Division I Recruiting Class Rankings
by InterMat
With the new recruiting season upon us, it's time to bring to a close the Class of 2007 and recruiting class rankings. Like last season, there are several factors that go into a classes rankings. While depth of class, quality of recruits, impact on next season and impact on the future are still the focal points of the rankings, there also has been a mathematical elemet to it. Several ranking scores will be compiled: One is what's called simply the "Rankings Score" or R/S. To determine this score, each rank in the InterMat Senior Rankings (1-12) is assigned a point total, similar to many coaches polls that have a 25-1, 24-2, 23-3 voting format. In this format, a #1 recruit gets his team 20 points, a #2 recruit will gain 17, #3 will get 15 and they are staggered down to #12 scoring one point. The reasoning behind this is often the #1-3 recruits do end up becoming college All-Americans more frequently than the 9-12. While there's no statistical data to verify this claim, we consider it "a safe bet."
Once a school has compiled its number of points for its ranked seniors, it is divided by the number of ranked seniors to come out with a ranking average per recruit. That number is then multiplied by the "Impact Score". This impact score is on a base-10 system and the max a team can receive is 10. What is the impact of the class on a team? They're ranked accordingly, again, based on how the recruits fit in the lineup and the projected impact. With the R/S x IMPACT, then that's multiplied by the percentage of the Top 12 seniors that have been signed. There are 168 seniors ranked, thus, more ranked seniors provide more of the overall percentage. This is just one score used, and just evaluates the high school talent brought in. Other ratios/formulas used to sort the recruiting classes are: Percentage of the incoming class nationally ranked and percentage of wrestlers listed in the InterMat Top 250. A "MASTER SCORE" is also taken into account. This is the overall ranking of four categories, again, assigned point values from highest to lowest. Recruit Average Rankings Score, Percentage of recruiting class ranked, Impact score and then "R/S2" score, which is the Avg. rank X the impact X the percentage of the class that is ranked.
Intangibles that do not have a data value assigned can also play a role. This is usually going to give impact transfers a role in the recruiting class rankings. While these ratios are used to put a score on the class, the number of signed recruits in the Top 12 senior rankings still has a strong ranking value, as does the overall size of the class.
NOTES:
1. The Top 15 classes will primarily (but not exclusively) stick to this formula, but since the number of schools signing more than three Top 12 seniors is minimal, places 16-30 will be looked at individually and placed accordingly. While this might seem more arbitrary, it also provides the "little guy" a chance to show its improvement, especially with teams that make an investment in wrestling and bring in talent that might not be nationally ranked, but it significantly improves to existing line-up.
2. Wrestlers that have committed as of July 4 as reported by InterMat will only be counted. We do realize that solid kids are signed all summer long, but there has to be a legitimate cut-off point. With over 1,800 signings now reported, July 4 signings and prior are the cut-off.
3. Intangibles are also noted. Those are most notably, impact transfers.
4. 103 and 112 pounds are weighted slightly less than 119-275.
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1 Ohio State
The first full recruiting year for the Buckeyes netted some serious in-state talent with some national credentials. With any new coaching staff, the recruiting cycles take time to build, but the energy created in Columbus helped land four of the state’s most elite wrestlers and helps build depth and a solid foundation for the future. Sean Nemec, Colt Sponseller, Bo Touris and John Weakley were the top pickups from the state alone. Ohio State picked up five of the Top 150 wrestlers, three NHSCA All-Americans, and five nationally-ranked seniors from the InterMat Senior Class rankings. What pushed the Buckeyes to #1 was the additional signing of Jesse Campbell, a state champion heavyweight, and Pat Harrington, a scrappy lower weight. Biggest out of state acquisition was Nikko Triggas of Campolindo, Calif. Triggas was a Senior National runner-up and will make an immediate impact. Ultimately, it was the elevation in recruiting solid talent to build for the future that gave Ohio State the top spot. This team made perhaps the biggest push in improving the program from the Class of 2007.
2 Missouri
Coach Brian Smith loves finding kids early under the radar, and when they emerge, they’re already signed to go to Columbia. The Tigers class includes four NHSCA All-Americans, six wrestlers ranked in the InterMat senior class rankings and six wrestlers ranked in the Top 150. Any other year, Mizzou’s class could have been #1, but since the Tigers have found their place among the nation’s elite programs and still have a solid core returning, the expected immediate impact in the lineup isn’t as great, however, Coach Smith loves picking up diamonds in the rough and with the right training situation, can step right in when duty calls. Top signees include Blair’s Max Shanaman, Derry Area’s Troy Dolan, NHSCA All-Americans Michael Schmitz of Stewartville, Minn., heavyweight Dom Bradley and two wrestlers from the Southeast that will surprise – Dorian Henderson of Georgia and Brandon Wright of Tennessee.
