BLOOMINGTON, Ind. The Indiana wrestling program and IU head coach Angel Escobedo have announced their 2019 signing class.

Transcription

1 Hoosiers Ink Impressive 2019 Signing Class BLOOMINGTON, Ind. The Indiana wrestling program and IU head coach Angel Escobedo have announced their 2019 signing class. The signing class features seven kids from Indiana and have combined for nine state championships. The class has eight wrestlers that are nationally ranked. I am very excited about our 2019 recruiting class, IU head coach Angel Escobedo said. Not only do we have a great group of outstanding wrestlers, but we have a group that can really start to lay the foundation of a new era of Indiana Wrestling. I m thankful for my two hard working assistants who were relentless in their efforts to get the best kids in the country. We were able to recruit nationally ranked guys to fill slots up and down our lineup. Most importantly, we were able to keep the best recruits from Indiana here in the state. Jacob Moran Portage, Indiana Portage High School Projected Weight Class: 125 Intended Major: Information Systems 65-7 Record #6 FloWrestling 2018 State Champion, Freestyle 4th, NHSCA Junior Nationals 1st, NHSCA Sophomore 2nd, 2016 State 8 th I choose Indiana because it felt like home. Being around the team gave me such as positive feeling and I believe this is the best place for me to achieve my academic and athletic goals. Not only is Jacob an outstanding wrestler that will make his mark at 125, but he carries over a 4.2 GPA, Escobedo said. It is very hard to find guys that will be able to wrestle 125 lbs for all for years, but we found that in Jacob. Jacob is a state champion from Portage, Indiana. A mentally tough, very skilled, and highly competitive kid, Jacob will raise the intensity in our room. Donnell Washington Portage, Indiana Portage High School Projected Weight Class: 174/184

2 Projected Weight Class: 174/184 Intended Major: Finance Record #15 Intermat Best state championships placing, second, fifth National: Fourth at the Fargo Cadet Greco National, Second at NHSCAA Juniors, Seventh at Flo Nationals, Super 32 All-American. I choose Indiana University because I really loved the team environment and how the coaches are hands on with all the wrestlers. I feel like I will be able to enjoy my time at Indiana and perform my best academically and athletically. Donnell, from Portage, is our third NW Indiana wrestler to commit in this recruiting class, Escobedo said. As you can see, he is able to compete with the best kids in the country and come out successful. Donnell (DJ) has a very long and athletic body type and we expect him to grow into a bigger weight class where he will have a huge upside at the college level. DJ loves wrestling and competing against the best and we are excited to have that in our room. Asa Garcia Avon, Indiana Avon High School Projected Weight Class: 133 & Marketing Record #9 National Ranking Two-time State Champion Third at Flo Nationals Indiana felt the most like home out of anywhere I visited and I clicked with all the guys on the team and coaches. I felt having a coach like Angel Escobedo would help propel me onto the big stage with the knowledge and experience he has from his time on the mat. I also saw an opportunity to get one of, if not the best business educations I could receive in my home state. I believe Asa s commitment to IU was instrumental in our wave of top recruits from the state of Indiana, Escobedo said. He is a two-time state champ from Avon, looking for his third title this year. He has placed high at many national tournaments and will continue to make a name for himself at IU. Asa is a student of the sport and has been a great leader for the Avon wrestling team. Jacob Covaciu Merrillville, Indiana Merrillville High School Projected Weight Class: 174 Intended Major: Animal Behavior High School Record: Transfer from Wisconsin Two-time Indiana State Champion, Folkstyle All-American, Freestyle All-American in redshirt season, Pointer Open and Pat Flanagan Open Champion.

3 I choose to transfer to Indiana to be back in my home state and to achieve my goals both academically and athletically. We are very excited to add Jacob Covaciu to our team second semester, Escobedo said. A leader on and off the mat Jacob will bring a ton of value to this program. After spending two seasons at Wisconsin, Jacob has decided to come home to Indiana and help build this program to elite status. Joey Sanchez Saint Paris, Ohio Graham High School Projected Weight Class: 157/ Record 2018 State Champion at 152 lbs Ironman Placer NHSCA All-American IU has something special going on and I m looking forward to making some noise with them. I can t wait to become a family with everyone and become a better man and a better wrestler. We are excited to add Joey Sanchez to this recruiting class, Escobedo said. Joey was an Ohio division II state champ for the historic program Saint Pairs Graham. Joey is a hard worker, has great character, very skilled, and has tremendous upside. Luke Baughman Wadsworth, Ohio Wadsworth High School Projected Weight Class: Record #8 FloWrestling Three-time state qualifier, fourth in sophomore season and runner-up in junior season. Fourth in Ironman in junior season. I choose Indiana because it felt like home. It provided me a new coaching staff full of good people and a team with hard workers who are hungry to become better. A top 100 recruit, Luke comes from the strong wrestling state of Ohio where he was a state runner up this past season, Escobedo said. He took fourth at the 2017 IronMan tournament. Luke is a skilled, hard-nose wrestler who has excelled on the national level and we have high hopes for him to continue that success at the next level. Eduardo Bolivar Oak Park, Illinois Oak Park High School Projected Weight Class: 141/149

