InterMat's 2023 Recruiting Class Rankings: Part One (#13-25)

The 2023 recruiting class rankings were as unique as any I’ve ever done. With the transfer portal as prevalent and commonplace as it is, it made more of an impact this year compared to any. You’ll see that many of the top recruiting classes for this year also received a big boost from the portal. Overall, this was a two-horse race for the #1 spot, both of which could have made a compelling case to receive top billing. After that, there were plenty of deserving recruiting classes; probably six or seven others that deserved recognition amongst the top-25. Recruiting rankings mark the end of the respective class and put a bow on the hard work of coaching staffs around the nation. The question you ask is, how are these rankings tabulated? First, we have used the big board rankings courtesy of our sister-site MatScouts. Willie Saylor has taken the arduous task of projecting the top-200 wrestlers in the Class of 2023, making calculating these rankings slightly easier. Some of the factors that are taken into account when putting these rankings together include: - Numbers: Where were the signees ranked? How many top-ten, top-50, top-100, top-250, etc., does a school have? - Fit: After years of following these programs and their coaching staffs, does a particular recruit fit the "type" of kid that has success at their respective team. Or maybe a style of wrestling. - Filling a need: In years past, I have weighed this very heavily. Signing two highly ranked 184 lb prospects doesn't appear to fit a need when you have a stud junior returning at the same weight. However, after coming off a "free year" in 2021, that throws a loop into everything. At this time, we don't know whether everyone will actually use that extra year of eligibility. Compared to years past, this category doesn't factor in, as much, unless it's very evident that a team has a glaring logjam at a particular weight or weight range. - Impact on a program: This is subjective, but tends to favor teams that aren't consistent NCAA trophy contenders. If Iowa or Penn State sign the #80 overall recruit and he turns out to AA twice, taking seventh and eighth for them, it has a particular impact. But if Air Force or Drexel sign the same prospect and he has the same career, it will have a much more significant impact on those two programs. Both Air Force and Drexel may have benefitted from this criteria in 2023. So, with that out of the way, enjoy InterMat's 2023 Team Recruiting Rankings. 25 - tie) Drexel Recruits: #34 Jasiah Queen (St. John Vianney, NJ - 165/174 lbs), #72 Justin Griffith (Sanford, DE - 184 lbs), Billy Brosko (Haverford School, PA - 285 lbs), Trey Friedman (Lenape, NJ - 125 lbs), George Rhodes (Absegami, NJ - 197 lbs), Justin Soriano (Clarke, NY - 174 lbs) Transfers: Ibrahim Ameer (Cloud CC), Shane Whitney (Camden CC) Immediate Impact: The Dragons appear to have a vacancy at the 197 lb weight class. Luckily, 2023 NJCAA national runner-up Ibrahim Ameer should be able to fill in immediately. The St. Louis native does have two years of eligibility remaining plus a redshirt season. During the 2022-23 season, Ameer wrestled a 1-0 match against two-time DII national champion Dalton Abney. Recruiting Strategy: Head coach Matt Azevedo and the Drexel staff did well at retaining local talent. The bulk of the recruiting class hails from about an hour away from Drexel’s Philadelphia campus and that includes wrestlers from three different states (DE/NJ/PA). There’s enough talent within a couple hundred-mile radius from campus that the Dragon staff doesn’t have to venture far for DI-caliber wrestlers, if they choose. Overall: Drexel’s ranking largely stems from the recruiting ranking of Jasiah Queen and Justin Griffith. Queen was a two-time New Jersey state qualifier and state finalist as a senior, while Griffith captured three Delaware state titles. The late-blooming Queen capped his high school career with a title at NHSCA Senior Nationals. A year prior, Griffith made the finals at NHSCA Juniors. Depending on their weights, both could end up in the Dragon lineup in year one. The other recruit with big-time credentials is heavyweight Billy Brosko. The two-time National Prep finalist and three-time placewinner also earned All-American honors at NHSCA Juniors. Past Classes: 