3 Penn State
Troy Sunderland’s recruiting class isn’t large in numbers, but it packs a punch. The firepower brought in by Tim Darling, Frank Molinaro and Jared Platt alone make this class pretty solid, but then add in Senior National All-Americans Cameron Wade and Micah Bollinger and you’ve got a credential-laden class. While it’s hard for many teams to duplicate a Top 3 class in consecutive years, the recruiting game at Penn State has filled holes, built depth and is ready to groom wrestlers to step in, most likely after a redshirt year. The true impact of the class might not be realized until two years from now, but these guys are D-I ready.
4 Virginia Tech
Aggressive recruiting was coach Kevin Dresser’s quick fix after inheriting a program that was surrounded by drama upon his hiring. While a few wrestlers took their year and are looking to transfer (or already have), Dresser and staff got busy, aggressive and found success. Seven ranked seniors from the InterMat Top 12 are in the group – most of any program – including Senior National champion Chris Diaz of Delaware, who had initially committed to Indiana. Oh, not to mention there’s the distinction that the Hokies will have the services of the nation’s top recruit for the Class of 2007, Cody Gardner from nearby Christiansburg. No corner of the country was foreign, as Dresser picked up wrestlers from Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Delaware as well as within Virginia. This team will be young for years to come, but the Hokies will be throwing many of these guys right into the fire, and many will be ready to compete – and succeed – immediately.
5 Minnesota
The Golden Gophers pick up another class from a very deep prep wrestling state in Minnesota. High School Schultz winner Zach Sanders, a five-time state champion and NHSCA Senior National Champion highlights the class along with Junior National and NHSCA Senior National runner-up Sonny Yohn from Colorado. Other notables include Oregon’s Austin Enoch, North Dakota’s Luke Mellmer, the second Mellmer brother to be on the roster, and Joe Murphy, another solid Minnesota kid. Kaleb Young’s solid. One of the more notable stories would be that of Torrey Line, a state champion as a junior that was diagnosed with bone cancer in August of 2006. Line’s quite accomplished on the junior level, yet his involvement with the Gopher program is still suspect at the moment. For more information about Line and his fight, check
www.takedowncancer.com.
6 Oklahoma State
While John Smith’s reported signings are only six deep, four are pretty accomplished. Senior National champions Jamal Parks and Clayton Foster lead the way with the Texas tandem of Luke Silver and Luke Ashmore coming in as well. Ashmore and Silver will be the third and fourth Bishop Lynch alums in Stillwater, joining Ben Ashmore and Kevin Wainscott. Parks and Foster have the potential to step in right away, but will probably redshirt and get accustomed to the Cowboy wrestling room. Oklahoma products Walter Clarke and Chris McNeil bolster the upper weights.
7 Michigan
With only five reported names, the Wolverines incoming class isn’t very deep, but they kept three of Michigan’s best in state and added Kellen Russell of Blair Academy and Jason Lara of California. Justin Zeerip and Erich Smith might not be known outside of Michigan, but rest assured, they can wrestle … very well. Lara, who beat Nikko Triggas in the California state finals, gives coach Joe McFarland an immediate need at 125. It should be noted that four of the five signings were NHSCA All-Americans and Russell the champion. David Johnson is the other along with Zeerip, Lara and Russell.
8 Virginia
What looked like a top three class in the early period hit some stumbles, but with is first real recruiting class, coach Steve Garland will come into his second year in Charlottesville with a pretty good young core of recruits. Leading the way is New York state champion Michael Chaires, an explosive, dynamic wrestler that will give the Cavaliers an immediate need filled in the middle weights. While they didn’t have any All-Americans in Virginia Beach, gritty PA state champion Nick Nelson comes on board, along with Scott O’Donnell from Oak Park out in Missouri, and Germantown Academy’s Chris Henrich. Dave Ebbott, a national prep runner-up comes in, also from Germantown. Shawn Harris and Dan Gonsor might start a St. Edward pipeline, while Matt Bonson is a good lightweight that adds some very good depth.
