Joel Stockwell

Port Byron (Riverdale)/Rock Island

Wrestler/Coach

Joel Stockwell was a four-time IHSA State placer at Riverdale High School, where he competed for 2020 IWCOA

Hall of Fame inductee Jim Boyd. He placed third as a freshman, third as a sophomore, first as a junior and second

as a senior. In his junior season of 1991-1992 when he won the Class A title at 130, he also defeated the state

champ two weight classes above him. Joel amassed a high school record of 144-25-1.

He was an instrumental part of leading his high school team to a third-place finish at the State Dual Team

Tournaments in consecutive years. Joel holds a record for most pins at the dual team state tournament in 1992

and 1993, pinning all of his opponents each year. Joel and his teammates, including 2017 Hall of Famer Tyler

Hurry and Jeremy Anderson, earned enough team points to be awarded the IWCOA Team Champions of the1993

IHSA Individual State Tournament. He also gave Newman Central Catholic’s four-time IHSA champion, Mike

Mena, a 2000 IWCOA Hall of Famer, his only blemish in an undefeated high school career with a tie.

Joel continued wrestling at Augustana College, lettering there, but many injuries ended his competitive career.

He continued his career by coaching for eight years as an assistant at Riverdale, where his teams appeared four

times at the State Dual Team Tournament.

For the past 21 years, Joel has been the head coach at Rock Island High School. He has become a mentor and

leader to his wrestlers. He has coached 61 State qualifiers, 24 State place winners and five State champions. In

2024, his team set a school record of seven State qualifiers, which included five medalists, three finalists and two

State champions. Joel’s teams have won eight conference championships, five IHSA Regional titles and made

one IHSA State Dual Team appearance in 2022, the year he claimed his 200th dual meet victory for the Rocks.

He also simultaneously coached the girls program until the 2025-2026 school year. He had four state qualifiers

earning two medals including one in the inaugural year of IHSA girls wrestling. He has had many wrestlers

continue their love in wrestling by competing at the collegiate level and several have earned All-American status

with one becoming a National Champion.