InterMat Staff

NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma Head Wrestling Coach Jack Spates announced the 2009-10 wrestling scheduled Wednesday. “As always, this is a very challenging schedule,” Spates said. “The competition at the Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic has been bolstered with 2009 national runner-up Ohio State joining the field. We have added the Las Vegas tournament and will also compete in the Virginia Duals this season. This is a schedule that will challenge our young men and prepare them for the NCAAs.” The Sooners will kick off the season by holding the annual Red/White intrasquad scrimmage on Nov. 5 at the McCasland Field House in Norman before official competition begins Nov. 11 on the road at Central Oklahoma. Oklahoma will host its home opener on Nov. 22 against the Pac-10’s Arizona State. The 15-match season also includes seven home duals versus Oklahoma City and North Carolina State (Nov. 28), Oklahoma State (Dec. 1), Cal Poly (Jan. 3), Iowa State (Jan. 22), Chattanooga (Feb. 12) and Oregon State (Feb. 14). The dual versus Chattanooga will mark the third annual Beauty and the Beast event, where Sooner wrestlers will compete alongside the women’s gymnastics team at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. Spates’ squad will challenge for its 11th straight Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic title on Nov. 14 in Brockport, N.Y. Also on this season’s slate is the Cliff Keen Invitational in Primm, Nev., held Dec. 4-5 and the Virginia Duals held Jan. 8-9 in Hampton, Va. Other road contests include Big 12 matchups at Nebraska (Feb. 4) and Missouri (Feb. 6). OU will close its schedule on the road with its second matchup of the season versus in-state rival Oklahoma State on Feb. 21 in Stillwater, Okla. For the first time since 2002, Oklahoma will play host to the 2010 Big 12 Championships in Norman at the McCasland Field House on March 6. Omaha, Neb., will host this season’s NCAA Championships March 18-20 at the Qwest Center. “One of the highlights of our year will be hosting the Big 12 Championships in Norman,” Spates said. “We won the championship last time we hosted in 2002. We are eager to once again bring the Big 12’s best to Norman.”

The CCC Wrestling team announced its 2009-2010 schedule, which includes five home matches and trips to the Reno Tournament of Champions and the NWCA National Dual Meet Championships in Cedar Falls, IA. The Cougars who finished 3rd last season at the NJCAA National Championships, begin the year at home against in state rival Southwest Oregon CC at 7 pm on November 7. Also included is the Clackamas Open, held annually in Oregon City in Randall Hall Gymnasium, on January 16th at 10 am. The night before the open, the Cougars will welcome any and all Alumni for Clackamas' match up with NJCAA runner up North Idaho College at 7 pm. The season is capped off with the Region 18 Championships in Des Moines, WA at Highline CC on February 13 which is followed by the NJCAA National Championships on February 27-28th in Des Moines, IA.

The David G. Bunning ’88 Head Coach for Harvard Wrestling Jay Weiss recently announced the addition of Sean Harrington to his staff for the 2009-10 season. “I have worked with Sean for a number of years with our involvement with the Massachusetts Junior National team and with his club” Weiss said. “ He is one of the most passionate and hard working individuals I have come across in the sport of wrestling. I am extremely excited to welcome him in to our program and have no doubt that he will have a huge impact on our student-athletes in many ways.” A native of Dracut, Mass., Harrington has been involved in the sport of wrestling as an athlete or coach for the last 20 years. He was a two-time All-American at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell and later coached for the River Hawks from 1997-98. Harrington returned to competition as a member of the New York Athletic Club and went on to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., for four years. He served as the Massachusetts Junior National Wrestling team coach in 2008-09. He is also a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Committee. Harrington, who graduated from UMass-Lowell in 1997 with a degree in business administration, currently owns and manages BrickHouse Wrestling Fitness LLC, a wrestling and fitness company in Lowell, Mass.

