InterMat Staff

Buy Tickets to the Endowment Fund Meet by Clicking Here Corvallis, Ore. -- The Oregon State wrestling program is encouraging fans to help ensure the long-term future of the wrestling program by attending the November 22 meet against Wisconsin and Boise State in legendary Gill Coliseum. The meet will raise money for the Wrestling Endowment Fund. Tickets are $10 for the meet with 100 percent of the admission cost being contributed to the endowment. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. Also taking place during the meet, a banner displaying all of Oregon State’s National Champion wrestlers will be unveiled before the Wisconsin dual. And before the Boise State match up, the induction of Robin Reed and Les Gutches into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame will be celebrated. While single-meet tickets are not available to the general public at this time, by printing off the flier attached to this release, fans can purchase tickets to this meet. The Oregon State wrestling team kicks off its 2009-10 campaign at the Best of the West Tournament in Ashland, Ore., on November 13-14 before returning home to host this historic meet. Support Oregon State University Athletics by making your tax deductible donation to the Beaver Athletic Student Fund. For more information follow this link or call 541-737-2370. You can make an “everyday champion.” Follow Beaver Athletics on twitter.

The good news for Buckeye wrestling fans continued this week when Derek Garcia chose to go public with his verbal commitment to The Ohio State University. Derek Garcia won a Junior Nationals title (Photo/Dave Jedlicka/jedicheetah.com)A three-time Washington state champion, his decision to wrestle for at OSU is making waves from coast to coast in the wrestling world. In a press conference at Sedro-Woolley High School this afternoon he let everyone know that he was going to be a Buckeye. "After speaking with the coaches and visiting Columbus, I decided that Ohio State was the best choice for me,"said Garcia in a phone interview. "Some people are going to be surprised, but I am confident it is the best place for me to develop as a wrestler, a student, and as a person." The tenth-ranked high school senior in the InterMat Top 100, most were expecting Garcia to spend a year of residency at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs before choosing a college. It was where he spent last summer and where he will be training next year before moving on to Ohio State for classes in the fall of 2010. The Road to Ohio State As a high school junior, Garcia completed all of his high school credits and began taking advanced placement courses. After wrestling season, he was able to move to the OTC and trained with 2006 World champion Bill Zadick as a developmental athlete until July. Leaving Colorado to win his first national championship in Fargo, he returned to Washington in August for his senior year of high school. "Training in Colorado was one of the best experiences I have ever had,"said Garcia. " I got to wrestle with all the World Team Members and a number of former Olympians. Being in the room with guys like that every day - it was get better or die! I was forced to improve every day just to survive. I really owe a lot to Bill Zadick and Brandon Slay. They took me under their wings and helped me get better every day." A two-sport athlete, Garcia is a standout in football and wrestling. Derek proved to be a leader in the classroom and in competition as a team captain in both sports. Turning down an opportunity to train at the Olympic Training Center to finish school with his classmates was a sacrifice he made for them but also for himself. Derek Garcia is ranked as the No. 10 recruit (Photo/Dave Jedlicka/jedicheetah.com)"Derek is one of those kids that are one in a million. He is that special. His success comes because he is phenomenal athlete and how hard he works. He is the most competitive kid I have ever been around. His work ethic unmatched,"offered his high school football coach Bryan Alexander. "He has been a leader by not just what he says but what he does and how he lives his life. He takes his work ethic and puts it into everything he does and that is what has made him successful in sports, in the classroom, and in life." Garcia was humble when speaking of the decision to return for his senior year. "It means a lot to be a part of a team whether it is in football or wrestling. It was important for me to come back and help both teams achieve our goals." Although a knee injury has put some doubt on how his football career will end, Garcia is confident that he will conclude his wrestling career as the sixth four-time state champion in Washington. "The goal this season is to win my fourth state title,"he said. "I probably won’t be able to make all of the tournaments, so getting the title at the end of the year is a big thing for me and my team. It is important for me to be there because we have a really good chance of winning the team state title." When read back the comments of Garcia, his high school head coach Jay Breckenridge stated, "That is what Derek Garcia is all about. As much as Derek wants personal accomplishments, the success of the team is just as important. He thinks of the whole picture, not just himself. After finishing in the top four the last few years we are going to be in the running this year for a team title and it is important for Derek to put us back on top before he leaves." For a coach that won six straight titles before Garcia stepped in the high school wrestling room, Derek has proven that you can teach an old dog new some news tricks. "Derek brought so much to our program it is hard to put into words. As a wrestler he has helped our coaching staff tremendously. Working with Bill Zadick, John Smith, and Eric Guerrero and coaches from across the country he is always bringing something back,"said Breckenridge. Asked to describe Garcia as a wrestler, Breckenridge was quick to respond. "On the mat Garcia is ferocious. He could care less who you put in front of him. When it comes to competition he is a machine. He is focused and an animal on the mat. He is one of, if not, the hardest working wrestlers I have ever coached. The qualities that make him a great wrestler make him an even better person. His grades are outstanding and in the community you could ask for anything more. He makes you feel proud of whatever he does." Becoming a Buckeye Garcia's decision to attend Ohio State was a compilation of factors. Originally planning on returning to the Olympic Training Center, his recruitment began this summer after Fargo and started to heat up once school began. Taking an official visit to Columbus two weeks ago, he was on campus for the OSU-Illinois game, able to tour the school, and got to watch the Buckeyes first wrestling practice of the year. "My long term plans really changed after talking with and getting to know Coach Ryan,"said Garcia. "He had me thinking a lot about myself and what I needed as a person. Ohio State is great opportunity for me to grow athletically, academically, and socially. I am not that social of a person, so the college experience is important to help me become the best person I can be outside of wrestling." Garcia chose OSU over Iowa, Iowa State, Boise State, and Cornell. "Academically, Ohio State is great school. The facilities were amazing compared to those that I have seen before. The coaches are great people and the wrestlers I met seemed like a bunch of guys I could really get along with. Overall I just felt really comfortable in Columbus and it made a tough decision easy to make,"he said. The presence of the Ohio Regional Training Center also played a large role in choosing Ohio State according to Garcia. "They have the Ohio RTC and it is a great organization. JD Bergman, Shawn Bunch, and Tervel Dlagnev -- with what they have accomplished, I know it is a good situation for me as a college wrestler and in freestyle,"said Garcia. "Coach Rosselli is one of the best around so I will be in a situation where I have to get better every day." Derek Garcia is a three-time state champion (Photo/Dave Jedlicka/jedicheetah.com)Winning state titles at 125, 140, and 152, Garcia plans on moving up two weights for his senior year but expects to drop down to wrestle in college. "This year I will probably wrestle 171 and college-wise I will probably be a 165 pounder unless I get a lot bigger." Academically advanced, Garcia plans on majoring in sports medicine and working on a minor in sports management. As far as wrestling or redshirting his freshman year, Garcia is planning on deferring to the coaches. "When I get to Ohio State I will do whatever the coaches think is best for me. Everyone would like to wrestle right away. But I trust they will do what is best for my development and for the team,"he said. High School coach Jay Breckenridge has high expectations for Garcia in Columbus. "With the coaching staff and talent in the room at Ohio State there is no ceiling for what Derek Garcia can achieve,"said Breckenridge. "He has the potential to be a NCAA champion and with the Ohio Regional Training Center on campus I believe that one day you will see him on the Olympic or World Teams. With his work ethic and talent, even the loftiest of goals are attainable. We will miss him tremendously here but we wish him all the best." Derek Garcia is the third member of the 2010 Ohio State recruiting class. He joins Logan Stieber and Josh Demas to give the Buckeyes three recruits ranked inside the InterMat Top 50. Rated amongst their senior class; Stieber is the nation’s top recruit, Garcia is No. 10, and Demas is No. 42. In college Stieber is projected as a 125/133, Garcia a 165/174, and Demas a 174/184. All three are expected to submit their NLI’s during the early signing period in November. InterMat was granted permission to republish this article from BuckeyeWrestling.com. http://www.buckeyewrestling.com/?q=node/25823

