Scouting Report: Bennett was one of, if not the most dominant prep wrestler in Michigan last year. He competed against, and beat, all the top Michigan wrestlers anywhere near his weight that he came across. Although he had an impressive showing at Fargo this summer, whats even more impressive is that his freestyle game doesnt even compare to his folkstyle skills. A tall, strong kid that is a beast on the mat and has great positioning and shot counters that make him very difficult to score on from neutral, Bennett should be a top tier college wrestler and considered a blue chip recruit.
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Goodrich (D-3)
135/140
141
161-4
1st-1st-1st
2007 Junior National Freestyle Runner up
2007 Western Regional Runner Up
9-1 @ 2007 Disney Duals
2006 FILA Cadet Freestyle All-American
2005 Cadet National Freestyle Runner up
Scouting Report: In terms of national competetion, Weber is the most accomplished of this year's recruits. He is a great freestyle wrestler and has wrestled and beaten many of the nations best wrestlers over the past few summers. Weber has the look and build of a college wrestler, he is short, stocky, quick, and very explosive. He can wrestle with anyone on his feet and has great takedown skills. With his recent runner up performance at the Junior Nationals, Weber should be getting alot of attention from many top programs, and you could argue him as #1 on this list.
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Highland Park (D3)
215
197
112-7
X-1st-1st
2007 Junior Greco National Champ
8-0 @ 2007 Disney Duals
2006 FILA Cadet Greco National Champ
2006 Cadet Freestyle All-American (3rd)
2006 Junior Greco All-American (7th)
2005 Cadet Greco Runner-Up
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Mason (D2)
171
165
152-9
3rd-3rd-1st
6-1 @ 2007 Junior Freestyle Duals
2007 Brute Adidas National Champ
2007 TOC Champ
Scouting Report: Burge is built for college with a short stocky frame and he always hold good position on his feet. He has been quietly one of the best kids in the state over the past years, with most of his losses coming from close defeats to Cam Simaz and Ben Bennett. Burge finally got some natinoal expirence this year and has beaten some quality opponents this summer at the Brute Adidas Nationals and the Freestyle Duals. In his first career trip to Fargo he went 2-2 last month, however, which separates him from the top 3 on this list.
Scouting Report: If there was anyone in the wrestling world that didnt know of Marcel Dubose before Fargo last month, they know him now. He was one of the highlights of the Greco Roman finals when he beat top ranked Tyrell Fortune in show stopping fashion. Dubose is an athletic specimen and is the best all around athlete in this year's class. He is big, strong, explosive, and quick. He has wrestled everyone that is tough around his weight in the country over the past few years. Marcel is a great freestyle/greco wrestler and has been a houshold name in Fargo over the past couple years. He is stellar on his feet and has superb upperbody technique and throwing ability. Aside from wrestling he is also an all-state football player and may end up playing football in college.
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Flint Kearsley (D2)
215
197/285
106-12* (10th/11th grade only, 9th grade record unavailable)
X-4th-1st
8-1 @ 2007 Disney Duals
4th @ 07 USA Wrestling Northeast Regional (freestyle)
2006 Cadet Freestyle All-American (7th)
Scouting Report: Two years ago Travis Pettengill was anything but a household name. He failed to qualify for states as a freshman and took 4th as a sophomore, giving up a 1st period fall to Allegan's Dan Craig in quarterfinals. HOWEVER, Pettengill has improved by leaps and bounds throughout his prep career. He went on a tear his junior season, knocking off Marcel Dubose (#3) twice and avenging his loss to Craig in the state finals to finish the year undefeated. He has competed alot this offseason, with a good showing at Disney but a not so good showing at Fargo. He is a big kid and although he moves well, he may be built better for heavyweight than 197. His wins over Dubose and Craig cannot be ignored, Travis Pettengill is a big time college prospect.
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South Haven(D2)
171
174/184
150-17
Q-3rd-1st
2005 Cadet Freestyle All-American (5th)
7-2 @ 2007 Disney Duals
Scouting Report: Jackson sneaks a little under a lot of peoples radar, however, he is a very athletic big guy who could develop into one heck of a 174 or 184lber in college. His all-american performance at Fargo two summers ago was impressive as he beat some guys who are top national recruits now. It would have been nice to see him in Fargo the past couple years as well and his limited national exposure is what keeps him under the radar a little. Jackson has all the physical tools and has proven he is one of Michigan's top recruits.
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Temperance Bedford (D1)
160
165
106-6* (10th/11th grade only, 9th grade record unavailable)
X-4th-1st
8-3 @ 2007 Disney Duals
1st @ 2007 AAU Worlds
Scouting Report: Ortman has little national expirence, however, being in Division 1 he has wrestled alot of tough opponents over the past couple years and has done well. He suprprised alot of people at this year's state tournament when he upset David Johnson of Jenison in the semis. He won the 152lb D1 State crown in a deep weight that saw the likes of Johnson, Jake Bohn (#8), Zane Stenz, and Jake Varilek, among others. Ortman had a rough going in Fargo, however, his freestyle expirence is slim. He did well in folkstyle at Disney and has promise to develop in to a solid college wrestler.
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East Kentwood (D1)
152/160
157/165
124-36
Q-7th-5th
2007 Junior Greco All-American (6th)
5-2 @ 2007 Junior Freestyle Nationals
2007 FILA Junior Greco All-American
Scouting Report: Although Bohn has yet to finish top 4 in the state, he has proven himself a great deal nationally. He has had a lot of greco sucess this summer, earning all-american status as a Junior and FILA Junior. His gritty, always on the attack style is what makes him a great greco wrestler and is what makes him a great college prospect. He has good handfighting skills and holds good position on his feet. Add in his great work ethic and you have a college coaches dream. He may not be an immediate impact type recruit, but Bohn could develop into a tough college wrestler.
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Eaton Rapids (D2)
125
125/133
87-5* (9th/10th grade only, 11th grade record unavailable)
1st-2nd-X
@ 2007 Junior Freestyle Duals
2006 Cadet Greco All-American
Scouting Report: Dormer fell off the radar a little this year as off the mat issues kept him out of the state tournament, however, he was and still is one of the premiere athletes in this class. He has great takedown skills on his feet and a no holds barred, attack from every position type style that makes him exciting to watch. He doesnt seem to fear anyone and goes after everyone he wrestles, which will help when he hits the college ranks. He had a good summer with a couple big wins, most notably a dominating victory over Riley Adamson of Texas at the Junior Duals. He has a lot of national expierence and has proven he can wrestle with the best. With his expierence and attacking style he should transition well to college wrestling.
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Mason (D2)
189
184/197
147-17
Q-Q-2nd
2007 NHSCA National Open Champ
2005 Brute Adidas National Champ
Scouting Report: Helbig has been a top wrestler in the state since his freshman year, however, he could never break through at the state meet......until this year. He moved up considerably in size, going from 145 to 189 last year, and he tangled with Michigan's best at 189lbs all year. He beat MSU bound Tyler Dickensen a couple times and lost in overtime to Cam Simaz of Allegan in the state finals. He is much bigger, but Helbig seems to have retained his quickness and explosiveness, as he a very strong, talented 189lber. With a strong work ethic and a great skill set this former sleeper on the recruiting radar should be opening some eyes very soon.
** Full recruiting rankings will be released soon! **
