TOM’s 2009-10 Recruiting Class Rankings (#6-10)

By Willie Saylor – Editor The Open Mat.com

#6 Iowa

The Hawkeyes land yet another windfall of a recruiting class, this one featuring in-state 2xers, Derek St. John, who recently won a Fila Freestyle title, and is our #1 157lb prospect, and Dylan Carew(149) who also has 2 Dvorak and two Fargo national crowns.

Coach Brands also picked up Illinois 3xer, Tony Ramos, who has 6 Fargo medals and 2008 Fila freestyle title. The final recruit is Utah 4xer Ethan Lofthouse(174), with 3 NHSCA and 1 Ironman finals appearances along with 2 Fargo national titles.

In the transfer department, former Cyclone, Tyler Clark will shift allegiances to become Iowa’s 125lber after redshirting one season. Clark posted a 25-8 record in tough schedule that included wins over several All-Americans. He finished as Big 12 runner-up and an NCAA qualifier. He was 1-2 at this year’s national tournament.

Where They’re Here:
A lot of promise and a ton of hardware. Our #1 157lber (St. John) and a proven DI winner (Clark) with two years of eligibility and a redshirt to burn.

Why They’re Not Higher:
The top 5 either have more of a ‘sure thing’ or more kids with similar credentials. Lofthouse and Ramos had some questionable losses which factor in bit, as does, however slightly, St. John’s loss to Nicholson.

#7 Michigan

Coach McFarland brings in a small but talented recruiting class to Ann Arbor, featuring the nations #1 133lb prospect on Dirty Dozen list, Florida extraordinaire, Eric Grajales, who’s won everything from Fila National titles, Fargo titles, the Super32 and a fall in the Dapper Dan as well as taking care of business in his own state to the tune of 4 state titles. His workout partner may be Sean Boyle(125), a Blair grad who is arguably the best prospect at his weight as well. Boyle has won, The National Preps twice, the Beast twice, a Massachusetts’ state title, and, just for good measure, this year’s Senior NHSCA crown.

Another future Wolverine, in-state 3xer, Dan Yates(165) also won Senior’s this season. Brandon Zeerip(157), will join his brother on the squad. Brandon was to 3 Michigan state finals.

Why They’re Here:
Certainty with Boyle and Grajales, who might be the single most DI-ready wrestler in the country as a true freshman. These two will certainly team up for a great deal of hardware at NCAAs.

Why They’re Not Higher:
It was difficult to put them behind Iowa. But Yates is coming off a questionable loss at Disney, and it’s a small class in general.

#8 Cornell

The Big Red bring in quite a nice haul to Ithaca. The Big Gun of the group is our #1 141lber in the Dirty Dozen, home state product, Kyle Dake, who won NHSCAs as a senior, junior, and sophomore. The second big recruit (emphasis on big) is Stryker Lane out of Colorado. The heavyweight won state titles and was ranked 6th in the country. Also on board is 3x NYS finalist Mike Nevinger (141) and 3x Michigan state champion, Craig Eifert (149). At 125 Coach Koll picked up Tyler Biscaha, a NJ state champion along with 4x state place-winner and Ironman runner-up, Cody Kelly(133, PA).

Why They’re Here:
This is sort of a yeoman’s class; a nice, safe class that is sure to result in production. Dake is a number one and guys like Biscaha, Kelly, and Nevinger are very steady. Cornell’s class offers fewer questions that most others. Essentially, you know you’re getting guys that can compete.

Why They Not Higher:
Stryker Lane’s non-existent national record. Lane may have been the best Hwt. in the country as a senior, in which case we’re talking about a class with two number one recruits. But in a project like this, you have to say, ‘prove it.’

#9 Virginia

Cav’s Coach Steve Garland brings in a nice combo of blue-chippers and solid prospects this year. Jon Fausey (PA) threw his name in the conversation as the nation’s #1 184lb prospect when he defeated Chris Perry in the Dapper Dan. Zach Clemente(149) was a Senior Nationals runner up after reaching the NYS finals three times and scoring medals in five Fargo events. Virginia also secured the talents of Bloomsburg transfer, Matt Snyder(125, PA) who proved he can wrestle at the DI level by posting a 19-9 record and placing at the Nittany Lion Open, the Southern Scuffle and other open tournaments as a redshirt last season. Former New Jersey runner-up and double Cadet finalist Jonathan Becker could pay dividends immediately at 197.

Adding depth for the future will be Nicky Gordon(141), a 3x National Prep runner-up of Pennsylvania’s Wyoming Seminary, and 4x Virginia state champion, 4x Beast placer, Andrew Williams(133). From the west, the Cavs grabbed Gabe Gomez(125, CO) who placed at the state tournament four times as well as the Ironman twice, and Missouri state champion, and Super32 runner-up, Stephen Doty(174).

Why They’re Here:
Clemente and Fausey are two top-flight recruits. Within the next season or so, these two, along with Becker, who there’s an immediate need for at 197, and Snyder, the Cavs seem to have gotten 40% of a quality line-up for the near future.

Why They’re Not Higher:
This is a class any school would love to have. In other years they may have been higher. This class just happen to fall in a year where a few of the top classes are inordinately big and with many stars.

#10 Oregon St.

Beav fans should be happy. Coach Zalesky, with a promising mix of high school prospects and transfers is bringing an excellent class to Corvallis. In-state wrestler RJ Pena, our #2 ranked 157lber in the Dirty Dozen, was a 4x Oregon large school champion, a 2x Reno champ and a Dapper Dan winner. California product Scott Sakaguchi(149) won his state tournament and lost just once (to Zach Clemente) at this year’s Senior Nationals. Jacob Lauderdale(125) a 4x Washington state finalist, will provide depth down low. And, Zalesky nabbed 3 other in-state champions: John Tuck (2x, 165), Taylor Johnson (184), and Caleb Cardwell (3x, 174).

As good as that class would be independently, Coach Zalesky seasoned it with a couple accomplished transfers. Two former Oregon prep wrestlers return to their home state after stints at other programs. Colby Covington(174) spent a year at Iowa and went on to win a JUCO national title. Ryan Smith, a former Sooner, was a national qualifier last season at 165.

Why They’re Here:
The addition of one of the best prep wrestlers in the country (Pena) and a high-quality kid CA state champ in Sakaguchi. They loaded up with capable in-state guys for depth and brought in transfers which should immediately bolster their line-up. It’s not everday a national qualifier lands in your lap.

Why They’re Not Higher:
While we give a great deal of credence to proven transfers, they do come with some drawbacks; namely, you only get them for part of their career. And while all of their numerous recruits are accomplished, it’s just Pena and Sakaguchi that have a national resume.