Michigan Grappler's 07-08 College Recruiting Roundup
In the next few weeks college freshman will be reporting to campus to begin their Collegiate wrestling careers. Michigan's schools had great recruiting years picking up big names back in the fall and throughout the spring and summer as well. Central Michigan's star studded class, which features 3 Senior National Champs, was ranked as the 2nd best in the country by InterMat while Michigan was ranked as the 7th best recruiting class. Read on for an inside look at who the Michigan schools signed and how they will be impacted:
Who they signed:
Ben Sergent (Troy Christian, OH), 125
Mykel Sumner (Addison, MI), 133
Scotti Sentes (Riverside, FL), 133
Steve Light (St Clair Shores, MI), 133
Cody Dunn (Leslie, MI), 141
Justin McDermitt (Davison, MI), 149
Donnie Corby (Croswell-Lexington, MI), 149
Eric Cubberly (Pemberville, OH), 165
Corey Robinson (Caro, MI), 165
Ben Bennett (Rockford, MI), 174
Marcel Dubose (Oak Park, MI), 197
Analysis:
This appears to be the most talented and deepest class that CMU has brought in during Tom Borelli's tenure as head coach. Borelli's incoming class, which was ranked as the 2nd best in the country by InterMat, includes Michigan's top two recruits in Ben Bennett and Marcel Dubose, who both won senior nationals. Bennett also won a Junior Freestyle title this summer and last summer Dubose won a Junior Greco title. These two are not only two of the best in the state but in the country. In InterMat's final National High School rankings for this year Dubose was #1 at 215lbs and Bennett was #3 at 171lbs. They are both fully capable of stepping in right away and making an immediate impact for the Chipps. Bennett has stated that he will redshirt, which makes sense as CMU has All-American Mike Miller back at 174. Since Miller has a couple years left, Borelli and the coaching staff may opt to put weight on Bennett and try to develop his tall frame into a 184lber. Dubose, meanwhile, could very well be inserted right into the lineup next year as NCAA Runner-Up Wynn Michalak graduated last year and Marcel could fill that void.
As if Bennett and Dubose weren't enough firepower in this class, 125lb Senior National Champ Scotti Sentes of Florida and blue chip recruit Eric Cubberly of Ohio will also be heading to Mt Pleasant next month. Sentes is a tall kid that will likely be a 133lber, however, there is also a possiblity that Borelli will throw him right in at 125 if he is ready as they appear to have a hole at that weight after Luke Smith graduated. Cubberly, who won the Super 32s and placed 4th in Fargo at the deepest weight of the tournamnet, should be a 165lber and would slide in nicely after a redshirt year as Trevor Stewart will be graduating next year. However, like with Sentes, there is a chance that Cubberly could get to see some action next year at 157 as the Chipps are not set at that weight. Inevitably thought, Cubberly should be a 165lber and Sentes a 133lebr. Another big out-of-state signing was 2x Ohio state champ and former Junior National Champ Ben Sergent, who addresses their need at 125lbs after the graduation of Smith. CMU may give Sergent a year to develop and try to make due at 125 while he redshirts, but either way he should end up being a solid contributer at the top of their lineup.
In addition to the big names that Borrelli has coming in, they also are bringing in alot of depth with 6 other Michigan state champs besides Bennett and Dubose. Donnie Corby and Justin McDermitt are both Top 20 recruits coming out of Michigan's deep senior class. Corby has proven that he can compete with the top guys as he was close to all-american at Senior Nationals and went undefeated at the Disney Duals. D1 state champ McDermitt has alot of national expierence as well and recent history has shown that Roy Hall disciples from Davison tend to do well at the collegiate level. State champs Corey Robinson, Steve Light, Mykel Sumner, and Cody Dunn should all provide depth and add to CMU's already tough room.
In terms of needs, CMU graduated some stellar all-american's in the Sinnotts (174 & 184), Michalak (197), and Gritter (285), as well as Smith (125) who has been nationally ranked throughout his career. They have redshirt freshman Jarod Trice at 285 and Mike Miller stepping in with 3 years of eligibility left at 174, so those are taken care of. Then they got Bennett at 174/184, Dubose at 197, Sergent and Sentes at 125 and 133, and Cubberly at 165, which they will need after Stewart leaves. Therefore, they seem to have filled all their biggest needs. Sentes, Cubberly, and Dubose could very well be in the Chippewa lineup next year.