2022: NR 2021: NR 25 - tie) Wisconsin Recruits: #31 Zan Fugitt (Nixa, MO - 133 lbs), #82 Lucas Condon (Poway, CA - 174 lbs), #115 Dylan Russo (Olentangy Liberty, OH - 285 lbs), #126 Julian George (Christian Brothers, NJ - 141/149 lbs), Simon Kruse (St. Clair/Mankato Loyola, MN - 125 lbs), Royce Nilo (Milton, WI - 149 lbs) Transfers: Isaac Klarkowski (Rice - football), Shane Liegel (Loras), Max Maylor (Michigan), Luke Mechler (Oklahoma State) Immediate Impact: Graduate transfer Max Maylor has come back home to spend his final year of eligibility competing for the Badgers. He, Shane Liegel, and Luke Mechler are transfers that appear to be ready to step into the Wisconsin lineup next year. Maylor’s 2022-23 season was the best of his career and he nearly made the NCAA Tournament. Even so, Maylor scored wins over 2022 All-American Jackson Turley, 2022 national qualifier Dom Solis, and eventual qualifier Alex Cramer. With another year under his belt and a fresh set of training partners, Maylor could be making the trip to Kansas City. Recruiting Strategy: This will probably become (or already has) a staple for collegiate coaches going forward. Chris Bono and staff had some money left over late in the game and were able to land a pair of late transfers (Maylor and Mechler), along with Zan Fugitt and Dylan Russo, who flipped in late May after the coaching transition at Oklahoma. Overall: The late signings of Fugitt and Russo pushed the Badgers into the top-25. Fugitt is a three-time Super 32 placewinner who was third in UWW U20 Greco-Roman last month. He’s been good at the international styles, notably Greco, making the 2022 U17 World Team. The other former Sooner commit, Russo, was a Super 32 runner-up last fall and a fifth-place finisher in Fargo Junior freestyle a few months earlier. The second top-100 recruit, Lucas Condon, won a California state title in 2023 and placed into both styles at the Junior level in Fargo. The Badger staff continue to dip into New Jersey for talent with two-time top-three finisher Julian George. He could help in the effort to replace All-American and Big Ten champion Austin Gomez at 149 lbs. Keep an eye on the one transfer we haven’t mentioned in Isaac Klarkowski. The Wisconsin state placewinner is coming back home after placing football at Rice. We’d expect him to be physically capable, based on his football background, yet will have to work out the rust. Past Classes: 2022: #14 2021: #14 24) Pittsburgh Recruits: #18 Anthony Santaniello (Brick Memorial, NJ - 133 lbs), #105 Grant Mackay (Laurel, PA - 174 lbs), #140 Dylan Evans (Chartiers Valley, PA - 157/165 lbs), #183 Tyler Chappell (Seneca Valley, PA - 125 lbs), Daniel Gurovich (Camarillo, CA - 197 lbs) Transfer: Finn Solomon (NC State) Immediate Impact: The Pittsburgh staff hasn’t had to think about the 133 lb weight class lately as Micky Phillippi has been a mainstay at the weight since 2018-19. With Phillippi gone, late signee Anthony Santaniello could end up being the guy right away for Keith Gavin’s team. Aside from Santaniello, the Panthers don’t have a clear-cut starter at the weight. Recruiting Strategy: The Western Pennsylvania (WPIAL) area is the most talent-rich in the nation and for years (decades?) the Panthers were not able to fully benefit from their location. That’s changed under Gavin and continues this year with state champions Grant Mackay and Dylan Evans, along with Tyler Chappel. After solidifying their local recruiting base, the Panther staff can then go to other power states (California and New Jersey) and pluck recruits as they see fit. Overall: Like Wisconsin, a late addition formerly signed with Oklahoma propels the Panthers into the top-25. Santaniello was a four-time New Jersey state finalist and two-time champion which is remarkable in the single-class, power state. Not only were Mackay and Evans PA champs, but they also both placed at UWW U17 freestyle and the Super 32. Due to a couple of years of strong recruiting, both could redshirt in 2023-24. State placewinners Chappel and Daniel Gurovich will both provide depth at weights that could be considered a strength for Pitt in the upcoming season. Pittsburgh has lost some huge pieces over the last two years and will need to get production from their back-to-back ranked recruiting classes to replenish and keep up with the