Top Recruits Highlight Virginia Wrestling Signing Class
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Nov. 27, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.- – Five recruits ranked in the Intermatwrestle.com Top 100 including the No. 12 overall recruit in the country highlight Virginia head wrestling coach Steve Garland’s first signing class released today. Nine wrestlers have signed letters of intent to wrestle at Virginia in 2007-08.
“This class is quite possibly the most talented recruiting class in the history of the program, but I think what makes this group of young men special is there work ethic and intelligence off the mats,” Garland said. “All these athletes are great students and great people first. We couldn’t be happier with this group. I think Cavalier fans will see big things from them in the future.”
The nine signees are Michael Chaires, Chris Henrich, Shawn Harris, Scott O’Donnell, Matt Bonson, Nick Nelson, Dan Gonsor, Dave Ebbott and Matt Nelson.
Chaires is rated the No. 12 overall recruit in the country by Intermatwrestle.com and ranked No. 1 by Wrestling USA in his weight division, while fellow signees Nick Nelson (No. 21), Henrich (No. 32), O’Donnell (No. 61) and Gonsor (No. 101) also are ranked by Intermat. Several signees are ranked in the top five of their respective weight classes by Wrestling USA and W.I.N. Magazine.
“There is no doubt that this is an elite group of young men,” assistant head coach Scott Moore said. “They have the drive and internal motivation to make an immediate impact. This class combined with the classes from the past two years make a great core for the future of Virginia Wrestling.”
Virginia landed two top recruits in Harris and Gonsor from one of the nation’s top high school programs, St. Edward High School in Ohio. The historic Eagles’ wrestling program, currently ranked No. 1 in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News, has captured 22 team state championships, 79 individual state championships and holds the state record for points in the state meet with 210.
O’Donnell hails from Oak Park High School, which is the defending state champion and currently ranked third in the country behind Blair Academy and St. Edward. O’Donnell looks to make history by winning his fourth state title this year.
“There is no secret in how to build a successful program. You have to bring in the top guys and most importantly, you need to bring in the type of kid that can handle both the academic and athletic challenges that they will face at a school like UVa. We feel like these guys can succeed in both areas.”
Here is the class:
Michael Chaires- Christian Brothers Academy (N.Y.)
Ranked No. 1 by Wrestling USA, No. 2 by WIN Magazine at 160 pounds, No. 12 overall Recruit by Intermatwrestle.com … crowned the New York state champ ion as a junior and the state runner-up as a sophmore … Junior National Freestyle All-American(4th) … Northeast Regional GR Champion, Cadet Greco Roman National Champion, Cadet Freestyle All-American. Cadet NE Regional Double Champion at 160 pounds
Chris Henrich-Germantown Academy (Pa.)
Ranked No. 3 by W.I.N. Magazine and Wrestling USA … No. 32 overall recruit by Intermat … placed third at the prestigious Beast of the East … a prep national runner-up and junior national freestyle All-American has compiled a career record of 152-16.
Shawn Harris – St Edward HS (Ohio)
Ranked No. 3 by W.I.N Magazine at 135 pounds … seventh by AWN … Ohio state champion and runner-up … finished fourth at Beast of the East … career record stands at 102-25 … 2006 Northern Plains Regional GR Champion
Scott O’Donnell- Oak Park HS (Mo.)
Ranked No. 5 by AWN in weight class … three-time Missouri state champion … GR Cadet national champion … has placed and fourth at Cadet National Freestyle FILA and third and fifth at Greco Roman national FILA … named all-state academic with a 4.0 grade point average … career record stands at 136-5.
Matt Bonson- Lewistown HS (Pa.)
Ranked No. 6 by W.I.N. Magazine in his weight classs … two-time Pennsylvania state placer (4th and 6th) … Fargo Cadet National All-American … two-time Pennsylvania state freestyle champion …. career record stands at 117-24.
Nick Nelson- Shaler HS (Pa.)
Ranked No. 4 by AWN in his weight class and No. 21 overall by Intermatwrestle.com … Pennsylvania state runner-up … finished second at Junior NHSCA … career record stands at 133-13 … three-time Pennsylvania placer (2nd, 3rd, 8th) … two-time Super 32 champion … twin brother Matt also signed with Cavaliers.
Matt Nelson – Shaler HS (Pa.)
Ranks in top 25 in his weight class … Pennsylvania state placer … has compiled a career record of 132-15 … Cadet National Freestyle All-American … twin brother Nick also signed with Cavaliers.
Dan Gonsor- St. Edward HS (Ohio)
Ranked in the top 100 overall by Intermatwrestle.com and top 20 by Wrestling USA in his weight division … No. 12 by Wrestling USA in his weight class … Ohio state runner-up as a junior … Freestyle Cadet National All-American
Dave Ebbott – Germantown Academy (Pa.)
Ranks in the top 25 in high weight class … three-time national prep place winner … also placed at Beast of the East