9 Northern Iowa
Four-leafed clovers, a golden horseshoe, seven or eleven? Regardless of what Brad Penrith did to land his class, it surprised even himself. Junior College transfer Jon Jones is ready now for Division I, but high school standouts Jamal Lawrence of Indiana, Christian Brantley of Illinois and Pat Mahan of Minnesota all put UNI’s class one notch higher. Cruse Aarhus was the top-ranked 103-pound senior and by the time season rolls around, will be a decent sized 125. Brett Rosedale and Jase Thompson are seasoned Iowa natives, while Trenton Washington could be the right compliment for Lawrence, who won Senior Nationals and his first state title this season. Tolly Thompson will have plenty good upper weights to groom with this class. One late addition that really jump-starts the class is the addition of JUCO runner-up Josh Baldridge.
10 Kent State
One of just four schools to ink four Senior National All-Americans, Coach Jim Andrassy’s recruiting efforts have picked up. Throw in a pair of transfers that could make an impact and you’ve got a Top 10 class. Ohio natives Dustin Kilgore, Brendan Barlow and Marcel Clopton all placed in Virginia Beach, while Nic Bedelyon of Pennsylvania meshes very well with assistant coach Josh Moore. The Golden Flashes are still searching for an All-American on the Division I level, but Kilgore’s dynamic, powerful and talented and Barlow could be competitive immediately, but will likely redshirt as Kent still has gargantuan heavyweight Jermail Porter in the room.
11 Oklahoma
Not the biggest class and on paper, it doesn’t seem like it’s that deep, but there is some definite talent in this group. Joey Fio returned to the top of the podium after an injury sidelined him at the state tournament as a junior. Scrappy kid from Idaho, should do well with OU in the lower weights. John Starzyk, a lanky, but powerful wrestler from Illinois should give the Sooners a solid 1-2 punch in a few seasons with Fio. Starzyk was third at Senior Nationals and has a very dominant cradle series on top. Seth Vernon sticks around after finishing second at Seniors and Ryan Smith of Oregon emerged last summer in Fargo, signed early and had a solid season, with the exception of Seniors and the Dream Team. Kyle Bergstedt’s immensely talented, but missed his junior year to a knee injury. He finished third in a good 189-pound weight in California this year. Texan Brent Rogers of Arlington Bowie rounds out the class.
12 Oregon State
Coach Jim Zalesky’s first real recruiting class at Oregon State has a Pacific Northwest feel to it, but Z and staff didn’t make that the calling card of the class. Missouri’s Shane Nay, Washington’s Kelly Kubec and Oregon’s Josh Stalcup are the big guns in the class along with Junior College transfer Heinrich Barnes coming in from North Idaho. Tyler Phillips of Oregon is a quality recruit as are Californians Garrett Drucker and Clayton Jack. Kubec and Barnes will really provide a spark in the lightweights down the line, while Stalcup’s been successful on the Cadet and Junior level. Jack’s an athletic heavyweight and Nay’s one of the top middleweights out of Missouri. This is a good, foundation-building class.
13 Lehigh
Greg Strobel’s got a pretty good little group coming in highlighted by Sean Bilodeau of Massachusetts, Connor McDonald of Delaware, Kellen Aura of California, Zack Rey of New Jersey and Kyle Rosser of Michigan. You know some of those names, but Rosser’s one of those kids that while successful in high school, was always just below the national rankings. He’s pretty good. Rey will have to rebound from a torn ACL suffered in the state semifinals, but Lehigh’s been needing a powerful heavyweight recruit in recent years and Rey could be the answer. Aura and McDonald are sure to provide some nice battles in the lowerweights. Florida state champion Brandon Hatchett’s got great credentials.
14 Edinboro
Just six kids, but they’re high quality. Big guns include St. Edward grad Chris Honeycutt, NHSCA senior national runner-up Paul Paddock of New York, Ohio’s Thomas Straughn and New York’s Torsten Gillespie. Chad Sindoni’s a AA state champ from Pennsylvania and has a frame that could see him well above his 152-pound weight class that he wrestled in high school. Honeycutt, Paddock and Straughn all have good motors and should really buy into the system that Tim Flynn has built at Edinboro. Might not be the biggest of schools, but they can win and Flynn has found a group of kids that will help continue the upward momentum of the program.
