Big Red Gets Big Recruit

Iowa Prep Star, Evan Knight to Wrestle at Cornell

In this anomalous year of college wrestling recruiting that has seen early verbal agreements become the rule rather than the exception, Cornell was rather quiet on the recruiting front.

Early on, Rob Koll’s Big Red, who have solidified themselves as one of the nation’s perennial powers, secured just one commitment in PA’s Matt Cunningham, a state Runner-Up we have ranked as our #7 174lb prospect.

This month, however, is an entirely different story. Cornell received 3 commitments in October. #1 Ranked Marshall Peppelman (165) was first with Jesse Shanaman (165) and #3 Chris Villalonga (149) verballing not long after.

On Tuesday Coach Koll got the word that their 5th prospect was ready to come on board. Evan Knight of Urbandale, Iowa, will sign on to wrestle for Cornell.

Knight, a 3x Iowa State Finalist and 2x Champ, missed the summer wrestling season with injuries. In the past he’s been an Iowa freestyle state champion and has won multiple Fargo All-American honors. TOM has Evan pegged as our #3 184lb prospect in the country.

His father, Steve, was a Big 8 Champion and All-American for Iowa State, and has also served on USA Wrestling’s National Coaching Staff.

TheOpenMat was able to catch up with Evan to talk of his decision.

WS: Congrats! What made you pick Cornell?

EK: It’s an awesome place. The combination of wrestling and academics made it the place for me.

WS: They are obviously a great academic school. What might you major in?

EK: Developmental Sociology.

WS: What other schools were you considering?

EK: In addition to Cornell I was looking at Iowa State, Arizona State, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

WS: What weight do you see yourself wrestling?

EK: They have me projected at 184.

WS: What would you say your future wrestling goals are?

EK: To be an undefeated, four-time national champ and to win an Olympic gold medal.

WS: With some of your injuries, we haven’t seen you over the summer. What have you been up to?

EK: I trained pretty good. My dad has a number of camps in the summer that I train at. Coming off an injury I was not able to compete in Fargo. Lifting has been a great deal of my training this summer as well.

WS: How have the injuries been coming along?

EK: They’re almost one-hundred percent now. I’ve spent a lot of time in physical therapy trying to get them healed up quick. I’m happy to be back on the mat now.

WS: That’s great to hear. Good luck Evan, I know you’ll do well.

EK: Thanks, Willie!

by: Willie Saylor, Editor