traditional ACC powers. Past Classes: 2022: #15 2021: NR 23) Air Force Recruits: #104 Jackson Dewald (Westwood, IA - 197 lbs), #107 Josh Palacio (North Bergen, NJ - 174 lbs), #127 Bryan Burburija (Countryside, FL - 184 lbs), #154 Soren Herzog (Simley, MN - 197/285 lbs), #188 Josh Cordio (Wyoming Seminary, PA/MA - 184 lbs), #198 Myles Johnson (Springboro, OH - 197 lbs), Mike Avelar (Sunnyside, AZ - 157/165 lbs), EJ Beloncik (Heritage Hall, OK - 157 lbs), Jake Doone (Nazareth, PA - 149 lbs), Ethan Freund (Kelso, WA - 149 lbs), Andrew Harmon (Bethlehem Catholic, PA - 165 lbs), Owen Heiser (Evansville, WI - 174/184 lbs), Jacob Jones (Rancho Bernardo, CA - 125 lbs), Nate King (Pine Creek, CO - 285 lbs), Trason Oehme (Brandon Valley, SD - 141 lbs), Colby Ryan (Gellis, AZ - 149/157 lbs), Jason Shaffer (Troy Christian, OH - 125 lbs) Immediate Impact: A large roster and the option of a prep school make it so that Air Force doesn’t necessarily “need” to get a boost from the 2023 Class already. Recruiting Strategy: Air Force has a massive recruiting class coming in, so there are plenty of different strategies you could say the Falcon staff employed. After casting a large net, there’s no real geographical link between their recruits. What stands out is the weights of the wrestlers from this class. Again, they hit every weight class, but if you look at the highest-ranked recruits, they all project at 174 or higher. Head Coach Sam Barber and his staff really placed an emphasis on getting talented big men. They have an incredibly talented heavyweight in Wyatt Hendrickson and with only a year of eligibility remaining, this would be the proper time to find his successor. Since the service academies are forced to get their recruiting classes secured earlier than most other schools, I’m interested to see a boost on the recruiting trail after Hendrickson’s exploits. Producing their first All-American in 20 years should raise the athletic profile of the Air Force program. Overall: There isn’t enough time and space to hit on all of the wrestlers from this recruiting class, but the key number is six, which is the number of top-200 recruits Coach Barber’s team has heading to Colorado Springs. This class has a pair of Super 32 placers (Bryan Burburija and Myles Johnson), an Ironman placer (Andrew Harmon), and three Fargo All-Americans. (Burburija, Soren Herzog, and Trason Oehme). The team’s highest-ranked recruit, Jackson Dewald, is a three-time Iowa 1A finalist and 2023 champion. There aren’t enough spots in the lineup for all of these recruits to make a significant impact on the mat; however, should a handful do so, it would certainly justify a ranking like this for Air Force and make their 2022-23 season a regular occurrence rather than an outlier. Past Classes: 2022: NR 2021: NR 22) North Dakota State Recruits: #99 Luke Barker (Dodge City, KS - 174 lbs), #132 Markell Rivera-Cain (Ironwood, AZ - 197 lbs), #139 Boeden Greenley (Lisbon, ND - 157/165 lbs), #156 Zane Licht (Lodi, WI - 165 lbs), #178 Adam Cherne (Wayzata, MN - 184 lbs), #187 Amantee Mills (Stone Mountain, GA - 133 lbs), Jesse Aarness (Billings West, MT - 149 lbs) Transfer: Devon Dawson (Pratt CC) Immediate Impact: With former head coach Roger Kish taking the Oklahoma head coaching post, it could open up a couple of holes in the NDSU lineup for the 2023-24 season. We’ve already seen last year’s starter at heavyweight, Juan Mora, indicate that he’ll follow Kish to Norman. That paves the way for two-time NJCAA All-American Devon Dawson to step in right away at 285 lbs. Dawson was third last year after making the national finals in 2022. Recruiting Strategy: Recruiting at home, along with neighboring Minnesota and Wisconsin has been a must for North Dakota State. That has been consistent with the 2023 class They’ve also done well at hitting some of the states that are underserved by DI wrestling (Kansas and Montana). Since Obe Blanc has taken the reins as head coach, I expect those points to continue. Going forward, it’ll be interesting to monitor if Hayden Hidlay (NC State via PA) can open any new recruiting doors. Overall: Blanc has to get credit for this recruiting class not falling apart after Kish left. It makes sense because Blanc was instrumental in the recruiting process. Amantee Mills, the lowest ranked of the six new Bison ranked in