Travis Paulson

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. With the graduation of 10 former state champions in 2009, it opens up a new class of seniors itching for a spot on top of the podium. This year features five returning champions, including two-time champion Sean McMurray of Portage and one-time champion and three-time finalist Brandon Wright of Warren Central. Frankie Porras, Michael Duckworth and Anthony Hawkins round out the other returning champions. Two wrestlers in the top ten have already committed to wrestling at the next level after graduation. Braden Atwood has committed to Purdue and Sean McMurray has committed to wrestle for Michigan State. 1a. Sean McMurray School: Portage 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 165 Scouting Report: McMurray heads into the 2009-10 season looking to finish off one of the greatest careers in Indiana history. After finishing seventh at 112 in 2007, McMurray captured state titles at 135 in 2008 and at 152 in 2009. In 2009-10 he looks to join the likes of recent Indiana products Andrew Howe and Reece Humphrey as a three-time IHSAA state champion. McMurray has just verbally committed to wrestle for Michigan State next year. 1b. Brandon Wright Brandon WrightSchool: Warren Central 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 125 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Scouting Report: Wright will begin the 2009-10 season in a new environment this year after his transfer from Indianapolis Cathedral to Warren Central. The former Cadet National freestyle champion will look to finish off his career with a second state title. He has been runner-up at 103 in 2007, champion at 112 in 2008, and runner-up at 119 in 2009. Ironically, all three of his previous state championship match appearances came against Purdue recruit Camden Eppert. He is also the son of four-time Division II national champion Tim Wright. 3. Frankie Porras School: Hobart 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 140 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Scouting Report: Porras has been a consistent performer starting early on. He qualified for state as a freshman and then finished second as a sophomore to three-time champion Josh Harper before capturing his first title last year at 130 pounds. Last summer saw Porras finish eighth at Cadet Nationals in freestyle while, this spring he finished fifth at the NHSCA Junior Nationals and also went 7-1 at the Brute Scholastic Duals. 4. Michael Duckworth School: Union County 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 189 Projected College Weight Class: 184 Scouting Report: As a sophomore, Duckworth had a monumental challenge in the state finals. That challenge was now NCAA runner-up Andrew Howe. While Duckworth did not win that match, he was the only wrestler that day that Howe did not tech fall or pin. This year at state Duckworth had to fend off landmines everywhere from Braden Atwood in the quarterfinals to avenging a loss to Bryce Grimes in the finals. This spring Duckworth also placed fifth at the NHSCA Junior Nationals. 5. Ryan Stahl School: Mishawaka 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Scouting Report: Stahl had a great spring and summer of wrestling after his runner-up finish this year. He first finished eighth at the NHSCA Junior Nationals. Then he came one match from placing in Junior Greco and proceeded to place eighth in an absolutely loaded weight class in freestyle. Among his wins was a pin of highly touted Destin McCauley of Minnesota. 6. Anthony Hawkins School: Crown Point 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 125 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Scouting Report: Hawkins has steadily improved each year at state, from being a qualifier as a freshman, to fourth place as a sophomore, to state champion as a junior. 7. Sammy Bennett School: Anderson Highland 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 157 Scouting Report: Bennett will be looking for the ever-elusive state title this year. His freshman year he was a state qualifier at 140 pounds and as a sophomore he lost in the state finals at 145 pounds. This past season he lost to eventual state champion, Daniel Young, in the semifinals and finished third. This spring he placed fifth at the NHSCA Junior Nationals. 8. Christian Lentz School: Mishawaka 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 215 Projected College Weight Class: 285 Scouting Report: Lentz took full advantage of his first full year of varsity action by placing second in the state this past season. He went 4-2 at the Junior Duals wrestling heavyweight, but will be back down to 215 pounds this season. 9. Brandon Nelsen School: Lawrence North 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 119 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Scouting Report: Nelsen has finished in the top four of the state all three years so far, but never reached the finals. As a freshman he finished fourth and as a sophomore and junior brought home third-place medals. He has also placed fourth in Junior Nationals in freestyle at 105 pounds in 2008 and sixth at the NHSCA Junior Nationals. 10. Braden Atwood School: Delphi 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 189 Projected College Weight Class: 184 Scouting Report: Atwood finished fourth and fifth in the state the past two years. He also finished fifth in Cadet Freestyle in 2008 at 171 pounds. He went 6-1 at the Brute Scholastic Duals, including avenging his quarterfinal loss to Michael Duckworth. His only loss was to Jahwon Akui of Illinois. Atwood has verbally committed to wrestle for Purdue next season. Honorable Mention: Brock Norton (Fort Wayne Carroll) Nathan Cleveland (Lowell) Derek Bevans (Yorktown) Zach Stevens (Merrillville) Mason Berryman (Anderson Highland) Tony Lovejoy (Fort Wayne Bishop Luers) Zach Corpe (Elkhart Memorial) James Travis (Merrillville) Alex Surma (Munster) Michael Johnson-Jones (Warren Central)

This year's senior class in Pennsylvania is loaded with talent. Of InterMat's top 100 recruits, 17 are Pennsylvania natives, including four of the nation's top six wrestlers. Jordan Moss (Photo/The Herald, Sharon, Pa.)One wrestler that has flown under the radar because of the abundance of talent in Pennsylvania is Jordan Moss of Sharon High School, a three-time Pennsylvania state placewinner and a 2008 state champion. On Wednesday, Moss made a verbal commitment to the University of Pittsburgh. He also considered Michigan State, Hofstra, Edinboro, Old Dominion, and Clarion. "I decided to go to Pitt because of its education, coaches, and it's close to my family," said Moss, who has a career record of 121-8. "Family means a lot to me and I love to have them at my back. Pitt has a family-like environment with all the culture and everything that is down there. I just feel comfortable. Another thing is too many PA wrestlers leave PA. And I take pride in my state. Another is I am a fan of the Sixburgh City of Champions. It doesn't get much better than the black and gold." Moss plans to compete at 145 or 152 pounds this season and projects at 157/165 pounds in college. "My college goals are ultimately to be a national champ and All-American," said Moss. "My second is to come out with a good degree and have a job making money straight out of college. I want to major in something in the business field."