Lee Pritts

Jackson Morse

Jim Heffernan

Dan Hicks

The time for the University of Minnesota Wrestling dual meet with Iowa on Feb. 14 has been changed. Originally scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. (CT) start, the match time has been moved up an hour-and-a-half and will now start at 6:00 p.m. (CT) in Williams Arena. The Gophers and Hawkeyes will also be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. The women's basketball game, also in Williams Arena prior to the wrestling match, was moved up to an 11:00 a.m. start, allowing wrestling to move up as well. The Gophers finished fifth in the Big Ten and 14th nationally last season while the Hawkeyes won the Big Ten and NCAA titles.

The Ohio State wrestling program received good news on Monday evening when Josh Demas gave his verbal commitment to assistant coach Joe Heskett. On Tuesday the high school senior reaffirmed his commitment to head coach Tom Ryan and stated he would be signing his National Letter of Intent in November. Currently the 42nd ranked recruit in the InterMat Top 100 Seniors, Demas had his choice of colleges. While the OSU coaches are unable to comment on a verbal commitment, Demas was happy to discuss his decision and glad that the recruiting process has come to a close. Josh Demas (Photo/BuckeyeWrestling.com)“I’m proud to say that I am going to continue my wrestling career at the Ohio State University,” responded the newest Buckeye. “After looking at each of the schools and talking to a lot of people, it is a big relief to make the decision.” Demas chose Ohio State from a list of five schools that included Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Virginia Tech. “Every school had pluses and minuses. They were all great schools with unique opportunities. I could have seen myself wrestling for every school at one point or another while I was being recruited. My dad was very supportive and helped me out a lot.” When asked what pushed the Buckeyes to the top of the list Demas felt that after looking around he most comfortable at the school closest to home. “Ohio State is a great school with a great wrestling program. The coaches, the fans; it means something to be a Buckeye. I decided that I wanted to stay close to home and OSU is just down the road. I like the idea that my friends and family will be able to watch me wrestle in Columbus.” Demas took official visits to Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Virginia Tech. He was on campus during the summer at Minnesota and Ohio State. “Feeling comfortable with coaches was a large part of the decision. At OSU, I could see a little bit of myself in every one of the coaches. With Joe Heskett, Lou Rosselli, J Jaggers, and Tom Ryan; I know they are going to help me become the best I can be.” Beyond the wrestling program and proximity to home, Demas was quick to point out that he chose Ohio State for the education and what he could do with his degree. “Wrestling is very important but I want to get a quality education too. Ohio State has a great business program and that is what I am going to study in school.” With a potential freestyle career on the horizon while in college and after graduation the presence of the Ohio Regional Training Center also factored into his decision. “Having something like the Ohio RTC training on campus was huge. I am probably a better freestyle wrestler than a folkstyle wrestler right now so that was definitely something that was on my mind. Having coaches like Rosselli and Heskett; they can help my college wrestling and my freestyle career.” While dreams of NCAA titles and Olympic Gold are in his mind Demas is currently focused on his senior year at Westerville North High School. With a career record of 119-12; he is a three-time state placewinner for the Warriors. As a freshman he finished second at 130, he was third as a sophomore at 145, and as a junior he won his first state title at 152; as a senior the goal is to end his career with another title. After moving up a couple of weights every year in high school I asked what weight he was going this season and where he saw himself in college. “Right now I am not sure what weight I am going to wrestle this year. I weigh around 165 right now but it moves around a lot so I could wrestle a couple of different weights. In college I think I’ll be a 174 to start and could end up at 184 before I am done.” As far as his wrestling goals, Demas was much more certain. “I want to win, I want to work hard, and I want to get better every day. This year I want to win my second individual state title, I want my team to have a lot of success, and I want to win (NHSCA) Senior Nationals.” With his verbal commitment Demas became the second member of the Buckeyes’ 2010 recruiting class joining Monroeville senior Logan Stieber. Both Demas and Stieber are expected to submit their NLI during the early signing period in November. InterMat was granted permission to republish this article from BuckeyeWrestling.com. http://www.buckeyewrestling.com/?q=node/25822

