NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State head men's golf coach Ray Kralis has announced a strong two-person recruiting class, consisting of Gonzalo Cuellar and Sam Ottwell. The pair of future Redbirds have signed Athletic Financial Aid Agreements (formerly known as National Letters of Intent) and will begin their collegiate careers starting in the 2025-26 season.
Cuellar, a native of Madrid, Spain, is a member of the Spanish U18 National Team, and was a member of the U18 Madrid squad, had two wins and 20 top-10 finishes in 36 World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) events. He finished 10th or better at the U14, U16, and U18 National Championships.
"I look for Gonzalo to make a positive impact as soon as he gets to campus," said Kralis. "His success speaks to both his ability and potential, and he has the experience under his belt to make a smooth transition to the NCAA Division I level. His golf fundamentals are very solid, and I am equally impressed with the discipline and drive that he displays. He has all the tools to compete for championships as a Redbird and beyond."
In 2024 he placed 26th at the U18 Spanish International Championship with rounds of 71, 74, 76, and 73. He won the U18 Madrid Open with rounds of 74, 69, and 70, and took first at the 2024 Faldo Series Finals Spain Championship (73-67-75). He is a Royal Madrid Federation High Performance Team Member.
Ottwell, a native of Alton, Illinois, is the top-ranked player in the Illinois Class of 2025 by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA). He placed fifth in the IHSA Class 3A state finals as a junior, and 24th this past season as a senior. He was runner-up at his 3A sectionals as a junior and senior, and was the 3A Regional Champion as a senior, after finishing runner-up as a junior. He set his school record during his senior year for the lowest 18-hole tournament score, twice carding the record score of 65.
"Sam is a gamer," commented the Redbird head coach. "At a young age, he does a great job of staying in the moment focused on the process. He's always in it and battles through adversity. That combined with his length and athleticism makes for a strong foundation. His success both academically and athletically speaks to his level of discipline and motivation, so I believe Sam has a very high ceiling as a Redbird."
He is a two-time qualifier for the Junior PGA National Championship, earning a spot this past summer with a second-place finish after rounds of 71 and 66. He finished third with a seven-under tournament score (72-67-70) at the 2024 AJGA D.A. Points Junior Open. He was twice named the Metro 3A Golfer of the Year and a two-time Gateway Junior PGA Player of the Year. He finished fourth at the 2024 Metropolitan Junior Championship (72-75-70) and had two first-place and two more second-place finishes at the 2024 Gateway PGA Two-Day Events.
The Redbirds open the 2025 spring season on Monday, February 17, when the squad travels to Houston, Texas, to compete at the Border Olympics.
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