Huskers.com has announced an addition to the wrestling page with the start of the NU Wrestling Blog. This is another place to visit when looking to stay up-to-date and follow everything surrounding Husker wrestling. On this blog, you will find some interesting news, notes and tidbits surrounding the team as we approach the 2009-10 season. The goal for this is to help you stay in tune daily with what's going on with the Huskers and get inside the program. The blog will include anything that you might find interesting, but maybe isn't newsworthy or lengthy enough for its own press release. You can expect all kinds of notes, learn about the upcoming opponents and hear what the coaches are saying throughout the season. On match days, check out the blog for the latest updates as the Huskers get ready to take the mat. In addition, there should be a lot of exciting news as the NCAA Championships get closer. This year's national meet takes place at Qwest Center Omaha from March 18-20 and is co-hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. During the season, you should be able to find something new numerous times a week. It will continue in the offseason, but may slow down just a bit depending on what's happening around the program. E-mail bgries@huskers.com if you have any questions or suggestions about the blog. Please bookmark the page and check back frequently. The direct link can also be found in the menu on the right side of the wrestling page on Huskers.com.

Nebraska's Mark Manning heads overseas this week to serve as a coach of the 2009 U.S. Freestyle World Team at the 2009 World Wrestling Championships in Herning, Denmark. Manning and Oklahoma State's John Smith were chosen to lead the United States squad by USA Wrestling in April 2009. The 10th-year Husker head coach was selected by the USA Wrestling's Freestyle Coach Selection Committee and will work with USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones during the week-long championship from Sept. 21-27. Manning has extensive coaching experience on the international level, including head coaching responsibilities for the 2001 U.S. Freestyle World Team. He was an assistant coach on the 1997 U.S. World Team and a staff member of numerous other U.S. World and Olympic teams. Last season, Manning led Nebraska to a share of the 2009 Big 12 Championship before finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships. This year's Husker team returns four national qualifiers, including 157-pound national champion Jordan Burroughs.

Shanon Slack (1-0) made his professional debut this past Saturday night at the Iron Will Fighting Championships in Johnstown, Pennsylvania against Noe Quintanella (5-5). Shanon won by unanimous decision in the three-round fight. Shanon is now 1-0 as a professional and Quintanella dropped to 5-5. Next up for LionHeart fighters is Paul Bradley (11-1), who will make his Strikeforce debut on September 25 in Tulsa Oklahoma.

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Tickets for the most anticipated home wrestling match in Bucknell history will go on sale Wednesday morning. The Bison host 22-time national champion Iowa and EIWA foe Rutgers in Sojka Pavilion on Friday, Nov. 27, and fans can purchase tickets from the Campus Box Office starting at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Tickets for the event can be obtained by calling the Campus Box Office at 570-577-1000 or visiting its Web site, www.bucknell.edu/boxoffice. There will be three levels of tickets for sale. Fans can purchase tickets for a chair-back seat along the side of the basketball court for $10 (adult) and $5 (child). To obtain a bleacher seat along the shorter ends of the basketball court a ticket is just $5 (adult) and $3 (child). A children’s ticket covers youth ages 18 and under. Additionally, a select number of premium mat-side seats will be available for sale. Ticket prices for these seats that will be stationed alongside the mat are $50. Select tickets for Bucknell faculty, staff and students will be located in the bleacher seats in the north end of Sojka Pavilion. The tickets will be good for all three matches. Bucknell and Iowa start the day off at 4 p.m. The Hawkeyes and Rutgers will then face each other before the Bison and Scarlet Knights square off in an EIWA match to wrap things up.

Charlottesville, VA -- When setting out to change the world of wrestling Riot Sports Marketing (RSM) founder Jim Harshaw didn't realize just how strong of a response would greet him. Several interviews and media appearances later, he has realized that his idea has touched a nerve deep that resonates within the core of all wrestling fans. RSM solves the issues of low attendance, lack of recognition, poor community support and not enough funding for the sport.. By applying the innovative strategies and tactics that are increasingly popular in small business, RSM is helping clients rally their fans, excite the community, gain media coverage and raise more money. Recently one university head athletic director called Riot "The future of sports marketing" after reviewing the system that RSM is putting in place for them. This institution's intent is to utilize this for their entire athletic department. "I have been studying small business marketing for years and successfully implementing these tools in the organizations I'm apart of with surprising results. There is an opportunity to take this process and spread it throughout the wrestling world." Harshaw, a member of the National Sports Marketing Network (NSMN) and the American Marketing Association (AMA), now offers the service to clients nationwide. With the decline of wrestling due to Title IX wrestling is at a turning point; the Riot system aims to entrench high school and college programs in their communities to the point where they are essential to the fabric of athletics programs. RSM is well on it's way to revolutionizing wrestling. Harshaw is in discussion with a major wrestling organization in terms of a partership that will leverage their combined resources to the benefit of the wrestling community. More details to be released upon further discussions. Riot Sports Marketing offers a year-round marketing system that grows attendance, increases media coverage and maximizes fund raising for high school and college wrestling programs.

Billy Coggins of Rocky Point, New York has given a verbal commitment to the University of Virginia. As a junior, Coggins placed fifth in the New York state tournament at 160 pounds. He is projected to compete at 174/184 pounds in college. "The coaching staff I feel is unbelievable," said Coggins. "They are extremely committed and enthusiastic about bringing the program to the next level. The school itself is a great academic school, which had a lot to do with my decision, as well Virginia's campus. It speaks for itself." Coggins also considered Maryland, Hofstra, and Columbia.