Talk to anyone who has ever seen Edinboro's Garrett Scott wrestle and you will quickly learn that wrestling talent has never been the issue with him not reaching his potential. He has more wrestling talent in his pinky finger than most wrestlers have in their entire bodies. Garrett Scott (Photo/Edinboro Sports Information)"Garrett seems to have a really good feel for wrestling," said Edinboro coach Tim Flynn. "With some people, their talent is speed. With some people, it's power. But Garrett has a really good feel for wrestling. When I say feel, I mean balance ... He's just good in a lot of positions. Good body awareness." A three-time Pennsylvania champion, Scott was on track to become Pennsylvania's 10th four-time state champion before an off-the-mat incident (violating his charter school's Internet use policy) in 2006 prevented him from wrestling for his fourth state title. That wasn't his only off-the-mat incident his senior year. Scott and three others were arrested by state police for possession of drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop. Scott said a pipe that was found in the vehicle was not his. His high school coach at Juniata Valley, Brad Boyd, called it a "wrong place at the wrong time" type of incident. Despite a drama-filled senior year, Scott, who was ranked as the No. 4 recruit in the country from the Class of 2006, earned a full-ride scholarship to wrestle at Penn State. Some were hailing Scott as the best high school wrestling talent to come out of wrestling-rich Pennsylvania since Cary Kolat came about of Jefferson-Morgan High School in 1992. "I liked the program at Penn State," said Scott. "I always grew up a Penn State fan. It was close to home and I knew my parents wanted to watch me compete. So the combination of being close to home and being offered a full ride was why I chose Penn State." Scott, though, failed to pass the NCAA Clearinghouse, which prevented him from joining the wrestling team at Penn State his first year out of high school. His training that year was sporadic at best. He would work out with Bubba Jenkins occasionally, but didn't have the structure he needed. The next year, as a freshman at Penn State, Scott was suspended by his coach, Troy Sunderland, in the preseason after he was arrested for underage drinking. Scott began his season at the East Stroudsburg Open, reaching the finals at 149 pounds before dropping a tight 3-1 decision to two-time All-American J.P. O'Connor of Harvard. Two weeks later, Scott went 6-0 and won the Nittany Lion Open at 141 pounds. In the process of winning the tournament, Scott defeated his teammate, All-American Jake Strayer, 7-3, in the semifinals. After Scott's victory over Strayer, the two wrestlers split time at 141 pounds for the Nittany Lions. Scott and Stayer were high school rivals in Pennsylvania. Scott's only two losses in his high school career came to Strayer when he was a freshman and Strayer was a junior. "There really weren't any hard feeling between us," said Scott. "We didn't really wrestle each other in practice. But we didn't dislike each other. We were friends. We were teammates. What's on the mat is on the mat. What's off the mat is off the mat." Match to match, Scott didn't know if he or Strayer would get the call to start at 141 pounds. "It was frustrating because I couldn't consistently compete," said Scott. "I couldn't wrestle two matches in a row. I would wrestle one and then sit one. I couldn't get into a groove. So that was the most frustrating part." When Scott was on the mat competing for the Nittany Lions, he showed flashes of his potential. At the National Duals, Scott picked up a major decision victory, 8-0, over Nick Gallick, a two-time All-American for Iowa State. He was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week after he beat then No. 4-ranked Kellen Russell of Michigan, 4-3, to help propel the Nittany Lions to a victory over the Wolverines. Scott and Strayer were supposedly set to wrestle for the starting spot at 141 pounds, but the wrestle-off kept getting postponed. First it was because of a hamstring injury to Scott ... and then because of the death of Strayer's grandmother. Scott was eventually handed the starting spot the rest of the season after Strayer suffered a rib injury that put him out. Scott entered the 2008 Big Ten Championships with a 16-3 record. He pinned Purdue's Matt Redmond in the first period in his opening round. In the quarterfinals, Scott met Iowa's Dan LeClere, a wrestler who gave him one of his three regular-season losses. Scott led most of the match, but then gave up a takedown with two seconds left, and lost the match, which sent him to the consolation bracket. In the consolation bracket, Scott wrestled Wisconsin's Kyle Ruschell, but suffered a knee injury, which forced him to default out of the match at the start of the third period. Scott was sent to the seventh-place match, which he needed to win to secure an automatic berth in the NCAA Championships. Scott gutted it out and pinned Michigan State's Jeff Wimberley in the first period to advance to the NCAA Championships. Scott's knee injury was diagnosed as a lateral collateral ligament (LCL) tear after the Big Ten Championships. Despite the injury, Scott competed at the NCAA Championships, where he went 3-2 and failed to place. "I feel like I wrestled poorly that season," said Scott, who finished the season with a 21-7 record. "I never got myself to where I needed to be. I wasn't in good enough shape to compete the way I wanted to compete. And it showed it Nationals when I wasn't an All-American. I was pretty disappointed with my season." Less than two months later, on May 9, 2008, Penn State's sports information department announced that Garrett Scott had been dismissed from the wrestling team for violation of team rules. Soon after, Edinboro coach Tim Flynn stepped in and decided to give Scott another chance. "I spoke to a couple friends," said Flynn, who also gave NCAA champion Paul Donahoe another chance after he was dismissed from Nebraska's wrestling team. "They said Garrett just needs to mature, obviously, and take his schoolwork more seriously. A lot of times people just grow up at different rates. Obviously, he just needs to mature. I talked to a couple people who said that a smaller environment like Edinboro would help him ... and maybe help keep him focused a little better. So we took the chance. You always try to consult a couple people who are in the know. Some people might view it as a risk, but I try to give a kid a second chance ... and hopefully he makes good on it." Tim FlynnScott enrolled at Edinboro in the fall of 2008 and joined the wrestling team. He competed unattached in three open tournaments last season, going 14-1, with his only loss coming by injury default. Of his 14 wins, 13 came by major decision, technical fall, or pin. "Like anybody who is new -- a freshman or a transfer -- the first part is getting to know the system and getting comfortable with it," said Flynn. "Maybe Penn State runs more than us. Maybe we lift more than them. Just getting used to a different system. I think that was the beginning. Garrett did real well in the wrestling room. That was never an issue. And he can push himself, so we noticed some positives right away." After competing in three open tournaments, Scott's shoulder was bothering him, which led to shoulder surgery. That kept him off the mat the rest of the season. Scott, with three years of wrestling eligibility remaining, is now healthy and ready to make an impact for the Fighting Scots. Most importantly, though, he's taking care of business off the mat. Because of Scott's checkered past, he knows that he has his fair share of critics. But he's ready to silence them. "I get on the message boards sometimes and see what people say about me," said Scott. "I use that as motivation. People like to say a lot of things. I'll prove a lot of people wrong. I'll let my wrestling do it." Flynn believes Scott has a wrestling style that will generate fan interest. "He's an exciting wrestler," said Flynn. "People will really like to see him compete. He can pin. He's good for wrestling from that standpoint ... The excitement he brings." It's still up in the air whether Scott will compete at 141 pounds or 149 pounds this season. Scott would like to compete at 141 pounds, but Flynn suspects he will be at 149 pounds. Edinboro's 149-pounder last season, Torsten Gillespie, is redshirting. But regardless of the weight class, the goal remains the same for Scott this season. "I want to be standing on the top of the podium," said Scott. "That's my goal." Adds Flynn, "I expect him to be a national champion. That's why we wanted him. Our big thing is just reminding him every day to do the right things: Go to class. Do your homework. Come to practice. If he sticks to that simple game plan, he's going to be successful." Maybe then people will stop talking about Garrett Scott's talent and potential and instead start talking about his success.

