July 17, 2008

NORFOLK, Va. -- The Old Dominion University wrestling coaching staff will welcome yet another top ten recruiting class to campus this fall, as InterMat released their rankings with Old Dominion slotted at number 10 in the country. In four years at ODU, head coach Steve Martin and his staff has now welcomed three top ten classes and another ranked in the top twenty.

InterMat, the leading online wrestling resource, has ranked the Old Dominion recruiting classes 8th, 10th, 16th, and now 10th since Martin took the helm in 2004. Headlining the 2008 recruiting class are NHSCA All-Americans Joe Budi and Brennan Brumley. They are joined by Jared King, Craig Wilson, Chase Ennis, Jake Kahnke, and transfer Eric Decker.

Earlier in the summer, W.I.N. Magazine ranked ODU's incoming class at ninth in the nation, and have also pegged the Monarch wrestling program in the top ten in three of the last four years.

InterMat offers a full breakdown of the Top 30 recruiting classes at www.intermatwrestle.com. About the Monarchs, the site says Budi, Ironman champion, "is probably the program's top signee." The breakdown also credits Eric Decker, transfer from Virginia Tech to being an immediate contributor at 174 lbs.

ODU earned national recognition a year ago as they cracked the top 20 of the national team rankings for the first time in nearly over two decades. The 17-3 season was the second best record in program history and it was the first time ODU qualified six wrestlers to the NCAA Tournament.

2008 Top College Recruiting Classes - InterMat

1. Minnesota
2. Wisconsin
3. Central Michigan
4. Rutgers
5.  Iowa
6. Iowa State
7. Michigan
8. Oklahoma State
9. Illinois
10. Old Dominion
11. Wyoming
12. Nebraska
13. Boise State
14. Virginia Tech
15. Northwestern
16. Kent State
17. North Carolina
18. Ohio State
19. Virginia
20. Oregon State
21. Oklahoma
22. Missouri
23. Chattanooga
24. Indiana
25. Arizona State
26. Purdue
27. UC Davis
28. Northern Illinois
29. Appalachian State
30. Navy