TOM’s 2009-10 Recruiting Class Rankings (#11-15)
Published on July 2, 2009 by viratas · No Comments
By: The Open Mat Editor – Willie Saylor
#11 The Ohio State
Coach Ryan continues to build a dynamo. This year’s class features the talent of Intermat’s #6 overall prospect, Collin Palmer (OH, 149), who won 4 big school state titles, and owns Ironman (2), Medina (4), Super 32, and Beast of the East crowns. At 133 Ian Paddock gives the Buckeyes another superb stud. The NY standout won 3 state titles (in 5 prep seasons), placed top 4 at NHSCA’s three times, and has 7 Fargo medals. Two other in-state kids move to Columbus: 174lber Nick Heflin, a Ohio D1 state champ with multiple Medina and Ironman placings, and Jake Vaughn (141).
Why They’re Here: 2.5 Horsepower with Vaughn for depth. Paddock and Palmer are about as close as you can get to sure things.
Why They’re not Higher: Numbers. I wish I could put them higher, but it’s a small group compared to what’s ahead of them.
#12 Wisconsin
We give a lot of love to Badger signee, Derrick Borlie(197), our Dirty Dozen #3 ranked wrestler. After a prep career that saw him win three Virginia state titles, he stuck a feather in his cap by winning Senior Nationals. Coach Davis also snagged our #4 174lber in Brendan Ard, a 2xer in Jersey’s single class tournament. Complementing the class is John Prezzia(141), a former PA state champ and Fargo winner, and in-state HWT champion, Cole Tobin. Kalvin York(WI, 149) placed all 4 years in the state tournament and has won Fargo GR titles as both a cadet and junior.
Why They’re Here: On the strength of Borlie and Ard. As a twosome we’d rank them just behind White and Dallago, but their future teammates make up some ground.
Why They’re Not Higher: Wisconsin is amongst the teams that have at least two stud recruits. The addition of their supplemental signees moves them up a bit, but not much. Prezzia’s major accomplishments came a couple season’s ago. York’s GR resume is outstanding, but he didn’t manage to win a state title in Wisconsin. If they get a lot of miles out of these guys, it will make a good class great.
#13 Illinois
Two? Two recruits begets a top 15 class? Yup. When they’re as solid as these two guys it does. Both are absolute studs from powerhouse programs. You can’t get much more efficient than that. Here’s a list of Massillon’s Sammie White’s finals appearances: Ohio big school finals (3x), Medina (3x), Walsh Ironman (2x), Fargo (2x), and King of the Mountain. First year head coach, Jim Heffernan, will also enjoy the benefits of Central Dauphin PA’s Tony Dallago. Our fourth ranked wrestler in the Dozen, Dallago was a 4x placer, 2x finalist in PA AAA. Other finals appearances include Beast of the East, Top Hat, and Powerade tournaments.
Why They’re Here: Efficiency. Two guys we feel will be mainstays in the line-up and win a lot of matches for the Illini. They’re the first class on the list, outside of maybe Lehigh, with two bona fide horses.
Why They’re Not Higher: Easy: Two guys! The classes above them have, maybe not two better guys, but two guys in their league and additional pieces.
#14 North Carolina State
Carter Jordan and the Wolfpack (should be a band, shouldn’t it?) secured perhaps the best heavyweight in the country with in-state legacy Eloheim Palma. (Brother, Jainor, was an ACC champion in 2007). All Eloheim did this year was win a state title (his third) a Dapper Dan match vs. PA state champion, Sean Owen, and NHSCA’s Senior Nationals. He wasn’t the only Wolfpack signee to win that tournament though. Colorado 3xer Dale Shull(125) did as well. Rounding out the class is state champion, Andrew Tumlin(197), who place all four years in the tough Ohio DI division.
Why They’re Here: The #1 Heavyweight in the country + two fine prospects. Tons of upside here.
Why They’re Not Higher: The class hinges on Dale Shull, who before his NHSCA title this spring, was relatively under the radar, nationally. If he proves his mettle, it could be revisited as a great haul.
#15 Wyoming
For the second time in as many seasons, Coach Mark Branch brings a top recruiting class to Laramie. Each of their 5 signees have state titles. From Washington, Kyle Komata won in 4A and Jim Belleville(149) won 4 state 2A titles along with a Fargo JR FS runner-up finish last year. Jake Eitzen(133) placed in Colorada each of his prep years and Patrick Martinez(157) won the ever-tough CA single class state title. In-state, the Cowboys wrangled up one of the top 125lbers in the country. Tyler Cox of Campbell County won four state titles and wrestled his way to finals appearances in two NHSCA class tournaments and the Super 32’s.
Why They’re Here: Proven commodity Tyler Cox and 2 wrestlers with the potential to be elite.
Why They’re Not Higher: Just 2 wrestlers with proven credentials national competition. The development of Patrick Martinez could, realistically, give this class 3 All-American threats.