Marshall Peppelman

Mike England

Ryan Lang

As the wrestling season's start is fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. Between now until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce you to the top senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and from Maine to California, you will gain exposure to the potential stars of future NCAA Championships. Did you miss a Wrestling 49 article? Check out the archives. The 2009-2010 Minnesota high school wrestling season begins in a little less than two months. This season's crop of seniors may lack the total number of blue-chip Division I wrestlers of the last two senior classes, but it does have very good depth. Dylan Ness may be the only clear blue-chip wrestler in the class. However, there are several wrestlers in this class that will make meaningful impacts on college teams in the next few years. The Top 10 wrestlers in the Class of 2010 all have great upside, but I feel that Zak Coates, Blaine Miller, and Jake Long are the most likely wrestlers to have their stock skyrocket this season. During the time between now and the end of the next Greco-Roman and freestyle season, I expect that we will see a couple of other wrestlers on the list make a bid for blue-chip status. 1. Dylan Ness School: Bloomington Kennedy 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 149/157 Dylan Ness (Photo/The Guillotine)Scouting Report: Ness is a three-time high school state medalist, 2008 USA Wrestling Triple Crown winner, and brings a 148-19 high school record into the 2009-2010 season. Ness finished the 2009 Greco-Roman and freestyle season earning All-American honors in both styles at Junior Nationals in Fargo. During the past two seasons, Ness has been pitted against other nationally-ranked wrestlers at the state tournament and could not capture a championship. Ness has committed to the University of Minnesota, where his older brother, Jayson, is a three-time All-American. 2. Drew Fleming School: Watertown-Mayer 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 119 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Drew Fleming (Photo/The Guillotine)Scouting Report: Fleming is a two-time Minnesota Class AA state champion and 2008 freestyle and folkstyle All-American. He has amassed a 112-15 record in three seasons as a starter. Eight of Fleming's 15 losses came during his freshman season while wrestling in the 112-pound weight class when he didn't need to cut to make 103. He is favored to win his third state championship in 2009-2010 and has not decided yet where he will wrestle in college. 3. Joel Bauman School: Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunberg 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 189 Projected College Weight Class: 197 Scouting Report: Bauman is the most athletically-gifted wrestler in this year's senior class. He possesses quickness and strength not often seen in the higher weights in high school. Bauman is the 2009 Class A state champion, placed third in 2008, and battled injuries in 2007 when he did not place. Bauman has proven to be one of the premier Greco-Roman wrestlers in his class being a former national champ (2007) and All-American in 2008 and 2009. In 2008-2009, Bauman played a key role in Kerhoven-Murdock-Sundberg's state champion football and wrestling teams. He is attracting the interest of many Division I wrestling and football programs, but it's not clear if he will wrestle in college. 4. Drew Lexvold Drew Lexvold (Photo/The Guillotine)School: Kenyon-Wanamingo 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 135 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Scouting Report: Lexvold's freshman and sophomore seasons ended in disappointment when he did not place at state, but he redeemed himself last season, winning a Class A state championship at 125 pounds. He also earned All-American honors at the 2009 Folkstyle Nationals and 2008 NHSCA Sophomore Nationals ... in addition to folkstyle and Greco-Roman national titles in 2008. While competing at The Clash National Duals, Lexvold tallied a 4-2 record. 5. Zak Coates School: Henry Sibley 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 171 Projected College Weight Class: 174/184 Scouting Report: Coates won his first high school state title last season with his victory over highly-rated senior Brendan Eichmann, who was considered the clear favorite at the beginning of the season. He also beat Eichmann in the section finals. Coates was a 2008 All-American in both Greco-Roman and freestyle, but did not have the same level of success in 2009. Two of his four losses in 2009 were to highly-rated senior Carter Adams (who he beat once during the season) and another loss was to Joe Latham of Bismarck, North Dakota. 6. Jordan Campa School: St. Michael-Albertville 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 165 Scouting Report: Campa was the 2009 state champion in Class AA and 2009 folkstyle All-American. Campa has made three state tournament appearances, placing twice (third in 2008). His other appearance was at 152 pounds as a freshman. St. Michael-Albertville competed at The Clash National Duals in Minnesota, where Campa went 5-1 with a win over Devin Peterson of Wisconsin, a 2009 USA Wrestling Cadet Triple Crown winner. 7. Blaine Miller School: Plainview-Elgin-Millville 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 165/174 Blaine Miller (Photo/The Guillotine)Scouting Report: Miller has racked up 155 career wins going into his senior season ... with 200 for his career possible. In 2009, Miller captured his first state championship, defeating the previous year's state champion, Kevin O'Brien, who now wrestles at West Point. His two previous seasons ended at state without reaching the medal rounds. However, due to Minnesota's policy of not seeding the tournament, he may have done better if not matched up against two state champions in the early rounds. Miller went 5-0 at the Clash National Duals, recording wins over Tyler Miles (seventh in Virginia), Chris Kipp (No. 5 in Wisconsin), and Eric Vanevenhoven (Wisconsin state champion). 8. Tony Vaske School: River Valley 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 140 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Scouting Report: Vaske is a three-time medal winner at the state tournament with a career record of 147-19. He placed second at the NHSCA Junior Nationals, losing a close match to Arizona State recruit Louis Trujillo, who is currently ranked as the No. 15 senior in the country by InterMat. Vaske has shown that he can wrestle with best in Minnesota and some of the best in the country. Over the last three seasons, Vaske has been considered one of the favorites to take home the state championship. This could be the year it happens. 9. Jake Long School: West Central Area 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Jake Long (Photo/The Guillotine)Scouting Report: Long spent his freshmen and sophomore years just trying to break into the state bracket. In 2006, Long faced off with the eventual third and fourth-place winners at state just to try to qualify for state. In 2007, Long faced off against two wrestlers who eventually became the state champion and third-place winners. Finally, in 2008, he was able to qualify for state ... and in 2009, Long took home a state championship. While Long may not have the total number of achievements that some of the others on this list do, he has made large and steady improvements each year. He has taken advantage of the summer wrestling season and it should show on the mat when the high school wrestling season begins. 10. Tucker Freeman School: Jackson County Central 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 171 Projected College Weight Class: 174 Scouting Report: Freeman is a three-time state medal winner who should make his fourth appearance at the state tournament in 2010. He placed second last year, losing to Mr. Minnesota and University of Minnesota recruit Kevin Steinhaus in the finals. He has been a familiar face at the state tournament ... with his first appearance coming in 2005 as a seventh-grader. Though Freeman has an impressive number of career wins (he could pass 200 this year), he has been considered an underdog to win the state championship. 2009-2010 will be different. Honorable Mention: Dalton Henderson (Owatonna) Tommy Glenn (Simley) Kyle Leduc (Thief River Falls) Ryan Thompson (Benson) Jordan Bendson (Staples-Motley) Jordan Linn (Foley) Andrew Youngblom (Mora) Kevin Nelson (Forest Lake) Tyler Rohr (Hastings) Kraig Schumm (St. Michael-Albertville) Mitch Hrovat (Centennial) Brandon Haluptzok (Centennial) Michael Hirsch (Austin) Mason Young (Henry Sibley) Jeff Nielsen (Zimmerman)