MatScouts top-200, finished his high school career as an NHSCA Senior National Champion. Top recruit, Luke Barker, won NHSCA’s as a junior. Home state product Boeden Greenley was a Fargo Junior freestyle AA last year and Zane Licht was fourth in UWW U17 freestyle last year. The transition from Kish to Blanc shouldn’t be as drastic as if there was a completely new face in Fargo. Having a deep class like this, should ensure that there’s plenty of talent in the room for Blanc to work with as he sets the foundation for his own program. Past Classes: 2022: NR 2021: #15 21) Lehigh Recruits: #75 Luke Stanich (Roxbury, NJ - 133 lbs), #76 Jared Schoppe (Delsea, NJ - 184 lbs), #116 Logan Wadle (North Hunterdon, NJ - 125 lbs), #124 Richie Grungo (St. Augustine, NJ - 141/149 lbs), #161 Matt Repos (Central Dauphin, PA - 157 lbs), Zeke Dubler (Glendale, PA - 165 lbs), Griffin Gonzalez (Lebanon, PA - 157 lbs), Justin Onello (Bergen Catholic, NJ - 174 lbs), Ethan Smith (Paramus Catholic, NJ - 125 lbs) Transfer: Hunter Mays (Rider) Immediate Impact: Barring injuries or some unforeseen circumstances, I don’t see Pat Santoro’s team “having” to rely on anyone from this class in year one. Of course, Lehigh has dealt with some of those situations the past few years, so I’m sure someone will see significant mat time in 2023-24. Recruiting Strategy: Despite being located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s fabled District XI, Lehigh is also extremely close to New Jersey. This year’s class is very heavy on New Jersey talent. Counting Rider transfer Hunter Mays, this class features four New Jersey state champions (Luke Stanich, Logan Wadle, Richie Grungo and Mays), along with a runner-up in Jared Schoppe. This has to be considered a win, especially when EIWA rivals Penn and Princeton have recruited New Jersey extremely well, of late. Overall: This is a really solid group. There’s not necessarily anyone who stands out as a bona fide superstar at the next level; at the same time, there are plenty of guys that can be productive collegiate wrestlers. I like the upside trajectory of some of the headliners in this class. Stanich and Grungo both made significant strides late in their high school careers. Last summer, Stanich put together a surprising Fargo Junior finals run in a loaded weight class. The Pennsylvania contingent is led by state finalist Matt Repos and features two-time state placers Zeke Dubler and Griffin Gonzalez. Pat Santoro’s teams typically have success with unheralded or underranked recruits, so it wouldn’t be shocking if someone outside of the top 200 goes on to win plenty of matches in the brown and white. Past Classes: 2022: #17 2021: NR 20) Penn Recruits: #40 Max Gallagher (Bayport-Blue Point, NY - 125/133 lbs), #96 Cross Wasilewski (Delbarton, NJ - 149/157 lbs), #174 Spencer Barnhart (Malvern Prep, PA - 141 lbs), #196 Reed Fullmer (Malvern Prep, PA - 157 lbs) Immediate Impact: Years of really solid recruiting have Penn in a position where they don’t need to rely on any Class of 2023 recruits right away. Now, they may end up being the best wrestler in the room and win a spot in the lineup based on merit. The highest-ranked of the bunch is Max Gallagher who should start his career at 125 lbs. A top-five finisher at the Ironman, Super 32, Fargo Junior freestyle, and NHSCA Junior’s, Gallagher could push incumbent Ryan Miller for the starting role. Recruiting Strategy: The Quakers have compiled back-to-back top-20 classes and three ranked in a row, so they have a good blueprint for how this recruiting game works. Being an Ivy League institution, Penn has to consider plenty of other factors outside of the wrestling room. The Penn staff has identified a group of high school programs that prepare student-athletes for the rigors of an Ivy League education, along with high-level wrestlers and tend to hit those programs frequently. Malvern Prep has a pair of recruits in the 2023 class and fits this bill, as does Delbarton. They’ve done this in the past with multiple wrestlers from Blair Academy and St. Ed’s. Overall: Past recruiting classes have been huge in numbers. This one, not so much. That’s not a bad thing as Penn can unveil a lineup that features six returning national qualifiers. Getting a pair of top-100 recruits and two others listed in the top 200 is a good haul for a