Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats' Recruiting Class Ranked Third in Nation
1/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 2, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill.-- In W.I.N. Magazine's recruiting rankings, Northwestern earned the No. 3 spot, while the Big Ten held all five of the top five ranks and seven of the top 10.
NU grabbed the nation's most highly touted recruit in Jason Welch to go along with Brian Roddy and Eric Galka. While Welch has been generally acclaimed as the nation's top recruit, Galka and Roddy have also received the top honors in their respective weight classes by various rankings.
"This recruiting class is a testament to our current team," assistant coach Drew Pariano said. "We obviously work very hard on the recruiting end but our recent success has a big role in this incoming class."
W.I.N.'s top 10 is as follows:
1. Minnesota: Coach J Robinson strengthened every part of his lineup. It's possible that Jake Deitchler (149) of nearby Anoka High and Mario Mason (149-157) of Blairstown (N.J.) Blair Academy could become multiple NCAA champions. Cody Yohn (174) of Alamosa (Colo.) High, who joins freshman brother Sonny in the Twin Cities, Ryland Geiger (197) of Scappoose (Ore.) High and Atticus Disney (285) of Andover (Kan.) Central High are the upper-weight future and another local, Matt Mincey (125-133) of Apple Valley High all comprise what could be the core of three or four more future individual NCAA crowns.
2. Wisconsin: With seven recruits, coach Barry Davis went far and wide to match his Big Ten neighbors. Picture this future start of the lineup: Tom Kelliher (125) of Apple Valley; three-time Colorado champion Tyler Graff (133) of Loveland High; Trey Bertram (141) of Hastings (Minn.) High; Greco-Roman standout Cole Schmitt (141-149) of Belleville/Monticello/New Glarus High; Jimmy Duffy (149) of Naperville (Ill.) Neuqua Valley High; Andrew Howe (157) of Cedar Lake (Ind.) Hanover Central High and Ben Jordan (157-165) of St. Paris (Ohio) Graham High, whose father, Jim, is a former Wisconsin star.
3. Northwestern: Building upon last year's fourth-place NCAA finish, coach Tim Cysewski picked up the ultimate quality group, highlighted by two No. 1 wrestlers: Jason Welch (165) of Walnut Creek (Calif.) Las Lomas High, perhaps the nation's top recruit, and Brian Roddy (174-184) of Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward High. Also signing on: two-time Indiana champion Eric Galka (133-141) of Hobart (Ind.) High.
4. Illinois: Coach Mark Johnson has gone to both coasts for recruits in recent years. This time, he stayed home and cleaned up. He locked up the state's top three recruits: two-time champions Conrad Polz (157-165) of Orland Park Carl Sandburg High, Jordan Blanton (174-184) of Richmond-Burton High and champion B.J. Futrell (125) of Chicago Mount Carmel High. Class A champion Kyle Dooley (157) of Monticello High also signed and place-winner Brian Reynolds (165-174) of New Lenox Providence High follows two older brothers to Champaign.
5. Ohio State: The Columbus heavyweight pipeline continues with local standout John Hiles of St. Francis de Sales High staying home. Three-time state champion Tony Jameson (141-149) of Youngstown Austintown-Fitch High and Cody Magrum (174-184) of Oak Harbor High also are staying home. Coach Tom Ryan also mined Alabama for sleeper Keaton Thompson (133) of Vestavia Hills High.
6. Oklahoma State: Coach John Smith showed the rest of the nation he still doesn't have any problems bringing blue-chippers to Stillwater. Two-time champions Jordan Oliver (133) of Easton (Pa.) High and Alex Meade (165) of Camden Wyoming (Del.) Caesar Rodney High fit the mold perfectly and Johnny Koepp (157) is the latest member of the Dallas (Texas) Bishop Lynch High pipeline to migrate north to Stillwater. Tyson Yoder (197) of Weatherford High will stay at home.
7. Iowa: The two shining stars of hometown powerhouse Iowa City West High's program, Nate Moore (125) and Grant Gambrall (174-184), highlight coach Tom Brands' class. In fact, Brands didn't have to go more than an hour and a half from home, also landing Matt McDonough (125) of Marion Linn-Mar High and Mark Ballweg (133-141) of Waverly-Shell Rock High. All four have been Fargo headliners the past two years.
8. Central Michigan: Operating in the shadow of Big Ten neighbors Michigan and Michigan State doesn't keep coach Tom Borrelli from getting the recruits he wants. Eric Cubberly (157) of Pemberville (Ohio) Eastwood High and Ben Bennett (165-174) of Rockford High should develop into two of the nation's top middleweights. Potential four-time Florida champion Scotti Sentes (125) of Fort Myers Riverdale High and two-time Ohio champion Ben Sergent (125) of Troy Christian High keep the lower weights in good hands.
9. Michigan: Coach Joe McFarland's three recruits ooze quality. The state's top lightweight, three-time champion Mark Weber (125-133) of Goodrich High, will stay at home. Ohio champion Coby Boyd (149-157) of St. Paris Graham High and three-time California placewinner Hunter Collins (174-184) of Gilroy High, perhaps the top recruit yet to win a state title, also are headed to Ann Arbor.
10. Rutgers: Goodale started at his old digs, locking up Jackson standout Scott Winston (165), then added another heralded two-time champion: Trevor Melde (149) of Morristown Delbarton High. Staying within the Shore Conference area, the state's strongest the past couple of years, he also signed a pair of stars from Oakhurst Ocean Township High, champion Nick Menditto (149-157) and two-time placewinner Zac Coulas (133) and sleeper Joey Langel (125) of Farmingdale Howell High. Dan Rinaldi (174-184) of Lodi High and Jesse Boyden (197) of Kenilworth David Brearley High hail from North Jersey.
To read Rob Sherrill's entire article, visit W.I.N. Magazine's recruiting page.