Stephen Abas is one of the greatest U.S. wrestlers of the modern era. He was a three-time California state champion, three-time NCAA champion at Fresno State, and a 2004 Olympic silver medalist in freestyle. In 2005, Abas was one of just 15 wrestlers to earn a place on the NCAA 75th Anniversary Wrestling Team of all-time greats. Abas battled injuries 2004 to 2008, but returned after a long layoff to compete at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, where he finished runner-up to 2008 Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo. InterMat recently talked to Abas about what he has been doing since he last competed at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, where he might be coaching this winter, whether he is considering an MMA career, what his emotions were after Henry Cejudo won the Olympic gold medal, what made Jamill Kelly so successful, and much more. Stephen Abas (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)What have you have been doing since you last competed at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials? Abas: I moved out to San Diego to try to get my own wrestling school started. I have been doing a lot of clinics in the area, visited a lot of the high schools. I did a lot of free clinics just to kind of put my name out there and let people know I'm in the area and teaching now. Things really started picking up in the summer. I had a few wrestling camps, a couple in the LA area, one in Michigan, and one in New York. I have just been traveling around the last six months. After the Trials in June of 2008, I had knee surgery and was pretty much laid up for the next couple months trying to rehab my knee. Then I moved out to San Diego. So are you running a wrestling school right now? Abas: No. Actually, I just recently got a job offer (coaching) at Duke University, so I will be looking into that this fall. Congratulations. So you have not accepted yet? Abas: That is correct. You reached the finals of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials while battling injuries. How healthy were you at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials? Abas: I had a missing ACL in my left knee. The great thing about my career is that I didn't have too many serious injuries up until my last few years of wrestling. Those last three years starting at the Olympics in 2004, I tore a ligament in my knee in the finals. Six or seven months after that was when I tore my ACL for the first time and my LCL. That was kind of the beginning of my knee problems. Since then, I had two more surgeries. The last few years have been real tough on my body. It was kind of the reason for my retirement. Stephen Abas (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)Describe your emotions after Henry Cejudo won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China? Abas: I watched him wrestle on TV. I stayed up until three in the morning when they aired those matches. I watched every one of his matches. As he made it further and further along, I was a little surprised. When he won the gold, it was kind of a bittersweet feeling. I lost to this guy who was the best in the world and won the Olympic gold. I had that opportunity. It was a little hard to deal with at first. It has already been a year. Obviously, I felt like I could have won the gold medal as well. I'm happy for him. I'm glad he did it. I wish him nothing but the best in his future. You won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. When you reflect back on that Olympic experience, does it bring back good memories? Or is something that still eats away at you because you didn’t accomplish your ultimate goal of winning a gold medal? Abas: It brings back good memories. It took me a long time to get to that point and be at the top of my game. There are a lot of things that happened in that match that could have gone differently. I think of it as just another experience. It's the biggest wrestling experience that I have had. I can't think of anything negative about it. It was the peak of my career. I felt that I did my best. I can’t be mad at that. I moved on. Obviously, I tried to make another Olympic Team, so I'm happy about my medal and my experience at the Olympic Games. Stephen AbasYou had a phenomenal collegiate wrestling career at Fresno State, winning three NCAA titles and posting a record of 144-4. However, your collegiate wrestling career may have been a little overshadowed by Cael Sanderson's collegiate career at Iowa State. Does it bother you that you maybe didn’t get as much national attention as you deserved because of Cael's success? Abas: It's hard to think that because I lived that whole era when I was competing at the same time as Cael Sanderson. I grew up with Cael. We wrestled when we were kids. I have known of him for years. That’s just the way it happened. It's just the way it goes. I can't really be mad or angry that he overshadowed me. He was a great wrestler and I was a great wrestler. He just happened to get all the titles and awards. There's a part of me that wishes that I would have gotten some of those awards. But at the same time, I believe in what he did. He went undefeated. I wish they could have given out two awards. As it goes, that's just the way the wrestling world is right now. With your prep wrestling resume -- three-time state champion, NHSCA Seniors Nationals champion, and Junior Nationals champion -- you could have gone to virtually any college in the country to wrestle. Obviously, your brother, Gerry, wrestled at Fresno State and was a coach there. You're also from California. But did you strongly consider any other schools besides Fresno State coming out of high school? Abas: It was really important for me to stay close to home and be close to my brother, Gerry. He was one of my main coaches growing up and one of my main inspirations. To have him around and helping me out technically, I think was key for my success. It's funny, but I tried to withhold my signing with Fresno State so that I could take some recruiting trips. Ironically enough, nobody really recruited me. I didn't get any phone calls from Oklahoma State or Iowa. I think they assumed I was going to go to Fresno State because Gerry was so successful there. They knew we were close. I was happy with my decision. I had a great college career, so I can't be mad about that at all. You defeated Jody Strittmatter 14-1 during your senior season ... and then you went on to beat him again 13-11 in the NCAA finals. I have heard that you were sick during that NCAA finals match. Is that true? Abas: Yeah, it was a snowy weekend in Iowa City. I had some kind of cold. I was coughing and staying up late. I don’t think I felt it until the last few minutes of that last match. I got pretty tired there at the end. I was feeling it for sure. Stephen Abas (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)This summer, USA Wrestling announced the creation of the Living the Dream Medal Fund to provide compensation for U.S. wrestlers who have success at the World Championships or Olympic Games. A wrestler who wins an Olympic gold medal will receive a quarter-million dollars ($250,000). World medalists are also compensated. What was your reaction when you heard about the Living the Dream Medal Fund? Abas: I thought that was pretty cool. Finally they are giving some money to the guys for the hard times they are putting their bodies through. I'm happy for the new generation of wrestling. Obviously, I wish that they had that when I was competing, but just like anything else, time moves on. It’s good for the wrestlers now. Hopefully it gives them more desire to do better and work harder. Our country needs it. We need some medals. Hopefully that can motivate them to work harder. There has been a lot of talk about this year's U.S. World Freestyle Team being inexperienced. None of the wrestlers have ever competed at the World Championships. Is world level experience overrated or underrated when it comes to competing at the World Championships? Abas: I think the majority of Americans don't realize the intensity of the World Championships. With it being a new team and no experience, it's somewhat common being the year after the Olympics. Usually there are a couple guys who were on the Olympic Team that compete the next year. It will be an experience for them. It's really the toughest competition in the world. I think they have a lot to be ready for. With Zeke Jones coaching them, I believe he can prepare anybody to be a champion. It's all about their experience and what they actually put down on the mat. Jamill Kelly was never a California state champion or a Division I All-American at Oklahoma State, but went on to win a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games. How do you explain that? Abas: I grew up with Jamill here in California. I was on multiple Cadet and Junior National teams with him, so I know him fairly well. I got to know him a little better when he went out to Oklahoma State. I went out there a few times to train. Jamill Kelly was a student of the sport. I have never seen another athlete that really broke down technique like he did. He was really technical and really open-minded in the things he saw. He would watch foreigners, the Russians, the best guys, like the Saitievs, and I think he really learned a lot from that. I believe that he could have been a champion for a while. I think it was just his time coming into his own. Stephen Abas (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)A lot of former wrestlers have found success in MMA. Is MMA something you ever considered? Abas: I have. Actually, I'm considering it now. It's been a year since my retirement. My body is pretty much held together now. Every time I step out on the mat and do these clinics and camps, I get a little bit of that hunger back, that desire to compete. Right now, it's just a matter of finding a regular training environment. I think if I could get that, who knows, I might start training. I know there are a lot of people who are willing to help me. I think I could do well at it. I think it's the purest form of combat. It sounds like something I would like to try at least once. I don’t know. We'll see what happens ... if I start training and get some good sponsors and people that would want to see me fight. You mentioned that you have a job offer to coach at Duke. Is one of your aspirations to someday become a Division I head wrestling coach? Abas: It hasn't been. But since this opportunity has opened up, I think that can be an alternate path for me. Ultimately, I would want to open up a wrestling school and just teach wrestling. I love to teach and share my knowledge with people who want to learn. I believe there is always an opportunity for me in coaching ... if I want to take on that kind of profession. Right now, it’s just the opportunity to step into that world and try it out.