team that’s smaller than those of the past. In Gallagher, the Quakers are getting a recruit that’s really vaulted up the rankings during his final season. The Malvern Prep pair, Spencer Barnhart and Reed Fullmer, were both National Prep runners-up as seniors. Fullmer had the misfortune of competing against one of the top pound-for-pound wrestlers in the nation. In regular season action, both have a top-four finish at the Ironman under their belts, while Cross Wasilewski was a Beast of the East runner-up and was third in New Jersey in each of his last two years. Past Classes: 2022: #18 2021: #23 19) Bucknell Recruits: #65 Myles Takats (Perrysburg, OH - 174 lbs), #78 Aiden Davis (Dundee, MI - 149 lbs), #109 Noah Mulvaney (Arrowhead, WI - 197 lbs), #160 Ethan Lebin (Hempfield, PA - 141 lbs), Owen Bell (Hereford, MD - 125/133 lbs), Kade Davidheiser (The Hill School, PA - 133 lbs), Dylan McCullough - River Hill, MD - 174 lbs), Hunter Sloan (The Hill School, PA - 141/149 lbs), Cade Wirnsberger (Meadowbrook Christian, PA - 149 lbs) Immediate Impact: Though not Ivy League, Bucknell is a program that doesn’t use redshirts, so you can count on wrestlers from this class seeing significant mat time in 2023-24. A few are likely to end up in the postseason lineup. The most obvious is the Bison’s highest-ranked recruit Myles Takats. The Ohio State champion and Ironman third-place finisher rose significantly over the course of his senior year and could be ready to win the 174 lb slot. Bucknell lost a pair of seniors at that weight, so should be up-for-grabs. Recruiting Strategy: The Bison staff turned to an old friend and colleague David Hoffman, head coach at Pennsylvania’s The Hill School for a pair of quality recruits. Both of his pupils, Kade Davidheiser and Hunter Sloan are 2023 National Prep placewinners. Aside from that, I like how Bucknell’s top-three recruits, all of whom are from out-of-state, come from high schools that are traditional powers. They’ll come to Lewisburg already having high-quality coaching and should only need some fine-tuning before competing against the EIWA. Overall: There’s a lot to like about Bucknell inking a pair of top-100 recruits and four of the top 160. Takats, Aiden Davis, and Noah Mulvaney were all state champions in 2023, Mulvaney may end up as the best of the bunch. He had an excellent showing at UWW U20 Nationals, taking sixth place at 79 kg. Aside from the Pennsylvania prep recruits, they also have fourth-place finisher Ethan Lebin and state runner-up Cade Wirnsberger in the fold. Yes, that’s a familiar last name for Bison fans and he finished his high school career with a Senior National title. Once March rolls around, it wouldn’t be that surprising to see three of four of these recruits in the Bison lineup and not because of necessity, but because they are talented. This class could be a sign of positive things to come in the future, as well. We can’t look ahead too far, but the Class of 2024 is shaking out to be very good, as well. Past Classes: 2022: NR 2021: NR 18) NC State Recruits: #24 Koy Buesgens (New Prague, MN - 149 lbs), #50 Vince Robinson (Marian Catholic, IL - 133 lbs), Jackson Baglio (Central Cabarrus, NC - 133 lbs), Josh Boykin (Lake Highland Prep, FL - 165/174 lbs), Matt Karagias (Stuart Cramer, NC - 157/165 lbs), Tyler Tracy (Cardinal Gibbons, NC - 149 lbs) Immediate Impact: A stacked lineup returning means that head coach Pat Popolizio doesn’t have to rush anyone from the Class of 2023 into the mix next fall. That being said, should they choose to let Jackson Arrington, a Round of 12 finisher as a true freshman, take a redshirt, Koy Buesgens should be able to manage just fine. Buesgens was a top-three finisher at the Super 32 in each of the last two seasons and capped off his high school career with a perfect senior season and a third state title. Recruiting Strategy: NC State has had some massive classes in recent years. This one is much smaller and without quite as many ranked recruits. At some point, you have to have a small class or two to make things work financially. Overall: Despite having a smaller recruiting class, the Wolfpack did sign a pair of top-25 recruits in Buesgens and Vince Robinson. A two-time Ironman placer and 2021 champion, Robinson has some great national-level credentials. Before his junior year in high