Northwestern University Athletics
Northwesterns Lands Top Prospects for 2003-04
11/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 25, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern head coach Tim Cysewski announced arguably the best signing class in school history. Cysewski and the 'Cats inked Ryan Lang (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward), the top-ranked prep wrestler nationally at 135 pounds, and Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), the second-ranked wrestler nationally at 160 pounds.
Lang is a three-time state champion and is attempting to become his high school's first four-time winner. He won the 2002 Junior Nationals. Lang is projected to wrestle at 141 or 149 pounds for the Wildcats.
Herbert finished second in the 2002 Pennsylvania state tournament. He placed third at the 2002 Junior Nationals. Herbert, who is 108-13 as a prep competitor, is expected to wrestle at 174 or 184 pounds wearing a Wildcat uniform.
Northwestern has also signed local product Jim Friend (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville). He is a two-time state qualifier, including a fifth-place finish in the 2002 state tournament. He has a career record of 119-13 and is currently ranked No. 2 in the state. Friend is projected to wrestle at 157 pounds.
"We have three outstanding wrestlers coming in," Cysewski said. "They will definitely make an immediate impact on the program. The staff has worked tremendously hard to get these kids. This could be the best recruiting class in NU history."