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. This year is yet another strong year for recruiting in Michigan. However, true to form, the state of Michigan only has a few guys who have received significant amounts national recognition. Jackson Morse and Ryan Nieman appear to be the obvious top two recruits based on their performances at national tournaments. Morse won the Super 32's last fall and he and Nieman both went undefeated at the Disney Duals this summer. Nieman then went on to take third at the Junior Nationals, beating a handful of nationally-ranked wrestlers. Morse is ranked as the No. 24 senior recruit in the country by InterMat, while Nieman is ranked No. 35. Jake Dorulla, the No. 3 recruit on our list, was ranked as the No. 52 recruit by InterMat in the spring. However, he has fallen out of the top 100. Dorulla, Nick McDiarmid, and Mike Curby are the other guys to have placed high at major national events. However, there are a lot of other wrestlers in this class who have gotten out nationally and scored some big wins, but failed to place at Fargo, or gain a great deal of national notoriety. A bit of advice to up and coming high school wrestlers looking to be noticed: Register early and get into the Super 32s and/or start training for Fargo immediately after the high school season. While there is debate over whether Fargo is still the mecca of high school wrestling it once was, most college coaches and wrestling publications will agree that placing in Fargo remains the fastest route to national recognition. Ryan Nieman is a great example of this. Prior to his Fargo performance, the verdict was still out. However, following his third-place finish he will likely be breaking into the national rankings this fall. The Disney Duals are doing great things for gaining exposure to Michigan's best high school wrestlers and competing against top tier competition. However, the Duals still aren't getting the kind of exposure that Fargo, Super 32s, and the NHSCA Senior/Junior/Sophomore Nationals receive. Therefore, a lot of great Disney performances are going unnoticed by the people who do national rankings and those same rankers are focusing heavily on the NHSCA Junior & Sophomore Nationals, which in case you forgot wrestlers from the state of Michigan are not allowed to attend (per the MHSAA). Therefore, some of Michigan's best kids remain to go unnoticed until late into their senior seasons. Below you will find everything you need to know about the wrestlers who we believe are the Top 10 recruits heading into the early signing period, which begins in November. 1. Jackson Morse School: Lowell 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 160 Projected College Weight Class: 157/165 Jackson MorseScouting Report: Morse first established himself during his sophomore season when he knocked off then nationally-ranked senior and soon-to-be four-time state champ Mark Weber of Goodrich. Since then, all he has done is win. He won an impressive state title his sophomore year downing Senior National All-American and current Old Dominion sophomore Brennan Brumley in a dominant finals match. He then officially sealed his deal as one of the top recruits in the country last fall with an amazing day of wrestling at the Super 32 Challenge in North Carolina. In one day, Morse knocked off three nationally-ranked wrestlers including Junior Freestyle National runner-up and three-time Florida state champ Joe Cozart, Junior National champ and No. 1-ranked Dylan Alton of Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania State champ Joey Napoli. The only hiccup in the past few years for Morse was his one point loss to Taylor Massa at last year's team state finals, a match that was somewhat controversial and a battle of the state's top middleweights. This summer he further proved himself nationally with an undefeated performance at the Disney Duals. He is well put together with a long, muscular frame and he wrestles well from all positions. The best thing about Morse is that he seems to compete the same in big matches when the lights are on, so don't expect him to get caught off guard his first year or two at Illinois. He should be ready to compete right away. Morse is ranked as the No. 21 recruit in the country by InterMat and there is no doubt that he will live up to that ranking and make a huge impact in the Big Ten and the NCAA. Too bad we couldn't keep him in Michigan! 2. Ryan Nieman School: Bullock Creek 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 135 Projected College Weight Class: 141/149 Scouting Report: There were some question marks about Nieman heading into this summer regarding his ability to compete on the national stage. However, he has officially erased all those question marks with one heck of a summer that has seen him dominate the Disney Duals and finish third in a stacked weight in Fargo wrestling in his first national freestyle tournament. His third-place finish in Fargo officially put him on the map as Nieman downed two top 100 recruits, three nationally ranked wrestlers, and the only wrestler to win a period against him was eventual champ Josh Dziewa of Pennsylvania, who Nieman tech-falled in the first period. This kid is the prototypical college 141 or 149-pounder in that he is strong, athletic, and has that in-your-face style that a coach loves. He has great attacks on his feet and is always pushing the pace. However, he also has an innate ability to stay in good position and come out on top of scrambles. With two state titles under his belt, it was already evident that Nieman was tough. However, his performances in Disney and Fargo have launched him into the forefront of the recruiting world and he should begin to get some serious looks from the nation's top programs. 