15 Cornell
A very balanced, solid recruiting class is incoming for Rob Koll. Mack Lewnes was part of last year’s recruiting class, but deferred enrollment and trained in Colorado Springs. Mike Grey was part of Lehigh’s class until a decision to head to Cornell, and ultimately another deferred enrollment. Grey counts here, as do prep standouts Cam Simaz of Michigan, D.J. Meagher of New Hampshire, Frank Perrelli of New Jersey and Eric McGill of Indiana. While not as star-laden and big as past Cornell classes, this group provides much depth and very good options for Koll and staff once they get in the room.
16 Old Dominion
After back-to-back Top 10 classes, the Old Dominion coaching staff continues to recruit aggressively, earning a third-straight Top 30 class, highlighted by four incoming NHSCA All-Americans, Scott Cust, Lester France, Roy Dragon and Derek Peperas. The Monarchs addressed depth issues in the middle and upper weights and have put together another solid class of incoming freshman next fall in Norfolk. Eight different states are represented in the 12 incoming freshman class. Other notables include Alabama state champ T.C. Pendleton, Montana state champion Tel Todd, the younger brother of Michigan All-American, Tyrel, and Nebraska heavyweight state champ Andy Totusek.
17 Lock Haven
Rocky Bonomo brings in a very big class and a class you’d have to double-take on just to see how good it actually is. While they only signed one high school All-American, the Bald Eagles did pick up John Trumbetti, Luke Lanno, Dale Fava, John Mangini, and Billy Ashnault from New Jersey. Trumbetti’s season ended with a neck injury, but he’s been an All-American on several levels. Michigan’s Dan Craig is a big pickup to bolster the upper weights. Owen Wilkinson might emerge as one of the best in this group – a Michigan kid that’s got the tools. Brad Kummerer is the aforementioned Senior National All-American and Lower Dauphin’s Jared Kane is a monster on top. Real good group for Rock.
18 Nebraska
A quality heavyweight, two solid lightweights and a very tough middleweight give the Huskers a good incoming group. Tucker Lane of Colorado’s going to be a good heavy, and he’s got the smarts, too. Andy Pokorny committed very early and could be groomed to fill in after Paul Donahoe gets bigger or graduates, while Kenny Jordan returns after spending time at Lincoln College and will be a much-needed fix at 133. Chris Hacker of Oklahoma heads on up.
19 Hofstra
Hofstra’s early signees enabled them to get some high-quality kids that hadn’t quite emerged, but when the season kicked up, they sure picked it up. Justin Danz of California was one such wrestler – finishing second at the Senior Nationals. Justin Accordino’s collapse at the PA states was documented, but the Coughlin graduate finished third at senior nationals. Without that, Hofstra might not be this high. P.J. Gillespie and Tyler Mashkow are quality New York kids. Mashkow, like Accordino, rebounded from a disappointing state tournament to place at Seniors. Lawrence Beckman of Reynolds has some great stuff on top, while Jeff Siciliano’s been great in flashes throughout his high school career.
20 Harvard
Not a year where many teams are getting large classes, but Harvard’s got three real impact kids from around the nation, but the most notable is Corey Jantzen of New York, younger brother of former NCAA Champion Jesse Jantzen. Shay Warren of Utah and Dan Kelly of New Jersey give the Crimson much-needed attention at the lower weights. Add in Jantzen and the returning core of Harvard’s team, then the Crimson have a very formidable lineup down low.
21 Penn
Zack Kemmerer’s the stud of the group of incoming high school freshman. The two-time PA state champion did suffer more defeats this season than he did as an undefeated junior, but Kemmerer is ready for Division I, he placed fourth at the Michigan State Open in November, before the high school season got rolling. Scott Giffin’s transferring in from Michigan and could be an immediate spark. A Jersey native, he’ll be a nice way to fill the spot voided by Matt Herrington. One notable addition down low is Gabe Burak, a former champ in Fargo that’s been training in Colorado Springs. Tom Timothy and Bryan Ortenzio aren’t pushovers either.
22 Michigan State
The late addition of NHSCA Senior National Champion Eric Olanowski pushed Tom Minkel’s up, but even before “Little O” signed, Michigan State’s class was good. Four-time Virginia champion Collin Dozier was the biggest sign, along with David Cheza of Michigan and Ian Hinton of Indiana. Of the six reported signees, four have the ability to see time almost immediately.