school, Robinson was top-five in Fargo Junior freestyle and at the Super 32. Even with a history of highly-ranked recruits, NC State has had success with some of the more unheralded in-state signees. Mike Macchiavello, Malik McDonald, Tyrie Houghton, and Alex Faison certainly fit that bill. Could Jackson Baglio, Matt Karagias, or Tyler Tracy add their name to the list? As seniors, Matt Karagias and Tyler Tracy were state champions, while Jackson Baglio was a finalist. Past Classes: 2022: #3 2021: #5 17) Army West Point Recruits: #43 Cooper Haase (Osceola, FL - 157 lbs), #119 Andrew Christie (Bishop McDevitt, PA - 174 lbs), #120 Sam Sorenson (Homer, NY - 285 lbs), #162 Joel Brown (Landon, MD - 141 lbs), #164 Tommy Link (Malvern Prep, PA - 133 lbs), #181 Conor Collins (Southern Regional, NJ - 141 lbs), #184 Taythan Silva (Aurora Christian, IL - 165 lbs), #190 Brady Colbert (Paul VI, VA - 285 lbs), David Barrett (Northfield Mt. Hermon, MA - 184 lbs), Jake Gilfoil (Bishop McDevitt, PA - 184/197 lbs), Tristen Hitchcock (Warrensburg/Lake George, NY - 285 lbs), Chris Murphy (Green Farms, CT - 285 lbs), Reid Schroeder (Southridge, IN - 197 lbs), Luke Sirianni (Abington Heights, PA - 125 lbs), Caleb Uhorchuk (Signal Mountain, TN - 133 lbs) Immediate Impact: Once again, a huge roster, a prep school and plenty of returners make it uncertain whether or not anyone from this class will make a huge impact in 2023-24. Army West Point lost their 184 lb starter to graduation, so maybe a David Barrett or Jake Gilfoil works their way into the lineup (provided they go directly to West Point). Recruiting Strategy: Between associate head coach Scott Green’s history coaching at the National Prep level and the structure and high-quality education that private schools provide, it’s no surprise that Army leans heavily on recruiting those student-athletes. Barrett, Joel Brown, Tommy Link, and Chris Murphy were all National Prep third-place finishers in 2023. Brady Colbert was fifth. Overall: Head Coach Kevin Ward’s team continues to stack large, talented recruiting classes on top of each other. The Black Knights have been a part of InterMat’s recruiting rankings in each of the last three seasons. This year’s crop featured eight top-200 recruits. The highest ranked of the bunch is Cooper Haase, a four-time Florida state champion that was NHSCA Junior’s last season before finishing fourth at the Super 32. Past Classes: 2022: #23 2021: #24 16) Wyoming Recruits: #55 Joey Novak (New Prague, MN - 197 lbs), #71 Sloan Swan (Buchanan, CA - 174 lbs), #95 Riley Davis (Amarillo, TX - 184 lbs), #135 Brayden Sonnentag (Cadott, WI - 133/141 lbs), #150 Cole Brooks (Collinsville, OK - 149/157 lbs), Lane Catlin (Thunder Basin, WY - 285 lbs), Hudson Davis (Newberg, OR - 197 lbs), Winston McBride (Valor, CO - 285 lbs), Austin Richens (Uintah, UT - 197/285 lbs), Paolo Salminen (Skyview, MT - 174 lbs) Transfers: Cooper Birdwell (Oklahoma State), Ethan Ducca (Edinboro), Stockton O’Brien (Utah Valley), David Saenz (Mt. San Antonio CC), Gabe Willochell (Edinboro) Immediate Impact: The Cowboys have a large group of transfers coming in so you can bet that a few of them will work their way into the lineup in the earlygoing. 2022 national qualifiers Gabe Willochell could be the most likely of the crew. During his national qualifying season, Willochell scored wins over the eventual EIWA champion Matt Kazimir, redshirting freshman Lachlan McNeil, Iowa State’s Zach Redding, and Central Michigan standout Dresden Simon. Willochell is one of two transfers that took the unusual path from northwest Pennsylvania to Laramie this offseason (Ethan Ducca, also). Recruiting Strategy: Wyoming has really taken advantage of an “in” with Minnesota as that’s where top-recruit Joey Novak calls home. Last year, the Cowboys plucked U20 world champion Jore Volk and Quayin Short from the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” With Wyoming lacking a giant in-state recruiting base to take advantage of, head coach Mark Branch and staff have had to develop pipelines to other states. Minnesota being one, California, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Colorado are others that they’ve used often and again in 2023. Overall: Wyoming seemed to come out of nowhere and signed the #13 class last year. Instead of it being an aberration, that class