3. Jake Dorulla School: Rockford 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 171 Projected College Weight Class: 174 Scouting Report: Dorulla finally got the monkey off his back last year by winning his first state title after losing in the D1 state finals his first two high school seasons. He has also proven himself nationally with a big win over Iowa state champ Kyven Gadsen in last fall's Preseason National finals. He flies under many recruiting radars because he doesn't wrestle summer freestyle events. However, Dorulla is without doubt one of the most talented kids coming out of Michigan this year and he has all the physical tools to be a great college wrestler. He is very athletic for his size and much like most Rockford greats, Dorulla can ride and turn on top with the best of them. His Disney Duals performance was solid, but not great, so really the only thing separating him from the top two here is breakout success on the national level. He will most likely graduate as a four-time state finalist and two-time state champ. His stock could go up even more if he chooses to wrestle at the Super 32s or Senior Nationals this year. 4. Mike Curby School: Hillsdale 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 171 Projected College Weight Class: 174 Scouting Report: When it comes to national experience, at Fargo in particular, Curby is without a doubt the most accomplished kid in this group. Most of his success has come in Greco-Roman and while some people would argue that Greco-Roman success does not say a lot for a college future, winning is winning, and his experience should leave him as prepared as anyone for the grind of college. He is already committed to Eastern Michigan and he is a big pick up for EMU. Curby is a quiet, humble kid who is a hard worker and much like many "Greco Guys,” he is a grinder who just keeps coming. While his Greco-Roman success is impressive, keep in mind that he also won a high school state title last year over John Rizgallah, who is a top recruit as well and he upended Oklahoma standout Ronnie Balfour in freestlye at Fargo. He has already committed to Eastern Michigan and having David Bolyard to work out with every day should be a nice fit for him. 5. Josh Houldsworth School: Holly 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 152 Projected College Weight Class: 149/157 Scouting Report: The past six months have really pushed Houldsworth towards the top of the conversation regarding this year's top recruits. He was pretty dominant in winning the Division 1 state championship and he wrestled well in Fargo, finishing just short of placing with both his losses coming to nationally-ranked guys. In Fargo, he scored possibly the biggest win of his career when he upended No. 9-ranked Luke Vaith of Minnesota. Houldsworth is built well for college. He is strong, wrestles from good position, and really has very little weaknesses -- good takedowns, good on top, defends well … you get the picture. Houldsworth does not have a ton of national exposure. However, he could be a steal for some college coaches out there looking for a solid middleweight. 6. Nick McDiarmid School: Fowlerville 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 215 Projected College Weight Class: 197 Nick McDiarmidScouting Report: McDiarmid is without a doubt the most highly-touted upperweight in this year's group. He was an undefeated state champion last year at 215 pounds and his only loss at the Disney Duals was to the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the country, Orlando Scales. In his loss to Scales, McDiarmid was leading much of the match and gave up controversial nearfall points in the third period that cost him the match. His close loss to Scales, as well as a win over Dallas Brown, who was third in the state of Pennsylvania, further solidified McDiarmid as a big time recruit. He was also third at the Super 32s, losing only to highly-ranked Antonio Giorgio of Pennsylvania in another close match. He is already committed to Michigan State and while McDiarmid is strong and athletic for a big guy, his best quality appears to be his ability to compete with the nation's best. In his matches with Scales and Giorgio he was competitive and wrestled to win, which is what he will need to do when he arrives at MSU and has to do battle with those Big Ten 197-pounders. 7. B.J. Suitor School: Swan Valley 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 119 Projected College Weight Class: 125 Scouting Report: Suitor is the only guy in this class with a shot at being a four-time state champ. Last year, in his first year not at 103, he dominated all the 112 pounders in Division 3 en route to his third title. An injury kept Suitor out of Disney this year, which did not help his recruiting value. He has not had the most national experience. However, last summer he did very well in Disney and scored a huge win over Ohio state champ Ty Mitch, who won in Fargo this year. His three state titles, the win over Mitch, and the fact that Suitor will likely be a 125-pounder for life in college definitely make a strong case for him as one of the top recruits in this class. Throwing in the fact that he has good grades (3.6 GPA/ 29 on the ACTs) is the icing on the cake. 8. Nick Smith School: Ida 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 125 Projected College Weight Class: 125/133 Scouting Report: Smith came out of nowhere in 2008 to win his first state title. However, he showed that it was no fluke by repeating last year with a 7-2 win over Darius Wass in the finals. This summer he went to Disney, and while he lost four times, all of his losses were to pretty tough kids, including a 9-6 loss to No. 3-ranked Shane Young of Pennsylvania. He also scored wins over Ohio state runner-up David Bolger and Illinois state placewinner Chris Williams. Smith has little national level experience and he still has room to improve. However, he has been getting better and better throughout his career as he was 37-19 as a freshman. Smith has been 119 his whole career so he shouldn't get too much bigger, but with his stocky build leads one to believe he will end up around 133 in college. 