Luke Goettl

Mike McMullan, Wyoming Seminary's returning National Prep heavyweight champion has verbally committed to Northwestern University. Recognized as an InterMat Top 100 recruit, InterMat Wrestling 49 Pennsylvania Top 10 wrestler, and ranked among The Open Mat's top 2010 college prospects, McMullan is one of the most distinguished high school heavyweights in the nation. Mike McMullanIn addition to his wrestling accomplishments McMullan is a decorated football player, lacrosse player, and honor roll student. The Wyoming Seminary College Prep senior reports that while the selection process was challenging, visiting Northwestern's Evanston, Illinois campus made the decision easy. The combination of Northwestern's academic profile, campus, coaching staff, and Big Ten affiliation caused him to quickly realize that it was the right place to pursue his goals over the course of the next five years. "I really connected with Coach Cysewski and Coach Pariano. I am excited about their vision for the Northwestern wrestling and my opportunity to be a part of it. I look forward to working with them." McMullan enters his senior season intent on defending his National Prep title and establishing himself as a premier heavyweight at the national level. He will have ample opportunity to do just that with a schedule that includes the ASICS Walsh Ironman, Beast of the East, Cheesehead Invitational, Blair Super Quad, and the National Prep Championships.

ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio Wrestling welcomes Ryan Lang, who will become a volunteer assistant coach for the Bobcats. Over five stellar competition years at Northwestern University, Lang compiled a 104-27 career record, going 39-9 in dual meets. A native of North Royalton, Ohio, Lang was a four-time Ohio state champion in high school. In his first year he wrestled unattached, going 7-1 overall, including competing at the Michigan State Open. He won his first three career matches and posted an undefeated 4-0 record at the Cleveland State Open. His freshman year was marked by a 28-10 overall record, including a 4-2 mark in the Big Ten. He only missed All-American status by one win this season. Being one of only three freshmen to crack the 20-wins barrier, he was a perfect 7-0 in nonconference dual meets. He also recorded eight major decision victories this year, with eight pins and two technical falls. In his sophomore season, he posted a 22-7 overall record en route to earning his first career All-America honor. He finished fourth at the NCAA Championships this season and placed second at the Big Ten Championships. His sophomore campaign began with eleven straight wins. In November he was crowned Themat.com's Wrestler of the Week and Big Ten Wrestler of the Week. He was ranked top-ten by all four major wrestling polls this season. In his junior season he posted an unbelievable 29-1 record en route to earning his second-career All-America honor. He finished in second at the NCAA Championships, scoring two pins in five matches. He won the Big Ten Championship in the 141 lb class. At the Eastern Michigan Open he went 5-0, racking up two major decisions and not allowing a single point scored against him. He also won the 2006 Midlands Championships and the NWCA All-Star Classic. In his senior year at Northwestern, Lang earned his fourth trip to the NCAA Championships, posting an 18-8 record. He moved up to the 149 lb class for his senior season, going 5-4 in Big Ten duals. He started the year with a 6-0 record and went 4-0 at the Missouri Open. At the National Duals meet he posted a 4-1 record. He also contributed major decision victories over Wisconsin and Illinois. Ryan was an Arts and Sciences major while at Northwestern. He was born on June 6, 1984.

Michael Moreno of Urbandale High School in Iowa has given a verbal commitment to Iowa State. Moreno, who is ranked as the No. 22 recruit in the country by InterMat, is a three-time Iowa state placewinner and a two-time state runner-up. Last season, Moreno posted a 36-4 record en route to finishing as the state runner-up in Iowa's Class 3A division at 160 pounds. Moreno's father, Mike, was an All-American for Iowa State in 1992. Michael Moreno (Photo/Wyatt Schultz)Congratulations on your decision. Why Iowa State? Moreno: I have a lot of history at Iowa State. My dad wrestled there, so that was a big part. But mostly I just felt comfortable with it. I have always been around that atmosphere. On the visit, I just felt more comfortable there than anywhere else. Iowa State has received verbal commitments from two other top 100 recruits, Ryak Finch and Kyven Gadson. Do you know them at all? And have you gotten a chance to talk to them about going to Iowa State? Moreno: I have never really talked to Ryak Finch, but I do know Kyven Gadson. Gadson just said it feels right. He said, "It's Iowa State. It's where you belong. You have it running through your blood." Cael Sanderson was a legend at Iowa State and many people believed that he would be the head coach of the Cyclones for many years. What was your reaction when Cael left Iowa State to become the Penn State coach? Moreno: I was surprised ... and then upset. But now it's almost for the better. Kevin (Jackson) is great. At first it was shock, but now everything is good. For many high school athletes, the recruiting process can be very stressful. What was the recruiting process like for you? Moreno: It's real stressful. It's stressful in that you don't want to disappoint anybody. You just want to be a pleaser. It's stressful that you don't know where you're going to spend the rest of your life. It's stressful in a lot of ways. It was fun too, but it's mostly stressful. Michael Moreno (Photo/Wyatt Schultz)What other schools did you consider? Moreno: Old Dominion, Arizona State, and Northern Iowa. You wrestled at 160 last season. What weight class do you plan to wrestle for your senior season? And then what is your projected college weight class? Moreno: I'm wrestling at 171 this season. I'm going to wrestle at 165 in college if all goes according to plan. What are you wrestling goals for your senior season before you head to Iowa State? Moreno: I want to be a state champion, of course. Anything less is unacceptable this year. I want to be an All-American and national champion at Junior Nationals in July.

TEMPE -- Starting this Saturday (October 3), the Arizona State University wrestling team will be holding inter-squad matches beginning at 10 a.m. inside the Riches Wrestling Complex on campus. The matches, which are open to the public, are being used to help the Sun Devils prepare for the upcoming season that begins on November 13 at Pac-10 foe UC Davis. Each week, all members of the team will compete in three or four matches and some very interesting match-ups are sure to emerge with this weekend's top pairing falling into that category. Many of the starters from last year will be taking on challengers that they will face later in the month at the Maroon and Gold Dual (October 30), which will serve as the team's wrestle-off for this year’s starting positions. Perhaps the biggest match of the weekend will come at the lightest weight where returning All-American Anthony Robles (national semi-finalist and fourth-place finisher in 2009) will take on Ben Ashmore, who defeated Robles at the Midlands Championships last December, 3-2. Two other matches will pair up last year’s opening day starter against the end of the season starter. The first will come at 157 pounds where Michael Swigart will take on Te Edwards while the second match will come at heavyweight where Erik Nye will face Imanibom Etukeren. Other top matches scheduled for this Saturday will include: David Prado vs. Travis Forster Vicente Varela vs. Orlando Jimenez Eric Starks vs. Kyle DeBerry Eric Starks vs. Jake Meredith Jake Cranford vs. Michael Hawkins Check back on thesundevils.com each week in October to find out what top matches will be scheduled for that Saturday morning.