Report Card:
Talent = A
Depth = A
Needs = A
Instant Impact = A
Overall = A
Who they signed:
Brett Marsh (Dexter, MI), 125
Zac Stevens (Monroe, MI), 133
Mark Weber (Michigan, MI), 141/149
Coby Boyd (St Paris Graham, OH), 149/157
Jake Salazar (Heber City, UT), 157
Hunter Collins (Gilroy, CA), 184/197
Joel Vallier (Gladstone, MI), 197
Ben Apland (Downers South, IL), 285
Analysis:
Yet another stellar recruitng year for the Wolverines as coach Joe McFarland blended some blue chip out-of-staters with a couple of the best from in-state. This group was ranked by InterMat as the 7th best recruiting class in the country with 6 wrestlers who ended the season ranked Top 20 in the country among all classes by InterMat.
McFarland signed one of Michigan's best in 4x state champ Mark Weber in the fall. Weber was a Senior National runner up this year and a Junior National runner up last summer in freestyle, so he has proven he can compete with the best. With the graduation of Josh Churella at 149 it will be interesting to see if Weber, who has been wrestling up at 140 and 145 this summer, will see time right away for the Wolverines or redshirt.
The out of state signings were big this year for UM led by California state champ and Senior National finalist Hunter Collins. Collins, who lost to Ben Bennett in the Senior National Finals, is projected at 174/184 so he should slide in nicely after a year of redshirt and the graduation of all-americans Steve Luke (174) and Ty Todd (184), who both have just one year remaining. Michigan also picked up two middle weights in Coby Boyd of Ohio and Jake Salazar of Utah. Salazar was a very highly touted prospects as he is 4x Fargo All-American and 2x Reno Tournament of Champions winner. He also finished 6th at Senior Nationals after suffering an injury in the semifinals and defaulting out. Salazar will not be reporting to Ann Arbor for a couple years though as he will be on a religious mission until 2010. Boyd is an Ohio state champ and was highly touted when UM inked him in the fall. He could make an immediate impact in the middle weights.
McFarland addressed their lightweight and heavyweight needs in the late signing period with the addition of three more state champs. Zac Stevens of Monroe and Brett Marsh of Dexter should both help the thin UM lightweights. Stevens won a D1 state title this year and then placed 4th at Senior Nationals. The Michigan lightweights have been shaky and inconsistent for the past few years, so Stevens may be able to contribute at 125 or 133. Marsh was a state champ as a junior and finished 4th this year, however, he is a talented little guy who will likely be a lifetime 125lber. He is the brother of recently graduated UM 157lber Jeff Marsh.
Ben Apland of Illiniois could help Michigan address their 285lb struggles. UM added Matt Guhn of Ohio last year, and Apland should provide depth and challenge as well. He was an undefeated state champ in Illinois this past year and finished 3rd in Fargo last month at 285lbs freestyle (which was his 3rd AA honor in Fargo). The late addition of Gladstone's Joel Vallier also provides depth at 197. Vallier has been one of the most touted grapplers from the UP over the past few years and will join another elite yooper in Erich Smith, who will be going on his 2nd year at Michigan next year.
All in all Michigan's class does not have the shear numbers of CMU, however, out of their 7 signings all of them are state champs from their states and 6 of them are ranked top 15 Nationally. Therefore, they should be able to expect most, if not all of these recruits to contibute significantally during the next 4 or 5 years. Their needs were addressed as Churella, Marsh, and Tannenbaum graduated at 149-165, so they picked up Weber, Boyd, and Salazar who are all blue chippers right in that weight range. In addition, Luke and Todd will graduate after this year and Hunter Collins should step right in there. And finally, they added to their thin 125/133 and heavyweight classes. Expect a possible impact within the next couple years from Weber, Collins, Boyd, and possibly Stevens and Apland.
