Ohio State recruit Vinny Kilkeary (photo courtesy of Tony Rotundo; WrestlersAreWarriors.com)We are just a few days away from the first whistle blowing at the FargoDome as the Junior/16U National Championships will occur. The event returned in 2021, after it was canceled in 2020, and had an incredibly deep field. This year's group looks even better.
Over the next couple of days, we'll go conference-by-conference to preview recruits from each school and their chances for success. We have only included recruits that have been tabbed to participate in one of the tournaments. Next on the list is the Big Ten!
Illinois
Will Baysingar, Illinois (138) - Class of 2023
Kole Brower, Illinois (138)
Kannon Webster, Illinois (132) - Class of 2023
With the new staff in place at Illinois, in-state recruiting has been a huge focus. In just over a year at the helm for Illinois, Mike Poeta and staff have been able to retain some of their home state's best. First and foremost is 2021 Junior freestyle national champion, Kannon Webster. Webster has not finished lower than third in any style during his two trips to Fargo. A fellow top-50 recruit from the Class of 2023, Will Baysingar, could also make the podium and was second and third at the Illinois state tournament. The incoming freshman of the group, Kole Brower, was eighth in Junior freestyle last year. Brower is a 2022 state champion that will compete in the same bracket as Baysingar.
Indiana
Sam Goin, Indiana (160) - Class of 2023
Tyler Lillard, Ohio (160)
Gabe Sollars - Indiana (195)
Reinforcements are on the way for Angel Escobedo and staff as #69 Tyler Lillard and #123 Gabe Sollars are a part of the Hoosier's 2022 recruiting class. Lillard was fourth in U16 freestyle back in 2019 at 152 lbs. He's a fixture at national-level events and will be in the mix here, as well. Sollars got on the podium last year in Junior Greco-Roman, finishing sixth. He followed that up with a fourth-place showing at the Super 32 and has a pair of Indiana state titles. Another Hoosier that decided to stay in-state was undefeated state champion, Sam Goin. A strong showing from Goin could catapult him into the top 100 nationally, as he currently sits at #103 in the Class of 2023.
Iowa
Ryder Block, Iowa (138) - Class of 2023
Easton Fleshman, Iowa (285)
Kolby Franklin, Iowa (220)
Bradley Hill, Iowa (220)
Joel Jesuroga, Iowa (145)
Nate Jesuroga, Iowa (120) - Class of 2023
Carson Martinson, Iowa (160)
Carter Martinson, Iowa (152)
Drake Rhodes, Montana (170)
Jace Rhodes, Iowa (132)
Aiden Riggins, Iowa (160)
A large portion of the Team Iowa that won back-to-back Junior Duals titles is ready to head to Iowa City as a part of the Hawkeye's #11 ranked recruiting class. Standouts include Kolby Franklin, who made 16U finals in both styles in both of his previous competitions at that age group. Last year, he was fourth in Junior freestyle. Sticking with the big men, Bradley Hill was a finalist at the UWW Cadet World Team Trials last year at 110 kgs. As was Aiden Riggins, who went on to make the Junior freestyle finals in Fargo. This year he'll attempt to get one step higher on the podium. The remainder of the incoming freshmen are all capable of getting hot and challenging for All-American status.
Looking ahead to the Class of 2023, Nate Jesuroga has to be on the short list of favorites at 120 lbs. Jesuroga was a Cadet World bronze medalist last year and fell in the best-of-three finals for a slot on the team this year. Jesuroga has also made the finals at the last two Super 32's and won the belt in 2021.
Maryland
Dario Lemus, California (138) - Class of 2023
With a top-ten recruiting class in 2021, Maryland has certainly upped their recruiting profile under the leadership of Alex Clemsen. Now they've gone cross-country to get a verbal from a top-50 rising senior in Dario Lemus. The California state runner-up took fourth at the most recent Super 32 and was a finalist at the Doc Buchanan Invitational. Lemus will certainly be a factor in Fargo.
Michigan
Cam Catrabone, New York (138) - Class of 2024
Dylan Gilcher, Michigan (145) - Class of 2023
Caden Horwath, Michigan (120) - Class of 2023
Nathan Jerore, Michigan (138)
Codei Khawaja, Indiana (182)
Beau Mantanona, California (145) - Class of 2023
Hayden Walters, Oregon (195) - Class of 2023
The Wolverines have an early argument for the top recruiting class of 2023 and that talented group will be on display in Fargo. Four top-50 recruits are slated to compete. #10 Beau Mantanona and #14 Dylan Gilcher will both compete in the 145 lb bracket. Mantanona was top-five in both styles, at the 16U level, in 2019. Last year, he didn't go because he was busy with the Cadet World Championships. Gilcher is a two-time Super 32 placewinner, who was fourth at UWW Cadets in 2021. Fellow Michigan native, Caden Horwath, was an All-American here in 2021 and a 16U national champion in freestyle in 2019. One of the favorites in a loaded Junior 195 lb weight class will be Hayden Walters, who was third at 182 in Junior freestyle last year. Looking at Michigan's incoming freshmen, even though Codei Khawaja never placed at the Indiana State Tournament, he did All-American in both styles last year at the Junior level. He was sixth in both. Nathan Jerore finished his senior year as a Michigan state champion.