4 Projected Weight Class: 141/ record #13 FloWrestling 2018 IHSA State Runner-Up and team State Runner-Up Second-place at 2018 Freestyle Southeast Regionals First-place at 2017 Freestyle Central Regionals I love the campus at Indiana and I really bonded with the team. I like the team camaraderie and see myself being a part of it. It was also an easy choice due to the excellent academics with the Kelley School of Business. Eddie comes from a powerhouse school in Illinois, where he finished second in Illinois biggest class. Eddie is a slick and skilled wrestler, with a lot of quality wins over ranked opponents and he will add depth to our lightweights. Nick South North Vernon, Indiana Columbus East High School Projected Weight Class: 165 Intended Major: Marketing Record #15 National Ranking 2018 Indiana State Champion, Second-place at Super 32 I chose to commit to Indiana University because they have a great business program that will help me excel in my major and eventually get a great job. They also have a great wrestling program with an outstanding coaching staff that will help me reach my goal of becoming a national champion. Another Columbus East standout, Nick was a state champion last year at 160 and looks to defend his title again this year, Escobedo said. Nick finished second at Super 32 this year and has broken on the scene nationally and will continue to turn a lot of heads with his strength and work ethic. Nick is a great kid on and off the mat that will represent our new culture well. Cayden Rooks Columbus, Indiana Columbus East High School Projected Weight Class: 141/ Record Indiana State Champion Second and Third place at Grappler Fall Classic I choose Indiana because of the great coaching staff and how close it is to home. I am excited to be a part of the new wave of Indiana wrestling that Coach Escobedo is building. One of the things that impressed me while recruiting Cayden Rooks was how competitive he is and his drive to be successful, Escobedo said. After not making

5 competitive he is and his drive to be successful, Escobedo said. After not making it to state his freshman year, he went on to win a state title as a sophomore. We look forward to him continuing to grow here at IU. Cayden is an Indiana state champ and two-time finalist from Columbus East. Kyle Cornwell Elwood, Indiana Elwood High School Projected Weight Class: 285 Intended Major: Sports Marketing and Management Record #10 Intermat 2017 State Qualifier, 2018 Fifth-place at State Tournament It has always been a dream of mine to become a Hoosier. My roots for the love of the Hoosiers started with my great grandpa because he was the biggest Hoosier fan and we always talked about me someday becoming a IU Wrestler. At the end, it just feels right, the school, the coaches and the environment, there is no other place like it. Kyle is another Indiana recruit who is currently ranked number one in the state at 220, Escobedo said. He is a Fargo All-American, Super 32 All-American, High School Nationals All-American, and a fifth-place finisher last year at 220. Kyle is a fearless competitor who is passionate about wrestling. Greg Hagan Des Moines, Iowa Dowling Catholic High School Projected Weight Class: Record Iowa High School State Championships Second Place USA Nationals Sixth Place, All-American Disney Duals 10-1 (Silver All-American) First Team All-State in Football High school coach Kevin Stanley was a 2001 NCAA All-American at Indiana I choose Indiana because I feel that I can grow as a wrestler, student and individual, while attending this university. Greg is from Des Moines Iowa and was a state runner up and folk style nationals All-American, Escobedo said. He is currently ranked number one in the state at 220. Greg is big, strong, athletic wrestler that still has a lot of upside. Greg is coached by former IU All-American Kevin Stanley. Matt Ortiz Saint Charles, Illinois Montini Catholic High School Projected Weight Class: Record

6 Record #7 National Ranking State Champion in his junior season and fifth-place in sophomore season Fifth and Eighth place at Fargo Nationals I choose Indiana because it felt like home and has an up and coming team and a great business school. Matt comes from national powerhouse, Montini HS in Illinois where he was a state champ in Illinois biggest class, Escobedo said. Matt has had success in multiple national events including the prestigious Fargo, where he became an All-American. He is an extremely hard working and relentless. He is a great addition for our upper weights and a perfect fit for Big Ten wrestling.