Robbie Waller

Rocky Bonomo

As the wrestling season's start is fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. Between now until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce you to the top senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and from Maine to California, you will gain exposure to the potential stars of future NCAA Championships. Did you miss a Wrestling 49 article? Check out the archives. A year removed from what aficionados were hailing as one of the best group of seniors (10 InterMat top 100 recruits) in Empire State history, the Class of 2010 is out to prove that when it comes to wrestling, New York does not rebuild, it reloads! And, if past team performances at events such as the NHSCA National tournament are any indication, it is no exaggeration to say that the current senior class may very well equal, if not surpass, the accomplishments enjoyed by their brethren that have come before them. In three trips to Virginia Beach, the young men from New York have never finished out of the medals, finishing third as juniors in 2009, second in 2008, and winning the team title as freshmen. During this time span, they have accounted for eight individual national titles, six national runner-up finishes, and 44 total NHSCA All-Americans. Among the 30 wrestlers who have combined to earn this impressive figure, only 14 are current or former NYS DI or DII state champions. Looking to complete the sweep (All-American honors all four years) is a quartet of the state's top 10 wrestlers: Tyler Beckwith, Stephen Dutton, Angelo Malvestuto, and Anthony Volpe. All four have already made appearances in the national finals, with three of them earning at least one title. On the state level, New York welcomes back nine returning state champions (Mike Soria, Kyle McGregor, Nick Arujau, Nick Wilcox, Vinny Digravio, Stephen Dutton, Andy Rodriguez, Tyler Beckwith, and Kyle Colling), as well as four former state champions (Ken Collado, Kyle Crisaulli, Andrew Lenzi, and Cody Ruggirello). In fact, so deep was the Empire State this season that selecting a top 10 proved to be a very daunting task that witnessed me going back and forth on several occasions regarding who should occupy the spots on the list. Five current or former champs did not make the cut. Nick Arujau (TheMatSlap.com)Two wrestlers who will be seeking their third state title in 2010 are Syosset High School's Nick Arujau and Greene High School's Nick Wilcox. While both are three-time finalists, their paths to the titles have been as different as night and day. Arujau, after losing in the state finals as a freshman to Cody Ruggirello, has rebounded in extremely strong fashion, winning the hardware the last two years (including what many considered to be the most stacked weight class in 2009, the DI 125-pound weight class). Wilcox, on the other hand, tasted his first sip of victory as an eighth-grader when he parlayed a shocking semifinal victory over Ian Paddock into an eventual title effort. However, it would be two years before Wilcox would succeed in returning to the top, losing in the state finals to Paddock as a freshman and then failing to qualify as a sophomore. Looking to join Arujau and Wilcox in a rare club of four-time state finalists is Central Valley's Cody Ruggirello. If the name sounds familiar, it should. Cody is the younger brother of current Hofstra University superstar and former three-time NYS champion/2006 NHSCA Senior Nationals champion Lou Ruggirello. When Cody pinned Arujau in the 2007 state finals, he became the third member of his family to hoist the crown, following in the footsteps of his aforementioned brother and his father, Lou Sr., a state titlist in 1989. Similar to Wilcox, Ruggirello would return to the championship match a year later, but would have to endure the agony of watching his opponent (and future college teammate) Steve Bonanno celebrate after dropping a hard fought decision in double overtime. Heartbreak would strike Ruggirello again in 2009, as a shocked audience in Albany watched as eventual state runner-up Joe Grippi (lost to Digravio in the finals) hit a five-point move in the last 10 seconds to upset the heavily-favored Ruggirello in a semifinal bout. Ruggirello would wrestle his way back to claim third place honors. While undecided on where he will compete at as a senior (either 135 or 140), Ruggirello can expect to be challenged by a fellow top 10 wrestler at whichever weight class that he ends up. If he elects to move up one weight class from last season to 135 pounds, it is believed that he would be on a collision course with 2008 NYS champion/2009 state runner-up Andrew Lenzi from Fordham Prep. If Ruggirello bumps all of the way up to 140, he will likely be met by the young man who defeated Lenzi for the 135-pound state title last season, Rocky Point's Stephen Dutton. Dutton is himself no stranger to disappointment. As a freshman, Dutton was leading the 119-pound state finals 2-0 before a Devon Brown cement mixer put an end to his title hopes. As a sophomore, Dutton was again the victim of a stroke of bad luck as he inadvertently pinned himself in a first round match that he was leading by a significant margin. He would respond by outscoring his opponents 63-1 to secure a third-place finish. Last season's title performance was said to be the ultimate characteristic of a new and mentally tougher Dutton. Despite combining for only three DII finals appearances between them, two wrestlers who find themselves in the top 6 of the list are Tyler Beckwith and Kyle Colling. While separated by approximately 40 pounds, if one were to compare the junior seasons of these two young men, you would find that they are marked by similarity. Both winners of their first state titles in 2009, neither Beckwith nor Colling were content to rest on their laurels. Instead, they headed to Virginia Beach with a mission of further solidifying their respecting wrestling resumes. Mission accomplished ... as each would go on to win Junior National titles by besting former NHSCA champions in the finals (Beckwith over NY teammate Malvestuto; Colling over Pennsylvania's Spencer Myers). Malvestuto, himself a three-time NYS and multiple-time NHSCA placewinner, joins Beckwith as member of the state's top 10. Andy Rodriguez (TheMatSlap.com)Rounding out the list are a pair of native Long Islanders in the persons of Anthony Volpe and Andy Rodriguez. Volpe, who is still seeking his first state title, made this list by virtue of the success that he has enjoyed nationally. As both a former Cadet Greco-Roman and a three-time returning NHSCA Nationals All-American, Volpe's place on this list was locked up when he received an outpouring of support from the college coaches that I spoke to prior to penning this article. Likewise, when it came time to make my final selections, Rodriguez was someone who found himself on a short list of five wrestlers who I could not decide if they belonged as the final member of the top-10, or if they were better classified as honorable mention selections. Ultimately, what ended up being the deciding factor for me was the fact that Rodriguez was the only one who was both a state champion and a person who lived in my part of the state, thus allowing me to see/evaluate by me on numerous occasions. Because I very much want to recognize the immense accomplishments of those not chosen, allow me to list their names now: Kyle McGregor (2009 NYS DII champion, 2009 NHSCA Junior Nationals All-American), Justis Flamio (two-time state runner-up, 2009 NHSCA Junior Nationals All-American), Vinny Digravio (2009 NYS champion, former NHSCA Nationals All-American), Giuseppe Lanzi (2009 NYS third place, two-time NHSCA Nationals All-American, 2007 NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion), and Matt Loew (2009 NYS runner-up, two-time NHSCA Nationals All-American, 2009 FILA Cadet Nationals freestyle champion/third in Greco-Roman). One thing is for certain, 2010 should be another exciting and fun filled year for anyone who calls themselves a New York wrestling enthusiast. 