Nebraska
Ismael Ayoub, Ohio (138)
Weston Dalton, Colorado (145) - Class of 2023
Alan Koehler, Minnesota (120) - Class of 2023
Kael Lauridsen, Nebraska (120) - Class of 2023
Late commit Ismael Ayoub is the only incoming freshman that will compete for the Huskers. He was fourth in 2019 in 16U freestyle. The bulk of the future Huskers in action will be comprised of wrestlers from the Class of 2023. Like many Minnesota wrestlers, Alan Koehler is strong in both international styles and has proven it in Fargo. He's AA'ed in each of the last two tournaments, in both styles, never finishing lower than fourth. Kael Lauridsen won the 16U Greco title last year and was fourth in freestyle. This year he took third in UWW Cadet Greco and sixth in freestyle. Weston Dalton is a two-time Colorado state champion who was third in Junior Greco last year. Don't be surprised if all four Husker recruits come back with some sort of hardware.
Northwestern
Joseph Martin, California (182)
2022 California state champion Joseph Martin is expected to be the lone future Wildcat in the field. He previously placed at the Super 32 and has three top-six finishes at the Doc Buchanan, highlighted by a win, as a senior.
Ohio State
Vinny Kilkeary, Pennsylvania (113) - Class of 2023
Rocco Welsh, Pennsylvania (160) - Class of 2023
The 2022 recruiting class for the Buckeye took home honors as best in the nation. That group will not be in action, but two big components from their next class are expected to compete and stand out. Rocco Welsh, one of the top-ten recruits in this class, was third in Junior freestyle last year and fifth at 16U in 2019. He's ready to take the next step and take home the big stop sign. Another Pennsylvania native will be crossing the border and competing for Ohio State, in Vinny Kilkeary. A 2020 Super 32 champion, Kilkeary was third in 16U freestyle last year at the same weight class. Both are serious title threats.
Penn State
Josh Barr, Michigan (170) - Class of 2023
Braeden Davis, Michigan (120) - Class of 2023
A pair of rising juniors from Michigan will account for Penn State's contingent in Fargo. Though there are only two of them, they both are capable of making a huge impact on the center mat. Josh Barr wrestled there last year as he captured a Junior freestyle title. He's looking to repeat and put himself in elite company as a two-timer. The same can be said for Davis who won Junior freestyle at 113 lbs. These could be the next two Nittany Lion superstars.
Purdue
Brody Baumann, Indiana (170)
Joey Blaze, Ohio (160) - Class of 2023
Brac Hooper, Indiana (138)
The first commit from the Boilermakers Class of 2023, Joey Blaze, is ready for a podium run in Fargo. Though he hasn't cracked the top-eight yet, Blaze has finished fifth at the Ironman and eighth at the Super 32. Two-time Indiana state champion, Brody Baumann, cracked the top-eight last year by taking fifth in Junior freestyle. He's back at the same 170 lb weight class. Two-time state qualifier Brac Hooper rounds out the Boilermaker crew.
Rutgers
Joe Fongaro, New Jersey (145)
Luke Gayer, California (170)
Max Hermes, Ohio (120) - Class of 2023
Just last week, Rutgers received their first commitment from the Class of 2023 as Ohio state champion Max Hermes verballed. Hermes is looking to make his national breakthrough with a big showing in Fargo. Another out-of-state recruit for Rutgers, Luke Gayer, is a California state runner-up that is capable of a podium finish. Gayer was four at the Super 32 last fall. The lone New Jersey native in this group is Joe Fongaro, who made the leap from sixth in the state to a champion, between his junior and senior seasons.
Wisconsin
Greyson Clark, Wisconsin (132) - Class of 2023
With former champion Nicolar Rivera scratching, Greyson Clark is the only Badger recruit set to compete in Fargo. Clark, was an All-American last year with an eighth-place finish in Junior freestyle. He also placed in both styles in 2019, while in the 16U division. Before Fargo last year, Clark was seventh in freestyle at the UWW Cadet WTT's
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