may have been the first of many. The Minnesota state champion, Novak, was fifth at the Super 32 before his senior season. Perhaps a recruit that’s already outwrestling his ranking is #150 Cole Brooks. At UWW U20’s, Brooks finished fourth with an 8-2 record. Brooks defeated a pair of 2023 EIWA finalists, including the champion Vince Cornella, a U20 world team member in 2022 and the first wrestler to defeat Brooks in the tournament. Interestingly enough, a pair of Wyoming’s unranked signees, Lane Catlin (7th) and Austin Richens (3rd) shined with All-American performances at Senior Nationals. The Cowboys are coming off an uncharacteristically rough season where they finished 1-10 in dual competition. The 2023 class will provide some immediate help, in the form of transfers and perhaps Novak and/or Brooks, but also long-term promise with three top-100 recruits and five in the top-200. Past Classes: 2022: #13 2021: NR 15) Oregon State Recruits: #56 Justin Rademacher (West Linn, OR - 184 lbs), #62 TJ McDonnell (Fountain Valley, CA - 184 lbs), #84 Aden Attao (Borah, ID - 285 lbs), #103 Vaun Halstead (Thurston, OR - 197 lbs), #123 Sergio Montoya (Clovis, CA - 174/184 lbs), #142 DJ Gillette (Crescent Valley, OR - 141 lbs), #185 Dagen Condomitti (Northampton, PA - 157 lbs), McKinley Robbins (Greene County, IA - 141 lbs), Cade White (Meridian, ID - 165 lbs) Transfer: Victor Jacinto (Clackamas CC), Boone McDermott (Rutgers), Brett Mower (Iowa Western CC), Steele Starren (Clackamas CC) Immediate Impact: Though they generally will be a veteran-laden bunch in 2023-24, Oregon State will likely have a few opportunities for new faces to contribute immediately. 174 and 197 lbs are both losing NCAA qualifiers, while 149 was a weight the Beavers didn’t qualify for NCAA’s last year. Clackamas transfer Victor Jacinto could be someone who brings stability to the 149 lb weight class for Chris Pendleton’s team. Jacinto was an NJCAA third-place finisher in 2022. Late addition, Boone McDermott should step in right away at heavyweight and will build off his 2023 appearance at the NCAA Tournament. Recruiting Strategy: Since Pendleton took over in March of 2020, the recruiting strategy has appeared to be in-state kids, California, and surrounding states without DI programs. That trend has continued in 2023 with a handful of homegrown talent, a dash of California, and a couple of prospects from Idaho. Just for good measure, the Beaver staff ventured out to some traditional powers (Iowa and Pennsylvania) for a couple of signings. With so many potential recruits out there, it’s great to establish an area or region as your own and OSU has taken those steps. With a 174 and 197 departing and a heavyweight coming into his final year of eligibility, it’s obvious the Beaver staff felt the need to target the upperweights. They’ll get at least five new faces at 174 or higher. Overall: The wrestler in this group with the longest list of credentials is heavyweight Aden Attao. A double Fargo Junior champion and a U20 World bronze medalist in Greco, Attao is the highest-ranked “wrestling only” 285 lber in the Class of 2023. Justin Rademacher, Vaun Halstead, DJ Gillett, and Cade White all finished their high school careers on top of the podium in Oregon. TJ McDonnell was a California state champion and a placewinner at NHSCA Juniors, Fargo Juniors, and the Super 32. Oregon State is ranked in its current spot because of the sheer numbers of the class. They don’t appear to have a sure-fire superstar of the group, but a handful of solid contributors. Since Pendleton and the new staff arrived in Corvallis, Oregon State has established itself as a key player in the recruiting game. There’s no reason to expect any difference going forward. Past Classes: 2022: #22 2021: NR 14) Minnesota Recruits: #15 Max McEnelly (Waconia, MN - 184 lbs), #20 Gavin Nelson (Simley, MN - 197 lbs), #143 Ethan Riddle (Germantown, WI - 174 lbs), Rhett Koenig (Prairie du Chien, WI - 141 lbs), Kyler Wong (Wayzata, MN - 157/165 lbs) Immediate Impact: There isn’t necessarily a clear path for anyone in the Class of 2023 to start immediately; however, Gavin Nelson could force his way into the lineup at 197 lbs. Nelson is a huge prospect at a tough-to-fill weight. In April’s UWW Junior Open, Nelson finished fourth in a weight class that was largely comprised of