1. Tyler Beckwith School: Greene 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 189 Projected College Weight Class: 174/184 Tyler Beckwith (TheMatSlap.com)Scouting Report: The most versatile wrestler in New York State this season, Beckwith, is a true three-style competitor. The winner of his first DII state title in 2009, Beckwith has been flourishing on the national stage since his freshman year. Already a three-time NHSCA National champion, the multi-sport athlete at Greene High School has a chance to make history in 2010 by becoming the first scholastic wrestler ever to win an NHSCA title at every grade level (he could be joined by New Mexico's Louis Trujillo who also heads into this season as a three-time champion). In the international styles, the native of Syracuse has been every bit as good, earning double Junior All-American honors this past year in Fargo (second in Greco-Roman, eighth in freestyle). Rated as the No. 11 recruit in the nation by InterMat, the three-time NYS DII placewinner (second in 2008 at 171, fifth in 2007 at 145) will be reunited with his Shamrock Wrestling Club coach, Scott Green, next fall as he gave a verbal commitment to Binghamton University back in July. 2. Nick Arujau School: Syosset 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 125 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Scouting Report: The son of former two-time World Freestyle champion/1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Vougar Oroujov, winning is in the blood of Nick Arujau. A state runner-up as a freshman in 2007, Arujau has not tasted defeat the past two years, winning state crowns at 112 and 125 pounds respectively. He enters his senior season with a career record of 148-7 as well as an 85-match winning streak. Considered small for the weight last season, the three-time Nassau County champion has confirmed that it is his intention to compete at 125 again this season. While small on quantity, Arujau's national resume is high on quality. In 2008 was a NHSCA Sophomore Nationals runner-up, finishing third with his only loss coming at the hands of eventual champion, California's Jesse Delgado. That same year, Arujau earned All-American honors in Fargo, finishing seventh at the Cadet National Freestyle tournament. Pursued by a number of institutions, Arujau narrowed down his list to a trio of schools -- American, Lehigh, and Hofstra -- before ultimately deciding to continue his career at the latter. Having spent considerable time training in Russia this summer, it will be exciting to see how much the No. 46 national recruit has progressed from one year to the next. 3. Stephen Dutton School: Rocky Point 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 140 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Stephen Dutton (TheMatSlap.com)Scouting Report: Heading into his junior season, many considered Dutton to be the best wrestler in NYS without a title (second in 2007, third in 2008). This is a tag that fortunately will not follow him into his grand finale. In 2009, Dutton practically ran over everybody in his path. Going undefeated along the way, the 2007 NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion (fourth in 2008, National runner-up in 2009) claimed his first state title in high fashion by defeating defending state champion/fellow top 10 honoree Andrew Lenzi by major decision in the finals. Earlier in the season, he defeated former two-time NYS champion Paul Liquori in a dual meet. In addition to being a three-time NHSCA All-American, Dutton really solidified his name on the national scene last November when he finished a respectable sixth in a stacked 135-pound class at the Super 32 tournament. In doing so, Dutton defeated a pair of Virginia state champions (Both current DI wrestlers) in the persons of Andrew Williams and Ian Squires. With another year of working alongside former Hofstra University two-time All-American Charles Griffin (an assistant coach at Rocky Point), available to him, there is no telling how developed he will be when he heads off to college. Having given Coach Pat Santoro a verbal commitment in July, Dutton is Bethlehem, PA bound, as he will continue his athletic/academic career at perennial EIWA powerhouse Lehigh University. Dutton is the No. 68 ranked recruit in the nation. 4. Nick Wilcox School: Greene 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 130 Projected College Weight Class: 125/133 Scouting Report: Already a two-time Junior Greco-Roman All-American in Fargo, it might be easy to brand Wilcox a Greco-Roman specialist and overlook his folkstyle skills. Doing so would be very bad for any potential opponents. Despite being slightly overshadowed by his teammate, Beckwith, it will actually be Wilcox who will take to the mat in 2010 as his school's most accomplished in-state wrestler. A two-time DII state champion (2006 and 2009), Wilcox finished as the runner-up in 2007. Another member of the famed Shamrock Wrestling Club, if Wilcox is able to have even half of the success enjoyed by former Shamrock lightweight, 2009 NCAA champion Troy Nickerson, he will make Bloomsburg (where he recently committed) very happy. 5. Kyle Colling School: Pioneer 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 215 Projected College Weight Class: 285 Scouting Report: The brother of 2008 NHSCA Senior Nationals runner-up (at 285), Randy Colling, Kyle is following a similar path as his older brother. The only difference is that last season, Kyle was able to secure the DII state title that eluded the grasp of his big brother. Expected to compete at 215 for the second consecutive year, Colling has to be considered a sizeable (no pun intended) favorite to repeat his 2009 success. Nationally, Colling has been equally impressive. As a junior, he followed up his hardware winning performance in Albany by winning the NHSCA Junior Nationals title, defeating Pennsylvania state runner-up/recent Maryland committee Spencer Myers by injury default in the title match. This was the second All-American finish for Colling, who previously finished fourth as a freshman. Originally, Colling was not as high up on this list as he currently stands. However, in speaking with several college coaches in the New York area, I was surprised to learn how much respect he had garnered. Considered a definitive top 5 wrestler in state, the plethora of support that Colling received was enough for me to give him a second look and reconsider my original list. As of today, Colling, who like his big brother is a two-sport athlete, remains on the open market. If the response from the coaches I spoke to are any indication, this young man will have more than his fair share of programs to choose from when he decides to do so. 6. Angelo Malvestuto School: Niagara-Wheatfield 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 189 Projected College Weight Class: 174/184 Scouting Report: If Dutton was the best wrestler in NYS without a title in 2009, the honor has to belong to Malvestuto this season. A three-time NHSCA All-American, the Niagara Wheatfield senior has never failed to finish out the money in Virginia Beach. As a freshman, he won the 160-pound national title. The following season, he finished third in a very strong weight class eventually won by Beckwith. Malvestuto would split the difference as a junior, finishing as the national runner-up with his only coming at the hands of Beckwith. As impressive as he has been on the national scene, Malvestuto has been no slouch statewide either. He comes into his senior season with the opportunity to be a four-time NYS DI placewinner. This is not too shabby when you consider that he began his scholastic career at a weight usually populated by upperclassmen. In 2007, he finished fourth at160. The last two years must have had a certain “Groundhog Day” feeling to it as Malvestuto has found himself as the third-place finisher back-to-back years at 171. If he is to succeed in finding himself on the top step of the podium this season, it is likely that he will have to best returning state finalist Matt Loew. The No. 79-rated recruit in the country, Malvestuto has been very private regarding his future collegiate plans. However, with a resume