Nine Wrestlers Commit to Cavaliers
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June 18, 1998
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—Head Wrestling Coach Lenny Bernstein announced that five student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to wrestle at University of Virginia starting in the fall of 1998. In addition, four student-athletes have accepted offers of admission to the University and have declared their intention to wrestle at Virginia.
Four athletes from New Jersey have signed national letters of intent, including Bob Seidel (Wall, N.J./Wall High School) took third place in the New Jersey state meet earlier this year in the 119-pound classification, an improvement from his fourth-place finish in 1997. Bernstein looks for Seidel to wrestle at 125 pounds. Says Bernstein, “He is good on his feet and is tough to score on.”
David Santamaria (Holmdel, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) was the runner-up in the New Jersey state meet three consecutive years, including 1996, 1997 and 1998. He is projected to wrestle at 133 pounds after competing at 130 in high school. “He has great technique and is extremely dedicated,” says Bernstein.
Brian Muir (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North High School) was the third-place finisher at the New Jersey state meet in 1998 in the 160-pound group, up from his fifth-place finish in 1997. Muir will wrestle at the 157-pound class. “He is extremely versatile from his feet, pretty well-rounded, and strong for a senior in high school,” says Bernstein.
Ryan McGrath (Columbia, N.J./Blair Academy) was the 1998 National Prep School Champion at 189 pounds. “He will wrestle at the 177-pound classification and has beaten two of the best high school wrestlers in the nation this year,” adds Bernstein.
The lone New Yorker in the national letter of intent class, Don Carlo-Clauss (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Olympia High School), is a two-time state champion in New York, having successfully defended his title at 140 pounds this season. He will wrestle in the 149-pound classification. Bernstein says, “I expect a lot of things from Don as he has great shots from his feet and should adapt well to the college style.”
In addition, four wrestlers, including two Virginians, have accepted offers of admission to the University and have declared their intent to wrestle for the Cavaliers, including Matt Viola (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch High School) was the 1996 Virginia state champion and was the state runner-up in 1997 at 119 pounds. He will wrestle at 125 pounds. “Matt’s brother wrestles for Michigan, so he knows college wrestling. He is slick on his feet and very tough on top,” says Bernstein.
Jeremy Kirk (Frenchtown, N.J./Blair Academy) is one of three wrestlers from the Bucs to join the team in 1998. Kirk was the National Prep School runner-up at 140 pounds and will wrestle at the 149-pound weight class. Comments Bernstein, “Jeremy is an exceptional wrestler on top and is tough to score on.”
Robbie Moutoux (Vienna, Va./George Marshall High School) will join his brother Richie on the Cavalier squad in the fall. Moutoux took third place at the Virginia state meet in 1998 at 171 pounds. He is projected to wrestle at the 174-pound weight.
Mark McLean (Plainfield, N.J./Blair Academy) was the runner-up at the New Jersey state freestyle meet earlier this year. He, along with McGrath and Kirk, will rejoin current Cavalier Greg Francesca, who was a teammate at Blair Academy. McLean will wrestle for the Cavaliers at 174 pounds.