Report Card:
Talent = A
Depth = A-
Needs = A
Instant Impact = A
Overall = A
Who they signed:
Colby Borchetta (Archbishop, FL), 125
Jeremiah Austin (Westland, MI), 133
Grant Ankney (Holt, MI), 133/141
Kyle Bounds (Univ of Oregon), 157
Kirk Tank (Oak Harbor, OH), 157/165
Mason Reid (Ryle, KY), 174
Bryant Craft (Clarkston, MI), 174
Stephen Andrus (Manhattan, KS), 285
Analysis:
Michigan State signed a group that comes from all across the US as coach Tom Minkel brought in recruits from areas out of their usual recruiting circles (Kansas, Kentucky). Their biggest addition was also their first to commit. Stephen Andrus of Kansas commited to the Green and White at the end of last summer and should be a great addition for MSU. He is an athletic big man who finished this year as a double All-American in Fargo including a runner-up finish in Freestyle. He could use a little more size to his tall frame, but the 2x KS state champ could step in an compete right away if MSU opts not to redshirt him.
Minkel's other big early signing came from Kirk Tank out of Oak Harbor, Ohio. Tank won an Ohio state title this year, beating UM signee Coby Boyd in the finals. Tank is a strong kid that could eventually be the man for MSU at 157 or 165.
Also coming in from out of state will be 2x Florida state champ Colby Borchetta and 2x Kentucky State Champ Mason Reid. Borchetta will wrestle 125 or 133 for the Spartans while Reid will likely be a 174lber. Reid put together a solid performance at Senior Nationals, falling just short of placing at a tough 171lb weight. Reid could contend for the 174 spot after John Murphy graduates next year.
In addition to the out of state signing, MSU added three grapplers from the state of Michigan in the late signing period. Bryant Craft of Clarkston had an up and down prep career, however, he has done very well nationally, so he could develop into a solid 174 or 184lber for MSU. They also signed D1 state runenr up Jeremiah Austin, who should be at 125/133 as well as local boy Grant Ankney out of Holt.
The biggest immediate impact pickup for the Spartans could be one that has received little attention and came from the most unlikely of places. After the Universtiy of Oregon dropped their program MSU picked up a transfer from former Oregon 157lber Kyle Bounds. Bounds was a 3x Washington State Champ in high school and still has two years of eligibility left. Bounds brings alot of good expierence and success with him and could step right in and provide some stablity for the Spartans in the middleweights.
All in all MSU's class is not the deepest and it doesnt have the firepower of CMU and Michigan. They could have a few diamonds in the rough with some of the less known out of state guys, but if nothing else Andrus should be a great pickup for State. He addresses their need for an athletic big man and could provide an immediate impact as well. The loss of Marcel Dubose, who changed his mind and revoked his commitment to MSU to goto Central, definitely hurts this class as he would have made an immediate impact in East Lansing.
Report Card:
Talent = C+
Depth = B-
Needs = B
Instant Impact = B-
Overall = B-
Who they signed:
Terrance Frank (Grand Blanc, MI), 125
Frank Sade (Mott CC), 141
Aaron Sulzer (Holy Name, OH), 149
Matt Tuttle (Reading, MI), 149
Lester France (Old Dominion), 157
Alex Ortman (Bedford, MI), 165
Chris Eggert (Dundee, MI), 174
Zach Pummill (Germantown, OH), 197
Matt Fisher (Perkins, OH), 197
Jimmy Rowe (Dundee, MI), 197/285
Analysis
It was hard for coach Derek Delporto to follow his huge recruiting class from a year where brought in over 15 kids in his first year at EMU. While this year's group isn't quite as big it is still a nice sized class that features some top tier kids out of Michigan and Ohio. Alex Ortman and Chris Eggert are both Michigan state champs who appear to be built well for college and should fit in well at 165 and 174. Another great middleweight pickup for Delporto comes in former Flat Rock state champ Lester France who transferred from Old Dominion. After a redshirt year at ODU France will have 4 years of eligibility in Ypsilanti and could step in for the Eagles this year at 157 after the graduation of Cory Mancuso last year.
One area that Delporto really addressed well was the upperweights with three talented 215lbers, including state champs from Michigan and Ohio. Jimmy Rowe of Dundee won the D3 title this year and they could very well build his tall athletic frame into a solid heavyweight. Matt Fisher won the Ohio D2 state title this year at 215 and Zach Pummill finished 6th in the same bracket. Both Fisher and Pummil are projected at 197.
Aaron Sulzer was a runner up in Ohio last year and should be yet another solid guy for EMU in their already deep middleweights. They also picked up a talented little guy in D1 runner up Terrance Frank of Grand Blanc as well as gritty Clarkston native Frank Sade, who transferred from Mott CC.
