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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Jared Ball added to this discussion on March 21, 2020

This is one of those things you don't have time to look up until you have lots of time to look things up. Check out this site of recruiting rankings for D1 wrestling over the years.
http://www.d1collegewrestling.net/Recruiting_Front.html
Looks like they stopped several years ago...lol. Anyways I thought it would be interesting to look at guys that were brought in as high level recruits and see how they panned out. There is definitely some missing names, but here goes (# indicates overall recruiting rank prior to college):

**Before I start, just a reminder that Jaggers was an 04 recruit (I think)

2005:
#19 Mike Pucillo (1 X NC, 3 X AA)
#23 Reece Humphrey (Finaist, 2 X AA)
**Three finals appearances, and 5 AA's. Jake Varner was the most successful recruit of this class (4 finals appearances and 1 gold medal). Dustin Schlatter was the #1 overall recruit just ahead of Brent Metcalf.

2006:
#4 Lance Palmer (4 X AA)
#21 Ryan Patrovich (NQ?)
**Landing Palmer was huge for Hellickson as no St. Eds kids had ventured down 71 prior to him. Someone named David Craig was the #1 overall recruit out of Brandon. Fl. This class included the likes of Cejudo, Burroughs, and a dearth of other talent.

2007: (Ryan's 1st class)
#4 Sean Nemec (NQ)
#16 Nicko Triggas (1 X AA)
#26 John Weakley
#35 Colt Sponseller (1 X AA)
**This looked to be a monster recruiting class, but in the long run TR had greater success with the hold overs from Russ. 2 AA finishes out of this group. Oft injured Cody Gardner was the #1 overall recruit. Kellen Russell was the most accomplished wrestler of this class. Dustin Kilgore was the most accomplished Ohioan of the group.

2008: Overall class ranking #12
#16 Tony Jameson
Cody Magrum (NQ)
David Rella
Cody Gardner (after injury and OTC year)
**Dave Rella saw some starting time (was he a NQ?) and Cody Magrum qualified a handful of times to NCAAs. Jameson and Gardner both never saw the mat due to career ending injuries. Jason Welch was the #1 overall recruit of a class that included Quinten Wright, Matt Mcdonaugh, and the illustriously tatted Jordan Oliver. Don't forget about my much hyped man Jake Diechler out of Minnesota that made the 2008 Olympic Greco team but never did anything on the collegiate level.

2009: Overall class rank #11
#6 Collin Palmer
#42 Ian Paddock (NQ)
#87 Nick Heflin (3 X AA, 1 X finalist)
Jake Vaughn
**David Taylor was the #1 overall recruit for obvious reasons. This class also included the likes of one Kyle Dake and Ed Ruth. Not bad. Nick Heflin was Kollin Moore before Kollin Moore was Kollin Moore. Folks in Ohio knew about the Massillon Perry product, but Heflin was the first TR fully developed product from start to finish, and he's still going strong.

2010: Overall class rank #8
#1 Logan Stieber (4 X NC)
#39 Josh Demas (NQ)
#37 Tyrell Fortune (Juco champ)
**The recruitment of Logan Stieber represents a tipping point, IMO, for Tom Ryan. TR had finished 2nd in 2009, but had done so with the likes of guys recruited by Russ. Logan was the first major recruit to choose the Bucks, which ultimately led to an avalanche of talent defending into Columbus. Logan is one of the few names on the list to be the number #1 overall recruit and finish as the best collegiate wrestler of his class. Demas was a solid contributor to the lineup making the R12 and being a fraction of an inch from AA. Fortune never took the wrestling matt, but made noise in other areas of athletics.

2011: Overall class rank #1 (TRs 1st)
#27 Johnni Dijulius (3 X NQ?)
#31 Cam Tessari (NAIA NC)
#7 Hunter Steiger (2 X AA)
#12 Kenny Courts (1 X AA)
#6 Andrew Campalatano
Derek Garcia
Kosta Karageorge
Tyler Caldwell
**Killer recruiting class. Probably the 2nd best of the TR era. People were absolutely drooling over Campalatano when he came to Columbus, but unfortunately it didn't work out. 4 AA finishes (if you count Tessari) and multiple contributors (including a team national title). People forget that Derek Garcia was highly touted from out west (Washington I believe). Tessari took the long way to a championship, but did so later down the road. JDJ is still jumping out of planes, and Courts is still competing. Imagine if Hunter Stieber had two elbows!!! Morgan Macintosh was the #1 overall recruit. Alex Derringer was the most accomplished of the class.