23 Eastern Michigan
Derek DelPorto’s efforts to recruit solid kids from Michigan has paid off, but one of the top kids in the class is from Ohio – Derek Foore. Joining Foore as the leaders of the class are NHSCA All-Americans Alex Gorton and J.J. Johnson. While EMU doesn’t have a dominant nucleus coming back, the group coming in this year definitely helps the Eagles program build for the future.
24 Columbia
With a lot of seniors to replace, the Lions, ranked for the first time in the century-old history of the program last season, bring in nine wrestlers led by Eren Civan of Maryland and Ryan Flores of California. Civan was undefeated in high school until a knee injury gave him his first loss and ended his senior season. Flores finished second at the NHSCA Senior Nationals, while other notables in the class include Paul Vaeth of New York, Mike Pushpak of Ohio, Ryan Wilson of New Jersey and Travis Creagan of Tennessee.
25 Indiana
Not the largest class for Duane Goldman and his Hoosier coaching staff, but the core of the class is talented, led by NHSCA senior National Champion Matt Ortega of New Mexico. The group could have had two Senior National champions, but Chris Diaz opted out of his verbal commitment to head to Virginia Tech. Ohio's Jeff Pelton is a big pickup, while Joe Fagiano will be groomed to take over at heavyweight. The addition of Pat DeGain to the coaching staff should speed along that process. Reece Freeman and Matt Powless are also nice pickups from in-state.
26 Iowa State
What wasn’t a large class did get a boost when Jerome Ward of Illinois signed an NLI with Iowa State. Coach Cael Sanderson recruited Iowa well, like the rival Hawkeyes, but they have just a tad more ‘star power’ – giving them an advantage here. Justin Wren was a Greco national champion and comes over from the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan – he’ll give folkstyle a go – where he’s a former National Prep champion. Tyler Clark and Dalton Jensen add depth to the lightweights while Billy Lewis and Andrew Sorensen could develop nicely in Ames.
27 Iowa
Tom Brands and crew recruited Iowa, combing the state for talent that will buy into their intense system. Some names don’t jump off the page at you, but it’s not always about credentials in Iowa City. Those that do have some notable cred are: Blake Raising and Jordan Johnson, a pair of talented heavyweights along with J.J. Krutsinger, Vinne Wagner, and Brodie Ambrose. Iowa’s class is perhaps the most home-grown of any college recruiting class this year. How these guys develop will only be a plus, since they’re solid now.
28 Bucknell
Another strong class for Dan Wirnsberger in Lewisburg features PA state champion Rob Waltko, multiple-time Ohio state placewinner David Thompson from Graham, four-time Colorado state champion Kevin LeValley, Wyoming champion Eric Harris and New Jersey state placewinner Jose Matos as its top recruits. Last year’s all-freshman lineup impressed many and the incoming group should continue to build the depth of the Bison wrestling program.
29 George Mason
Did George Mason’s roundball run into the Final Four do anything for the other sports in Fairfax in terms of recruiting? Who knows, but coach Mark Weader and staff really hit the trails hard in bringing in a very good group, mixing the talent in state and going out and getting some real eye-openers. Alaska state champion Cayle Byers makes the longest trip and he’s a bull. Frankie McLaughlin’s an NHSCA All-American, while Brandon Bucher’s got some big wins up in PA. The Patriots added Virginia state champions Matt Jones, Aaron Keeton and Denny Herndon to the mix as well.
30 Northwestern
Mike Benefiel’s the big gun of the group, but Iowa native Robert Kellogg has some good credentials and talent along with a pair of Illinois placewinners – Frank Battaglia and John Schoen. If heavyweight Ben Kuhar of St. Edward gets back to wrestling shape, he would be a huge plus. Small, but good group heading to Evanston.
Notable Non-Division I Recruiting Classes While there isn't a set "non-D1" recruiting ranking, the following schools recruited some top-notch talent that will definitely raise the level of competition on their respective collegiate levels and for those at the Junior College level, become NCAA talent eventually. Many, if not all, of the school listed below signed wrestlers ranked in InterMat's All-Class and Senior Class rankings.
Division II: Ashland, Findlay, Newberry, Pitt-Johnstown, St. Cloud State, Upper Iowa, West Liberty Division III: North Central, Olivet, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, UW-Oshkosh NAIA: Campbellsville, King College (Tenn.), Lindenwood, Missouri Valley, Oklahoma City NJCAA: Neosho CC, North Iowa Area CC, Northwest (Wyo.) College, St. Louis-Meramec CC.