While none of Delporto's signings appear to be step right in and contribute type of guys, this is a deep class with alot of talented kids that could be solid contributors after a couple years of seasoning. France could make an instant impact if he can fill their void at 157.
Report Card:
Talent = B
Depth = A-
Needs = B+
Instant Impact = B-
Overall = B+
Who they signed:
Justin Fleeson (Belleville, MI), 125
Chas Burtchett (Hartford, MI), 125
Evan Cusumano (Armada, MI), 125
Louis Pizker (Gabriel Richard, MI),125
Jacob Eagen (Springport, MI), 133
Corey Mykolaitis (Three Rivers, MI),133
Max Smith (Sturgis, MI), 141
Nathan Gonzales (Springport, MI), 141
Greg Roberts (Livonia Churchill, MI),141
Korey Keehbaugh (Mt Pleasant, MI), 149
Jordan Dusseau (Erie Mason, MI), 157
Trevor Tyler (Roscommon, MI), 165
Lucas Flygare (Sault St. Marie, MI), 165
Nicholas Odbert (Sault St. Marie, MI) 165
Caleb Norville (Mishawaka, IN),165
David Firlik (Gabriel Richard, MI),184
Brandon Smith (Oak Park, MI), 197
Colin Madden (East Kentwood, MI), 285
Analysis
Another deep group for coach Todd Hibbs' Olivet squad this year. The great thing about Olivet's resurgence is that they are giving the opportunity for a high number of quality kids to come in year in and year out and compete at the collegiate level. While they are very deep and a number of these recruits could develop into contenders at the DIII level, this year's class lacks the immediate All-American contender type guy like Lahar, Brew, Vanderhyde, etc. that they have been bringing in.
Fleeson, Eagen, and Dusseaa are among the most accomplished of their recruits this year. Fleeson was a D1 state runenr up as a junior and finished 3rd last year, giving 3x champ Kyle Waldo one of his toughest matches of the tournament.
A few years ago Olivet College was on the brink of dropping their wrestling program, but now they are stronger then ever bringing in great athletes from Michigan year in and year out. It doesn't look like they are slowing down.
Report Card:
Talent = B-
Depth = A
Needs = C+
Instant Impact = C
Overall = B
**note grading based on D-III scale**
Who they signed:
Greg Egbert (Ypsilanti, MI), 125
Aaron Sessa (Lake Central, IN), 133
John Houseman (Grand Haven, MI), 141
Andy Brisbin (Wabash, IN), 141
Glen Sible (Williamston, MI), 141
Deven Brown (Airport, MI), 149
KC Hills (Avondale, MI), 149
Zach Shaw (Holt, MI), 157
Ronnie Szuch (Airport, MI), 157
Cody Groenveld (Allendale, MI), 165
David Johsnon (Tri County, MI), 165
Will Machuta (Mt Pleasant, MI), 165
DJ Brandon (Grand Haven, MI), 165
Matt Fetterley (Muskegon, MI), 174
Ben Hand (Ypsilanti, MI), 174
Josh Meinzer (Jenison, MI), 174
Jeremy Carpenter (Maumee, OH), 184
Nick Raimer (Jenison, MI), 184
Seth Holt (Grand Haven, MI), 197
Justin Leanord (Webberville, MI), 197
DJ Charneski (Hartland, MI), 285
Analysis:
Coach Ron Gaffner's quest to rebuild the Muskegon program is headed in the right direction with this class, that features a handful of very tough kids from within in the state. This huge class of kids features three Michigan state champs in D1 champ John Houseman of Grand Haven and D2 champs Deven Brown and Ronnie Szuch of Airport. All three of these guys have the ability to contend right away for the Jayhawks.
Some other notables from this group include Zach Shaw, Seth Holt, and DJ Charneski. Holt is a well put together athletic big man who could surprise some people at the college level. Charneski handed Mike Martin his only loss of the year last year and has the size to wrestle with college 285lbers.
As always with Junior College wrestling, it is hard to tell who will pan out from this group, but one thing is for sure with a group this big there should be someone who stands out in the next couple years.
Report Card:
Talent = B+
Depth = A
Needs = B
Instant Impact = B
Overall = B+
**Note grading on JUCO scale**
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