No. 6 Julian Ramirez has committed to Cornell (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)While today is "the eight weeks to go" mark until the start of the early signing period for Division I wrestling, many of the nation's elite Class of 2019 wrestlers have made their verbal commitments. In fact, all but ten of the top 50 ranked wrestlers in the current senior class fit that description. Furthermore, the top 100 wrestlers in the Class of 2019 have committed to 33 different schools -- not accounting for Josh McKenzie (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), who has chosen to play football in college at Yale University.
Eight schools have verbal commitments from three or more top 100 wrestlers, while another ten have commitments from a pair.
Below are ten top recruiting classes to date, based on verbal commitments of top 100 recruits.
1. Cornell
The Big Red recruiting class of 2017 ended up second overall, a group that was anchored by eventual true freshman national champion Yianni Diakomihalis. This class is well-positioned to be in similar rarified air. It features commitments from five top 100 seniors, including four in the top 50. Anchoring the class are elite talents in No. 6 Julian Ramirez (Blair Academy, N.J.) and No. 12 Jacob Cardenas (Bergen Catholic, N.J.); both will be clear assets to the back third of Rob Koll's lineup in years to come. Additional commitments are from middle-weights No. 22 Mason Reiniche (Baylor School, Tenn.) and No. 44 Coltan Yapoujian (Pomona, Colo.), along with lower-weight No. 64 Phillip Moomey (Kearney, Neb.).
2. Ohio State
Head coach Tom Ryan has made elite level recruiting a calling card during his tenure, and four verbal commitments from top 50 -- or darn close to it -- prospects for 2019 is a reflection of that. Especially when it piggy-backs upon a 2018 class that was ranked No. 2 overall. Commitments so far come from lightweight Jacob Decatur (CVCA, Ohio), ranked No. 52 overall; lower-weights No. 4 Jordan Decatur (CVCA, Ohio) and No. 21 Dylan D'Emilio (Genoa, Ohio); along with heavyweight No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet (Simley, Minn.).
3. Arizona State
The Sun Devils had the top overall recruiting class in 2015, and a top ten class in 2017. Early indications are this class will be viewed in a similar light. It is anchored by multi-time world medalist Cohlton Schultz (Ponderosa, Colo.), the No. 2 overall wrestler in the Class of 2019. Other early commits are lowerweight Nick Raimo (Hanover Park, N.J.) and upperweight Zane Coleman (Choctaw, Okla.), who are ranked No. 17 and No. 62 respectively.
4. Virginia Tech
Though the 2018 class was not ranked among the top 25 nationally, the change in head coach from Kevin Dresser to Tony Robie does not mean the Hokies have forgotten how to identify and attract elite level scholastic talent to Blacksburg. The 2017 class was ranked No. 4 nationally with four top 100 recruits, and so far this 2019 class features three top 100 commits. It's led by a pair of middleweight hammers from the Buckeye State in No. 10 Connor Brady (Olentangy Liberty) and No. 19 Bryce Andonian (St. Edward), who was a Junior National freestyle champion this summer; also in the class is lightweight Sam Latona (Thompson, Ala.).
5. Lehigh
After a strong stretch of recruiting by the Mountain Hawks, the previous two classes were not up to the standard that had been set in Bethlehem by head coach Pat Santoro and staff. However, 2019 is positioned to be a strong group, as four top 100 seniors have already verbally committed. The group features a pair of lowerweights in No. 18 Connor McGonagle (Timberlane, N.H.) and No. 66 Malyke Hines (Osceola, Fla.), while No. 47 Jake Logan (New Rochelle, N.Y.) and No. 67 Edmond Ruth (Susquehanna Township, Pa.) fit in as upper-weights.
6. Michigan
The prior two classes to this one have been most excellent, with seven top 100 recruits combined (four in 2017 and three this past year). The first class that Sean Bormet is recruiting as head coach is off to a high-quality start with commitments from No. 3 Kurt McHenry (St. Paul's, Md.) and No. 32 Cameron Amine (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.). Two-time Cadet world freestyle champion McHenry is a superlative lightweight, while Amine is a Wolverine legacy and a projected middleweight
7. Northern Colorado
Head coach Troy Nickerson has been in the need of a talent spark for his program, and he has found it in what is the beginning of a seemingly significant wave of strong talent from the Centennial State. Getting verbal commitments from a pair of in-state top 20 recruits represents a significant victory for the Bears program. Those commits come from No. 7 Andrew Alirez (Greeley Central) and No. 20 Theorius Robison (Pomona).
8. North Carolina State
The 2018 NCAA Division I Championships saw the Wolfpack earn a trophy for finishing in joint fourth place. The No. 1 recruiting class of 2016 played a significant role in that; while head coach Pat Popolizio landed the No. 3 overall class this past year with five top 100 commits. So far, the Wolfpack have four verbal commitments from top 100 wrestlers; however, none is ranked in the upper-half. Those commits come from lightweight No. 54 Sammy Alvarez (St. Joseph Montvale, N.J.), lowerweight No. 75 Kai Orine (Seckman, Mo.), along with upperweights in No. 77 Owen Trephan (Blair Academy, N.J.) and No. 97 Christian Knop (Alexandria, Ala.).
9. Penn
A seeming re-prioritization of the wrestling program with Roger Reina taking over again as head coach plus the significant donation made by Josh Harris shows itself in the strong start to 2019 recruiting for the Quakers. Three top 100 wrestlers have verbally committed, each coming from what would have to be viewed as the core recruiting footprint. No. 26 Michael Colaiocco (Blair Academy, N.J.) fits in as a lowerweight, No. 41 Lucas Revano (Camden Catholic, N.J.) is a lower-to-middleweight, while No. 78 Cole Urbas (State College, Pa.) is an upperweight
10. Wisconsin
Athletic Director Barry Alvarez made a bold and very smart hire in Chris Bono as head coach after Barry Davis chose to retire at the end of the 2018 NCAA Division I wrestling tournament. So far Bono has been spot-on in promoting and branding the program, and is off to a strong start in providing a clear injection of high-end talent for the Badgers wrestling program. Two of the three top 100 verbal commitments are from in-state wrestlers in lightweight No. 33 Eric Barnett (Hortonville) and No. 72 Joshua Otto (Arrowhead); Barnett was a flip, as the Junior National freestyle champion had verbally committed to North Carolina earlier in the process. The third commitment comes from No. 61 Peter Christensen (Montini Catholic, Ill.), a projected upper-weight
Other schools with a pair of top 100 verbal commitments to date:
The ten top 50 wrestlers yet to verbally commit:
No. 5 Carson Kharchla (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio)
No. 13 Ridge Lovett (Post Falls, Idaho)
No. 15 Carter Starocci (Erie Cathedral Prep, Pa.)
No. 16 Brevin Balmeceda (South Dade, Fla.)
No. 25 Christopher Foca (Bergen Catholic, N.J.)
No. 27 Julian Chlebove (Northampton, Pa.)
No. 30 Ryan Reyes (Clovis West, Calif.)
No. 42 Jackson Turley (St. Christopher's, Va.)
No. 48 Tyler Curd (Oak Grove, Mo.)
No. 49 Ronald Tucker, Jr. (Lockport Township, Ill.)
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