 3x all-american with a 150-18  record! He won the NCAA title 2x, in 1994 and 1997. He ended his college career on an impressive 88 match winning streak! In 1997 Kerry was the Hodge Trophy Winner, an award given to the best college wrestler in the country regardless of weight class. A 2x Olympian McCoy took fifth place at the 2000 Olympic Games and seventh at the 2004 Games. He has quality wins over, 1999 World Champion Stephen Neal, 2x NCAA Champion Steve Mocco, and NCAA Champion Tolly Thompson.

5 Jason Nolf

Jason Nolf was a rare 4x NCAA finalist, and 3x NCAA Champion. While racking up a 117-3 record, he also became Penn State’s 10th 4x all-american. Nolf grabbed the attention of the wrestling world during his freshman year, when he pinned the defending NCAA champion Isaiah Martinez, handing the University Of Illinois wrestler his first collegiate loss. After graduating from Penn State, Jason won the Pan American Championships, winning 2 matches be technical fall, and the third match by pinfall. Nolf has quality wins over NCAA Champions,  Vincenzo Joseph, Jordan Oliver, David Carr, Bubba Jenkins, and Isaiah Martinez. Jason was twice in the running for the prestigious Hodge Trophy, losing out to his teammates, Zain and Bo.

4 Ed Ruth

Ed Ruth was one of the most dominant wrestlers in NCAA history, he had a way of making matches look so easy. Ed was so far ahead of the competition, he often looked bored during his match. Over 4 years he racked up a 136-3 record, and was a 4x all-american. Had it not been due to a freak injury his freshman year, Ruth would of likely been Penn State’s first 4x NCAA Chmapion. As it is, he went on to become a 3x National Champion. During Ed’s college career he dominated like very few have before or after. Ruth also represented the United States at the 2014 World Wrestling Championships and the 2015 Wrestling World Cup. In May of 2015 Ruth signed on to compete for Bellator MMA, and has since enjoyed a successful MMA career.

 3 Bo Nickal

Bo dominated like very few have before him. His cradles came from every angle, and the best college wrestlers in the country where helpless trying to defend them. Bo was a 4x all-american and 3x NCAA Champion. My favorite Nickal match came in his sophomore year, as he moved up in weight to challenge the defending 2x NCAA champion Gabe Dean. Dean was a front runner at the time for the Hodge Trophy and looked almost invincible in his quest for a 3rd straight national title. Well Bo wanted to see if the  Cornell wrestler was as good as advertised, so he bumped up in weight and defeated Dean and claimed his first NCAA title. He finished his college career with an impressive 120-3 record. If that wasn’t enough he also claimed the 2019 Hodge Trophy.

2 Zain Retherford

As a true freshman, Zain’s potential was already on full display, as he tore through the competition going 27-0 during the regular season. Although he ended up finishing 5th at the NCAA tournament that year, Penn State fans knew he was something special. Zain went on to become a 4x all-american, and 3x NCAA champion, racking up an impressive 128-3 record.  Going undefeated his final 3 seasons. He was named NCAA most dominant wrestler 3x, Big 10 wrestler of the year 2x and he won the prestigious Hodge trophy 2x. One of his most impressive wins came during his freshman campaign when he defeated 4x NCAA champion Logan Stieber of Ohio State. Zain showed a level of dominance rarely seen in college wrestling.

1 David Taylor

As hard as it was doing these rankings, it was surprisingly easy choosing number 1. On a list of the all time greats, David Taylor still stands out above the rest. He is that good! David was a 4x Ohio state champion, and graduated with an impressive 180-2 record, and was a Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winner. Upon arriving in Happy Valley, his winning ways continued. He stormed thru the competition all the way to the NCAA finals with a perfect record, and was pinned by his former teammate. His sophomore year was more of the same as he again demolished every challenge in his way. He won the NCAA championship and  was named the Dan Hodge Trophy winner, improving his college record to 70-1. As a junior Taylor ran into 4x NCAA Champion, and future World Champion Kyle Dake. After a back and forth battle Taylor was defeated 5-4. His senior year he was back for vengeance, and ran away with his second NCAA title. In becoming a 4x finalist, Taylor also earned his second Hodge Trophy. As impressive as all this is, his bonus percentage was just as ridiculous.  in 4 years, David had 50 pins, 42 tech falls, and 29 majors. On the international scene, he has won gold at 3 Pan American Championships, the 2018 World Cup, the 2018 World Championships, and the 2020 Olympic’s! With a career like this, he will likely stay atop of these lists for many years to come.

Honorable Mention: Aaron Brooks, Carter Starocci, Roman Bravo-Young, Mark Hall.

Compare this team with the Top 10 from Iowa and Oklahoma State.

Rocky Falls Beach

This picture is owned by Jennifer Aubuchon

This is one of the most unique beaches in the Midwest, and is located in Southeast Missouri near the town of Winona. The beach is surrounded by a beautiful rock backdrop, the rocks in the  area date back more then a billion years. The natural area, is made even more beautiful, by the  waterfall that pours into the swim area. This is one of Missouri’s BEST swimming holes. The beach can be found on County Road NN-526, in Winona. For more information, click here.