9. Tyler Keselring School: Greenville 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 125 Projected College Weight Class: 133 Scouting Report: Entering last season you could argue Keselring as one of the top five wrestlers in this class, and he still has the tools to remain in that argument. He suffered a setback as the two0time state champ did not place at this year's state tournament. However, weight issues seemed to take a heavy toll on Keselring as he was undefeated all year up to the regional tournament and scored big wins all year long including a win over Wass (No. 10) and the eventual champ in his weight, Conor Youtsey. While his state tournament was disappointing, he appeared drained and did not look like the same wrestler. That bad weekend does not change the fact that this kid is one of the most talented wrestlers in the state of Michigan. He is slick on his feet and has an array of setups and shots in his arsenal. He has gotten out as much as anyone nationally and while he has failed to place in Fargo or score any breakout wins, he has been right in the mix with many of the nation's top wrestlers. Last fall he finished third at the Preseason Nationals, with his only loss coming in way of a 4-3 barnburner to Jesse Thielke of Wisconsin, who is currently ranked 18th in the country by InterMat. His state tournament performance may have raised some question marks. However, Keselring's past success and track record of being competitive with the nation's best should still sustain his status as one of the top prospects in this class. 10. Darius Wass School: Swan Valley 09-10 Projected High School Weight Class: 130 Projected College Weight Class: 141 Darius WassScouting Report: Wass' track record is strikingly similar to that of former Swan Valley teammate Jared Germaine, who entered his senior year as the No. 10 recruit as well. Wass, like Germaine a year ago, is arguably the best wrestler in the state never to have won a state title. Also like Germaine, he has made up for his lack of Palace success with a lot of national experience and there is no doubt that he is one of the most talented athletes in this group. This summer in Disney he continued to thrive on the national stage with a big win over Tyler Razauhan of Pennsyvania, who is currently the No. 16-ranked wrestler in the country at 119 pounds by InterMat. He also lost a close 2-0 match to Fargo champ Ty Mitch of Ohio. While he has not won a state title, Wass has lost only three times in the past two years of high school wrestling: this year's state finals to Smith (No. 8), the Goodrich finals to Keselring (No. 9), and last year's state finals by way of a third-period comeback to Roger Wildmo (No. 1-ranked junior). He may be the most dangerous wrestler in the state as he is the kind of kid who will try anything against anybody. He is also very strong for his size. Whether he ends up winning his first state title this year or not, Wass will be a good pickup for somebody.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers wrestling head coach Scott Goodale has been selected for induction into the 2009 class of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame, the organization announced Sunday. Scott GoodaleGoodale and the seven other inductees will be enshrined at the 30th annual induction ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Masso’s Columbus Manor on the Black Horse Pike in Williamstown, N.J. Tickets for the banquet are $35 and may be purchased by calling Mike Schuld (609-206-2206). The deadline for ordering tickets is Monday, Nov. 2. “I am humbled and honored to be inducted into such a prestigious group,” said Goodale. “It’s nice to receive this type of recognition in a sport that means so much to me.” Along with Goodale, this year’s class of eight inductees includes former two-time state champion Mark Saul (Millville), state champions Larry DeVault (Paulsboro), Damien Covington (Overbrook) and Shawn Scannell (Absegami) and state place winner Michael Lamb (Highland), who coached at Sterling and Gloucester County College. Rounding out the Class of 2009 are two highly successful coaches, Ron Hamrick (Collingswood) and Dave Chambers (Cherokee). Goodale enters his third season as head coach of the Rutgers wrestling team. Last season, Goodale led the team to a school record 20-win season in dual competition. Goodale is a 1990 graduate of Jackson High School. He was a four-time District 25 and two-time Region 7 Champion. Goodale put his name on the map with a 16-2 decision to win the district championship at 108 pounds as a freshman. The Jackson, N.J. native won successive district titles as the result of 20-7, 1:10 fall and 19-7 wins at 119, 135 and 145, respectively, to make Goodale the 13th wrestler in South Jersey history to win four district titles. Goodale helped Jackson to a second place district finish as a freshman and then to three straight district titles. He won back-to-back regional titles with a 16-3 decision in 1989 and a 1:02 fall in 1990. As a junior, Goodale sustained an 18-16 overtime loss to unbeaten and eventual state champion Erik Saunders of Overbrook in the state quarterfinals on the way to a 31-4 campaign and fourth-place finish. As a senior, Goodale had a 33-1 season with the lone blemish an 8-6 loss to unbeaten Brian Unkert of Pope John in the state finals to finish 115-11 in his scholastic career. Goodale attended Lock Haven University where he compiled a 99-26 record and was a three-time NCAA Qualifier. Goodale coached Jackson Memorial High School for seven years with a career record of 155-16. His teams were No. 1 in New Jersey in 2006 and 2007 and ranked 10th and 7th in the United States. The Goodale led squads won seven straight district titles and four Shore Conference championships. His teams were second in the Shore Conference his other three years. The multitalented Jersey native also served as offensive coordinator for 3 Group Champion Football teams at Jackson.

