Northwestern University Athletics
Storniolo Announces Three Talented Wrestlers To Class of 2025
11/11/2020 12:14:00 PM | Wrestling
EVANSTON, Ill. – Head Coach Matt Storniolo announced the signings of three new recruits to the Northwestern wrestling program on Friday, as Joel VanderVere, Carter Young and Evan Bates will join the Wildcats in the 2021-22 season.
"I am thrilled to announce the addition of Joel, Carter and Evan to our Wildcat Wrestling Family," said Storniolo. "This is arguably the best early signing class the program has seen. Each of them are impact-recruits who will help us continue to work towards becoming an NCAA championship team. NU Wrestling has never been stronger."
All three signees rank in the Top-100 of FloWrestling's Class of 2021 rankings, with Vandervere ranked 11th, Bates ranked 34th and Young ranked 96th.
Complete bios on each student-athlete can be found below:
Joel VanderVere
5-6 • 149
Gurnee, IL // Warren Township High School
High School: 2020 Illinois Class 3A State Champion at 138 lbs, becoming the third state champion in his high school's history ... Finished his junior season 33-1 and earned Illinois All-State honors as well as a North Suburban All-Conference selection … Has posted a 99-5 record in Varsity competition … Finished runner-up and second runner-up in Illinois in 3A in consecutive years in 2019 and 2018.
Personal: Born Joel Kenneth VanderVere … Son of Jim and Heidi VanderVere … Super 32 champion … Academic Honor Roll … Chose Northwestern over Minnesota and Wisconsin … Anticipated major at Northwestern is communications.
Carter Young
5-8 • 141/149
Stillwater, OK // Stillwater High School
High School: Has posted a combined 124-5 record at Stillwater High School, including going 43-1 during his junior season ... Earned four varsity letters for wrestling at Stillwater High School … Captained varsity his junior and senior seasons ... Four-Time Oklahoma All-State Honoree … Two-Time OSSAA State Champion … Ranked #74 in Open Mat's Class of 2021 rankings and #8 in the 132 lb weight class ... Placed in both the Greco and Freestyle divisions at the 2018 Cadet World team Trials.
Personal: Born Carter Christopher Young … Son of Christopher and Christina Young … Competed in Club Wrestling for over 14 years … 3x Fargo All-American … Academic All-State team … Was a Gymnast for over 10 years … Chose Northwestern over Michigan, Oklahoma State, and Arizona State … Anticipated major at Northwestern is learning and organizational change.
Evan Bates
6-1 • 197
Chesterton, IN // Chesterton High School
High School: Earned varsity letters all four years for wrestling at Chesterton High School with a combined 124-12 record through three seasons with the Trojans … Posted a 42-1 record his junior season … Earned Indiana Class 3A All-State honors following both his sophomore and junior seasons, also winning Team MVP in both seasons … Three-time All-Region honoree ... Wrestled for Chesterton Wrestling Club team from ages 8-14.
Personal: Born Evan James Bates … Son of James and Ann Bates … Grandfather played college football at Illinois State … Wrestled with current Wildcats Lucas Davison and Jack Tolin in high school … Chose Northwestern over Indiana and Cornell ... Anticipated major at Northwestern is Engineering.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
"I am thrilled to announce the addition of Joel, Carter and Evan to our Wildcat Wrestling Family," said Storniolo. "This is arguably the best early signing class the program has seen. Each of them are impact-recruits who will help us continue to work towards becoming an NCAA championship team. NU Wrestling has never been stronger."
All three signees rank in the Top-100 of FloWrestling's Class of 2021 rankings, with Vandervere ranked 11th, Bates ranked 34th and Young ranked 96th.
Complete bios on each student-athlete can be found below:
Joel VanderVere
5-6 • 149
Gurnee, IL // Warren Township High School
High School: 2020 Illinois Class 3A State Champion at 138 lbs, becoming the third state champion in his high school's history ... Finished his junior season 33-1 and earned Illinois All-State honors as well as a North Suburban All-Conference selection … Has posted a 99-5 record in Varsity competition … Finished runner-up and second runner-up in Illinois in 3A in consecutive years in 2019 and 2018.
Personal: Born Joel Kenneth VanderVere … Son of Jim and Heidi VanderVere … Super 32 champion … Academic Honor Roll … Chose Northwestern over Minnesota and Wisconsin … Anticipated major at Northwestern is communications.
Carter Young
5-8 • 141/149
Stillwater, OK // Stillwater High School
High School: Has posted a combined 124-5 record at Stillwater High School, including going 43-1 during his junior season ... Earned four varsity letters for wrestling at Stillwater High School … Captained varsity his junior and senior seasons ... Four-Time Oklahoma All-State Honoree … Two-Time OSSAA State Champion … Ranked #74 in Open Mat's Class of 2021 rankings and #8 in the 132 lb weight class ... Placed in both the Greco and Freestyle divisions at the 2018 Cadet World team Trials.
Personal: Born Carter Christopher Young … Son of Christopher and Christina Young … Competed in Club Wrestling for over 14 years … 3x Fargo All-American … Academic All-State team … Was a Gymnast for over 10 years … Chose Northwestern over Michigan, Oklahoma State, and Arizona State … Anticipated major at Northwestern is learning and organizational change.
Evan Bates
6-1 • 197
Chesterton, IN // Chesterton High School
High School: Earned varsity letters all four years for wrestling at Chesterton High School with a combined 124-12 record through three seasons with the Trojans … Posted a 42-1 record his junior season … Earned Indiana Class 3A All-State honors following both his sophomore and junior seasons, also winning Team MVP in both seasons … Three-time All-Region honoree ... Wrestled for Chesterton Wrestling Club team from ages 8-14.
Personal: Born Evan James Bates … Son of James and Ann Bates … Grandfather played college football at Illinois State … Wrestled with current Wildcats Lucas Davison and Jack Tolin in high school … Chose Northwestern over Indiana and Cornell ... Anticipated major at Northwestern is Engineering.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
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