Fugitive Beach

It’s not often you can find a swimming hole this exotic, right smack dab in the middle of the Midwest. Once an abandoned rock quarry, The Fugitive Beach now serves as a tropical paradise, surrounded by towering limestone bluffs. The Fugitive Beach is a family owned business, spread out on more then 20 beautiful acres.  The beach itself is over 300 feet in length of soft sand, just perfect for laying out in the summer sun. The Fugitive Beach is located at 16875 County Road 5285, Rolla, MO 65401. For more information, click here.

Long Branch Beach

Long Branch Beach is a very popular family friendly beach located at 28615 Visitor Center Rd, in Macon, Missouri. There is  a sandy beach and calm water so its an ideal place for families with younger children. There are boat ramps, picnic areas, changing facilities, and volleyball courts as well. There is also a store selling sunscreen and snacks.  Kayaking and hiking are other activities you can enjoy at the beach. For more information, click here.

Moonshine Beach

This picture is owned by Richard Cote

Moonshine Beach Recreation Area is a very popular sandy swimming beach along the shores of Table Rock Lake. Unlike the smaller swimming areas at the campgrounds surrounding Table Rock Lake, Moonshine beach is spacious enough to make visitors forget they are actually on a lake and not at the ocean. Moonshine Beach Recreation Area offers a large group picnic shelter and can accommodate up to 75 guests. Moonshine Beach is the only sand swim beach at Table Rock Lake, and with the beach, a volleyball court, boat ramp and picnic area all provided, it’s the perfect destination for large parties or family functions. From Branson, Missouri, take Highway 165 to Table Rock Dam. The park is just north of the dam. For more information, click here.

Finger Lakes Beach

This public beach has a sandy area and is a perfect place for swimming. The beach is surrounded with scenic rolling hills, that provide a beautiful back drop for your outing.  The lake is a perfect place for kayaking and there are picnic areas scattered throughout the park. Finger Lake Beach is located at 1505 Peabody Road, Columbia Missouri. For more information, click here.

No college degree required! But you have to act fast applications are only accepted through May,13th.

Westcave Preserve

This picture is owned by J Worth Thompson

Your guide will take you along a 15 minute walk from the waiting area in an arid savanna through a limestone crevice down a 100 foot staircase into a sheltered canyon of lush plant life. After a 15 minute walk you will reach the head of the canyon where a stunning 40-foot waterfall stands replenishing the grotto pool below! Guests will have 30 minutes to absorb the beauty of the grotto area and relax. Your guide will rotate the household groups around so each group can enjoy the different views of the waterfall and inside of our 1-chamber room cave, while keeping a physical distance from one another and the guide. The event will conclude with your guide sending each household group back through the canyon and exiting the staircase, an approximate 15 minute walk. Guests can then proceed back to their vehicle. Access to the canyon, cave and grotto is only permitted with a supervising staff member. The Walk Through The Grotto Experience is available be reservation only. The Westcave Preserve is located at 24814 Hamilton Pool Rd. Round Mountain, TX. For more information, click here.

Hamilton Pool Preserve

This picture is owned by Alex Dibrova.

Hamilton Pool Preserve was designated a nature preserve by the Travis County Commissioner’s Court in 1990. Located 3/4 mile upstream from its confluence with the Pedernales River, Hamilton Creek spills out over limestone outcroppings to create a 50-foot waterfall as it plunges into the head of a steep box canyon. The waterfall never completely dries up, but in dry times it does slow to a trickle. However, the pool’s water level stays pretty constant, even during periods of drought. A unique natural area surrounds this pool, collapsed grotto and canyon, formed by thousands of years of water erosion. Lush plant communities, a variety of wildlife species and natural shelter attracted the area’s first inhabitants. Cultural remains date back over 8,000 years.  The area is incredibly gorgeous and is one of the most photographed locations in Texas. Due to the popularity reservations are required. Hamilton Pool Preserve is located at 24300 Hamilton Road Dripping Springs, TX. For more information, click here.

Jacob’s Well Natural Area

This picture is owned by Alayna Michelle White

Jacob’s Well is an artesian spring that releases thousands of gallons of water a day. This is the second-largest fully submerged cave in Texas. The source of the water comes from the Trinity Aquifer, which makes its way from an extensive underground cave system. This is a very popular place for hiking and swimming. Reservations are required. Jacob’s Well Natural Area is located at 1699 Mt. Sharp Rd. in Wimberley, TX. For more information, click here.

Davis Mountains State Park

Tim Wood

High in the mountains of West Texas you will find a beautiful and historic park. Explore Davis Mountains State Park’s miles of trails, stay up late to marvel at the night sky, learn about the history of the park and nearby frontier fort. It’s worth the drive! Davis Mountains State Park offers a unique and remote destination for all sorts of adventures. Here you can hike, backpack, mountain bike or ride your own horse, take a scenic drive through the mountains, go camping, stargaze, geocache and study nature. Davis Mountains State Park is located at TX-118 N., Park Rd. 3 Fort Davis, TX. For more information, click here.

Longhorn Cavern State Park

Located less than 90 minutes from Austin, Texas, Longhorn Cavern State Park is a unique Hill Country destination full of natural beauty and Texas-sized tales. Developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the park’s star attraction is Longhorn Cavern, an underground wonder created by the dissolving and cutting action of an ancient river. Enjoy a guided cave tour, hike a Hill Country trail, and admire some of Texas’ best examples of historic CCC architecture. It’s all part of the story of Longhorn Cavern State Park. The park offers both a walking tour as well as a wild tour. Longhorn Cavern State Park is located at 6211 Park Road 4 South Burnet, Texas. For more information, click here.