Norfolk, Va. – The Old Dominion wrestling team has landed the 21st ranked recruiting class in the nation according to InterMat, as announced on Wednesday. The Monarchs, whose recruiting class is ranked highest among MAC conference foes, will welcome a slew of talented grapplers from all across the country to the roster for the 2014-15 season.
“We are extremely pleased to bring in a top 25 recruiting class again this year,” Old Dominion head coach Steve Martin remarked. “This class is led by our three early signees in Emilio Saavedra, T.C. Warner and Joey Balboni. Our staff is so excited about this class as whole and we are really looking forward to start working with these guys in the near future.”
The impressive list of signees includes Pennsylvania state champion T.C. Warner (younger brother of current ODU grappler and two-time NCAA qualifier Tristan Warner), California state champion Emilio Saavedra, two-time North Carolina state runner-up Josh Markham and New Jersey state runner-up Joey Balboni, plus Riley McClurg, a transfer from Purdue University. This nationally recognized recruiting class will add talent and depth to the Monarch lineup that is fresh off a 3rd place finish in the MAC tournament and returns five NCAA qualifiers, including All-American Jack Dechow.
ODU Wrestling’s Recruiting Class:
T.C. Warner, Mechanicsburg, Pa. (157/165)
· Ranked No. 3 nationally by InterMat
· Ranked as No. 25 senior recruit at any weight class
· Pennsylvania AAA State Champion (2014)
· 2x Pennsylvania State runner-up (2012, 2013)
Emilio Saavedra, Modesto, Calif. (133/141)
· Ranked No. 9 nationally by InterMat
· Ranked as No. 72 senior recruit at any weight class
· California State Champion (2014)
· California State 3rd place finisher (2011)
· California State 4th place finisher (2012)
· FloNationals Champion (2011)
Joey Balboni, Kenilworth, N.J. (174)
· Ranked No. 13 nationally by InterMat
· New Jersey State runner-up (2014)
· New Jersey State 3rd place finisher (2013)
Josh Markham, Elizabeth City, N.C. (125)
· North Carolina 2A State runner-up (2014)
Riley McClurg, Indianapolis, Ind./Transfer from Purdue University (165/174)
· Indiana State Champion (2013)
2014 InterMat Recruiting Class Rankings
1. Penn State
2. Oklahoma State
3. Cornell
4. Ohio State
5. Northwestern
6. Nebraska
7. Iowa
8. Illinois
9. Stanford
10. Michigan
11. Oklahoma
12. Minnesota
13. Iowa State
14. Virginia
15. North Carolina
16. Virginia Tech
17. Indiana
18. Bucknell
19. Lehigh
20. Maryland
21. Old Dominion
22. Utah Valley
23. Wisconsin
24. Central Michigan
25. North Carolina State
A full list of ODU spring signees is still to follow...please check back to ODUSports.com for a more in-depth look at Steve Martin's incoming recruiting class.
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