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Intermat Releases Recruiting Class Rankings
July 6, 2007 NORFOLK, VA -- Head Coach Steve Martin of Old Dominion's wrestling team has recruited another top-tier class for 2007-08. After recruiting back-to-back top 8 recruiting classes in his first two years, Martin's third class is ranked 16th in the nation, according to Intermat. The incoming class of twelve grapplers is highlighted by four NHSCA All-Americans, including hometown wrestler Scott Cust from Great Bridge High School. ODU is the top CAA team in the rankings, joined by conference champion Hofstra (18) and George Mason (26) in the top 30. Ohio State had the top class for 07-08, followed by ODU opponents at two and four in a Missouri team that finished third at nationals and Virginia Tech respectively. Jason Bryant, webmaster and lead writer of intermatwrestle.com, had this to say about the ODU recruiting class: "After back-to-back Top 10 classes, the Old Dominion coaching staff continues to recruit aggressively, earning a third-straight Top 30 class, highlighted by four incoming NHSCA All-Americans, Scott Cust, Lester France, Roy Dragon and Derek Peperas. The Monarchs addressed depth issues in the middle and upper weights and have put together another solid class of incoming freshman next fall in Norfolk. Eight different states are represented in the 12 incoming freshman class. Other notables include Alabama state champ T.C. Pendleton, Montana state champion Tel Todd, the younger brother of Michigan All-American, Tyrel, and Nebraska heavyweight state champ Andy Totusek." The complete release by Jason Bryant of intermatwrestle.com is below. InterMat has released its Division I Recruiting Class Rankings for 2007 and Ohio State tops the list, followed by Missouri, Penn State, Virginia Tech and Minnesota rounding out the top five. Ohio State's recruitment of the wrestling programs in Ohio was cruicial as it was a solid year in terms of depth among seniors in Ohio. Tom Ryan's first full recruiting class was aggressive and did well at addressing needs and building for the future. Missouri scoured the country and picked up some top-notch talent. Coach Brian Smith's momentum is high after the Tigers finished third in the nation at the NCAA Division I championships -- the highest in school history. Penn State has another top three class, their second in as many years. Virginia Tech, like Ohio State, has a new coaching staff in place and the Hokies picked up seven seniors ranked in InterMat's Senior Top 12, including InterMat's #1 ranked recruit in the nation, Cody Gardner of Christiansburg, Va. Minnesota loaded up again, most notably Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winner Zach Sanders, a five-time Minnesota state champion. Oklahoma State, Michigan, Virginia, Northern Iowa and Kent State round out the Top 10. Minnesota, Oklahoma State and Penn State have Top 10 classes for the second year in a row. 1. Ohio State
Notable Non-Division I Recruiting Classes
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