collegiate talent. In 2021, Nelson won UWW U17’s and was a match shy of medaling at world’s. Few 197 lb prospects can jump in and compete in the Big Ten right away, but Nelson could be one of those select few. Recruiting Strategy: For decades, Minnesota has been regarded as heavyweight U. This recruiting class didn’t necessarily address 285 lbs, but Brandon Eggum and staff did retool the upperweights. In Nelson, Ethan Riddle (174) and Max McEnelly (184), the Gophers have the foundation for a stacked group of big men, along with a heavyweight prospect in the Class of 2024. This class is also typical for Minnesota as it largely consists of wrestlers from in-state as well as Wisconsin, another usual spot for the staff to hit. Overall: This class is an excellent example of “quality over quantity.” A pair of top-20 prospects typically provides more impact than five recruits ranked between #100-150. The highest-ranked of the bunch is McEnelly who was a finalist at the U20 Open at 86 kg. Like Nelson, McEnelly also made a U17 World Team (2022), however, he was able to come away with a bronze medal. Ethen Riddle also placed at the U20 Open, grabbing eighth-place at 79 kg. He and Rhett Koenig were also Wisconsin state champions in 2023. In-state product Kyler Wong was a three-time Minnesota state medalist that didn’t compete in the postseason as a season due to injury. Past Classes: 2022: HM 2021: #7 13) Purdue Recruits: #17 Joey Blaze (Perrysburg, OH - 157/165 lbs), #29 Greyson Clark (Kaukauna, WI - 141 lbs), #118 Orlando Cruz (Crown Point, IN - 184 lbs), #177 Ashton Jackson (Laporte, IN - 125 lbs), Dominic Burgett (Hamilton Southeastern, IN - 285 lbs), Cooper Rider (Liberty, MO - 125/133 lbs), Delaney Ruhlman (Bloomington South, IN - 174 lbs), Cole Solomey (Kankakee Valley, IN - 141 lbs) Transfers: Joey Milano (NC State), Marcos Polanco (Minnesota), James Rowley (Wisconsin) Immediate Impact: This class should be very impactful in year one for head coach Tony Ersland. For most of Ersland’s tenure, Purdue has been stronger as a dual team than in tournaments. That flipped in 2022-23. Getting three plug-and-play transfers should help the Boilermakers trend toward strength in both duals and tournaments. Marcos Polanco is a past national qualifier and should hold down 149 lbs for Purdue. James Rowley and Joey Milano were both top-100 recruits (in the upper third) that can slot in at 174 and 184 lbs, respectively. Rowley was a U17 World silver medalist in freestyle who redshirted in 2022-23 for Wisconsin. Milano amassed a 30-10 record for NC State redshirting and sitting behind Trent Hidlay. We haven’t even gotten to the possibility of top recruit Joey Blaze getting the call in year one. Purdue likely will have a need at 157 lbs and the Super 32 champion and three-time Ohio State champion wrapped up his high school career at 160 lbs. Recruiting Strategy: Purdue really went in heavy on the portal this offseason. That typically hasn’t been a normal method of operation for the Boilermakers; however, this is how collegiate athletics is trending. From the high school recruits standpoint, Purdue has followed a usual blueprint for obtaining talent. They’ve locked in some of the better in-state recruits and cherry-picked some high-profile signees from Big Ten country (Ohio/Wisconsin). Overall: This class should be very impactful for Purdue. The transfers will help the Boilermakers compete immediately. Milano and Rowley have three and four years of eligibility remaining, respectively, so they’re not a short-term fix either. Not only have the signings of Blaze and Greyson Clark provided talent for the Class of 2023, but they also seem to have opened the door for high-caliber wrestlers in the Class of 2024 to commit. Clark is a four-time Wisconsin state champion who placed at the Super 32 twice and three times in Fargo. He originally committed to Wisconsin, but flipped to Purdue. Two of the in-state recruits, Orlando Cruz and Ashton Jackson, were state champions in Indiana’s one-class tournament. Cruz was also an Ironman fifth-place finisher, while Jackson claimed Indiana titles as a sophomore and Junior. Past Classes: 2022: NR 2021: #20

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InterMat's 2023 Recruiting Class Rankings: Part One (#13-25)

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