like his, one would have to think that colleges/universities are in the process of beating down his door. 7. Cody Ruggirello School: Valley Central 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 135/140 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Cody RuggirelloScouting Report: While not regarded as the flashiest of wrestlers, Cody Ruggirello is something of a cerebral assassin. He is excellent at studying his opponents, learning their shot patterns, and than using those patterns against them to score. Much like older brother Lou (three-time NYS champion, 2006 NHSCA Senior Nationals champion, three-time CAA champion/NCAA qualifier), Ruggirello's length can be something of a problem for his shorter foes. The similarities do not end there. As was the case with his older brother, Cody is a beast on the mat, utilizing the now famous “Ruggirello double bars” to put away many an opponent. As a junior last season, Ruggirello established a sectional record for victories in a single season with 54. He will be looking to equal or break that record this coming season. As freshman, Ruggirello appeared that he would be well on his way toward becoming a four-time NYS champion. In fact, he earned his only state title up to this point in 2007 when he pinned Arujau in the 103-pound championship bout. The last two years have not been as fortunate for Ruggirello as he has had to settle for runner-up (2008 at119) and third place (2009 at 130) honors. If he succeeds in placing in 2010, which barring injury should be a near certainty, Ruggirello will join a very exclusive club of wrestlers who finish their careers as five time state placewinners (third in 2006, first in 2007, second in 2008, third in 2009). Demonstrating that he far from a big fish in a little pond, Ruggirello won over the respect of a lot of non-NYers this past March when he placed fourth at the NHSCA Junior National tournament. While not able to pull off the upset, one of the things that caught the eyes of most spectators was how hard Ruggirello was able to push New Mexico's three-time NHSCA Nationals champion, Louis Trujillo, in their quarterfinal bout. In July, Ruggirello announced that he would be joining his brother at Hofstra University. While it is too early to know for sure, the speculation is that Cody will compete as a true freshman so as to allow the brothers one season to wrestle together. Starting for the same team is something that they have not done since 2006 at Central Valley High School. 8. Andrew Lenzi School: Fordham Prep 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 135 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Scouting Report: A state champion in 2008, Lenzi might have the highest level of untapped potential of anyone on this list. A product of the predominantly weak Catholic League, it is likely that the two-time NYS finalist (runner-up last season at 135) has not been exposed to the same caliber of workout partner as has been other members of this top 10. However, despite not having a steady person in the Rams' wrestling room to push him, Lenzi has continually gotten the job done when it mattered most. He possesses an amazing sweep single that has at times seemed to be unstoppable. He is also an above average rider who when given the opportunity has showcased a talent for tilting his opponent. A 2008 NHSCA Sophomore Nationals All-American (finishing sixth at135), it is the opinion of many CHSAA fans that heading into his senior season, Lenzi has the potential to become the greatest wrestler ever to represent the New York Catholic League. A state title in 2010 will make him the only wrestler in league history to be a multiple-time champion. A third finals appearance will tie him with former University of Iowa wrestler/NCAA qualifier Lucas Magnani, who accomplished the feat for St. Anthony's from 2000-2002. As gifted in the classroom as he is on the wrestling mat, the two-time Catholic state tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler has drawn the attention of most Ivy League institutions. In speaking with him recently, I have learned that he has narrowed down his college choices to the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University. 9. Anthony Volpe School: Rocky Point 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 152/160 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Anthony Volpe (TheMatSlap.com)Scouting Report: Only the second wrestler on this list to not have won at least one NYS title, Volpe's inclusion on this list is a combination of his strong national performances along with the incredible amount of praise that he received from the college coaches that I polled. A third-place finisher in his only appearance at the DI tournament in 2009, it is quite possible that the Rocky Point wrestler could have a state champion if not for a person named Zach Clemente. Clemente, a two-time NYS champion, who is currently on scholarship at the University of Virginia, was the only wrestler to defeat Volpe at the state tournament last season. Competing on the national level, Volpe joins his high school teammate Dutton as well as Beckwith and Malvestuto as wrestlers who find themselves in a position to go 4-for-4 in placing at the NHSCA national tournament. A national runner-up in 2007 (lost to Dutton in NHSCA Freshman National finals), Volpe has made a solid showing of himself the past two seasons, finishing third and seventh respectively in 2008 and 2009. In addition, while not altogether pursued, Volpe has shown a slight talent in the international styles, finishing seventh in Greco-Roman at the 2007 National Cadet Nationals. In late July, Volpe announced that he had given a verbal commitment to Scott Goodale's quickly emerging Rutgers program. 10. Andy Rodriguez School: Central Islip 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 145 Projected College Weight Class: 149 Scouting Report: The 2009 NYS DI champion at 140 pounds, Rodriguez has been considered a phenom since his schoolboy days. As an eighth-grader, Rodriguez was a Schoolboy Nationals champion while competing as a part of the well respected Sayville Youth Wrestling Program. While he has not compiled as distinguished a national resume as his fellow members on this list, statewide Rodriguez has been about as good as one could ask. A three-time Suffolk County (considered one of the hotbeds of Long Island wrestling) finalist, Rodriguez would likely have been a three-time state qualifier had the wildcard system been in place when he was a freshman. Instead, he had to stay home and watch as Dutton, who defeated him in the sectional finals, went on to place second at the state tournament. Transferring from Sayville to Central Islip between his freshman and sophomore seasons, Rodriguez made the most of it when presented with the opportunity to compete in the 2008 state tournament, finishing fourth behind three wrestlers who would all go on to compete on the Division I level. This past season, all of his potential was realized when he defeated Nick Terdick (Honorable Mention) not once, but twice on his way to his second Suffolk title and his first NYS title. Blessed with great explosiveness and athleticism, Rodriguez should make the transition to collegiate wrestling rather smoothly. However, where his career will continue remains unknown at this time. Honorable Mention: Mike Soria (Kings Park)* Max Soria (Kings Park) ** Damon McQueen (Huntington) Colton Dalberth (Marion)** Kenny Collado (Hauppauge)* Kyle McGregor (Tonawanda*** Kyle Crisafulli (Phoenix)* Justis Flamio (Mahopac)** Adam Troy (Walt Whitman)** Vinny Digravio (Wayne)*** Bucky Hendrickson (Letchworth) Giuseppi Lanzi (Amsterdam)** Nick Terdick (John Glenn)** Ryan Tompkins (Beacon) Paul Morabito (Spencerport)** Billy Coggins (Rocky Point)** Ryan Darch (Batavia)** Vinny Gallo (Schalmont) Matt Loew (Wantagh)** Zeal McGrew (Burnt Hills)** Elijah Graham (Corcoran) * Former/Returning New York state champion (DI & DII) ** Former NHSCA or Junior/Cadet Nationals All-American *** Both Former/Current New York state champion & NHSCA or Junior/Cadet Nationals All-American

Joe Boardwine

Dennis Hall