Nick Catone

John Leonardis

Cory Cooperman

Scott Goodale

On Sunday, two InterMat top 100 recruits, Jerome Robinson of St. Ignatius High School in Ohio and Sean McMurray of Portage High School in Indiana, gave verbal commitments to colleges. Robinson, who is ranked as the No. 32 recruit, gave a verbal commitment to Old Dominion, while McMurray, who is ranked as the No. 76 recruit, gave a verbal commitment to Michigan State. As a junior, Robinson compiled a 39-3 record and won an Ohio state title in Division I at 112 pounds. He placed third in the state tournament as a freshman at 103 pounds. Robinson was a key member of Team Ohio that won the 2009 Junior National Duals title in freestyle. He went 10-0 and was named to the All-Tournament Team at 112 pounds. Jerome RobinsonRobinson also considered Iowa State, Arizona State, Northwestern, Ohio, and Ashland, but ultimately decided that Old Dominion was the best fit. "Old Dominion is a growing success," said Robinson. "They are building a program and that is something I want to be a part of. Also, I have known Steve Martin and his coaching staff since I was very young. It felt right to be here. This was the best choice for me because I know I will improve not only on the mat but off of it as well. You cannot beat the practice partners and the family environment." There are some things Robinson still wants to accomplish before he heads off to college. "I want to win another state championship," said Robinson, who plans to compete collegiately at 125 pounds. "I want my name written in the Ohio history books for young wrestlers to look up at and know they too can accomplish something special." McMurray is a two-time Indiana state champion and a 2009 NHSCA Junior Nationals runner-up at 152 pounds. As a junior, McMurray went a perfect 49-0 en route to winning the state title at 152 pounds. He is projected at 157/165 pounds in college. "My decision to become a Michigan State Spartan was decided by a number of things,” said McMurray. "First, it's a very big and very clean campus with tradition you can only find in the Big Ten. The coaches bring a lot of experience to the table and the wrestlers are like a group of brothers. Michigan State is exactly what I was looking for in a school. I wanted to go away to school, but at the same time it's within distance of my home in Portage, Indiana." McMurray also considered Old Dominion, Virginia Tech, Maryland, and Central Michigan. Michigan State is the only Big Ten school he considered. "I felt more comfortable with the Michigan State coaches than I did with any I've met or talked to in this recruiting process," said McMurray. "Coach Minkle, Roger, Williams, and Alex Dolly all see eye to eye with me and we have many of the same goals for my college wrestling career." He hails from the same high school, Portage (Indiana), as Leroy Vega, a former three-time All-American at the University of Minnesota. He plans to major in journalism and minor in education at Michigan State.

Heath Eslinger

Jay Hammond

Danny Felix

Jon Sioredas