2012: Overall #12. (Last Buckeye Class to not produce an AA)
#43 Nick Roberts
#29 Mark Martin (NQ)
Chris Phillips (transfer from NC St)
#38 Nick Tavenello (NQ)
**None of the aforementioned ended up starting all four years, but with the depth of talent that the Buckeyes had for the next four years that was bound to happen. Mark Martin was probably the most successful, while Roberts transferred out and Phillips never saw the mat. Jason Tsirtsis was the top overall recruit in what was a very lacking class. Gabe Dean (who was not ranked high) might be the most accomplished. Gilman might be next best.

2013: Overall # 10
#1 Bo Jordan (4 X AA) (TRs second #1 overall recruit)
#10 Nathan Tomasello (4 X AA, 1 X NC)
Jake Ryan
**Small but mighty class. They never finished lower than third while these two were on the team. Two guys eight AA finishes. Pulling Jordan was a major coup d etat as no Graham wrestler had ventured to Columbus. Bo was ranked number 1 over...Adam Coon, Isaiah Martinez, Zain Retherford, Anthony Ashnault, Darian Cruz, Dominic Aboudnader, and Anthony Collica just to name a few.

2014: Overall #5
#1 Kyle Snyder (Did you need anyone else?)
#6 Micah Jordan (3 X AA, finalist)
#9 Thomas Haines (NQ for L. Haven)
#144 Ryan Harris
Cody Burcher
Later T'Sean Campbell (from Pitt 3 X NQ)
Later Joey McKenna (from Standford 3 X AA, finalist)
**Excluding the two future transfers this was a highly successful class even if it wasn't totally with the Bucks. Kyle, like Logan, was a generational talent and changed the sport. I say that because he ushered in a new era of what an athletes season could potentially look like. No one dared compete internationally and collegiately at the same time. Now they do. Micah was a hair from being a 4 X AA his freshman year sucked down at 141. Kyle was the #1 overall recruit, and the most accomplished collegiate wrestler. Bo Nickal and Jason Nolf were also in this class and so was.......STEPHAN MICIC....who will still be wresting for Michigan next year.

2015: #6 Overall
#47 Jose Rodriguez (NQ,D2 NC)
#11 Keshawn Hayes (NQ)
#4 Myles Martin (4 X AA, 1 X NC)
#81 Kollin Moore (4 X AA, 1 NC..yeah I said it)
**Top to bottom this was an extremely productive and solid class. Transfers and injury limited Hayes, but he was certainly right there twice to potentially AA. His junior year I'm fairly confident that he was one of the top 8 guys at 141. Eight AA finishes between two guys is nothing to glance over. In all honesty...coulda, woulda, shoulda...I think this group should have had three national individual national championship titles to its resume (Myles 2 and Kollin 1)...but they don't. Anthony Valencia was the top overall recruit for this class. Zahid was the best of the group.

2016: #10 Overall
#4 Isaiah White (1 X d1 AA, 1 X D2 NC)
#8 Luke Pletcher (3 X AA, yeah I said it)
#67 Elijah Cleary
Kevin Snyder
Fritz Scherl
Gary Traub
**If only Zayzay had the grades....He would have been a four year linchpin in the middle of the Buckeye lineup at a weight we have had limited success at. Oh well, a D2 national title, and what should have been two AA finishes tapped out a successful career for the Cornhuskers. Luke Pletcher was about as consistent as they come during his four year stint. He very likely would've made the finals this year, and had a better than average shot to take home the title. Outside of Luke, Elijah is the only one that saw sizable lineup time. He still has a year remaining, but I would not project him to start moving forward. Mark Hall was the number one overall recruit. Don't think we can for sure say who has had the best career yet, but we know who has the best nickname.

2017: Overall #4
#10 Chase Singletary (NQ)
#16 Kaleb Romero (NQ)
#33 Ethan Smith (2 X NQ)
Jason Hubbard
Zach Steiner
Brakan Meade
Dayton Racer (transfered in for a minute)
**Not a deep class, but very workman like and still has the potential to land AAs. I'd imagine Kaleb will be in the top four or five to start next year, and Smith (should he go in front of Karchla) should move well up the rankings with the graduation of multiple guys. Steiner looked solid in two spot starts but it sounded if injury had set him back a bit. Take your pick on the generational talent in this class Spencer, Yanni, Daton, Mekhi Lewis, etc.

2018: Overall #2 class.
#4 Sammy Sasso (NQ)
#10 Gavin Hoffman
#15 Quinn Kinner
#24 Jaden Mattox
#35 Rocky Jordan (NQ)
#37 Malik Heinsleman (2 X NQ)
#78 Kevon Freemon
#98 Alex Felix
**Strong possibility that Sasso AA's this year, and potentially wins the whole thing (Regardless of what the Virtual NCAA guy thinks). This was certainly a talented group coming in. Mattox and Felix are no longer with the team, and Freemon was, wasn't, and now is with the team. Hoffman and Kinner are transitioning to different weights, and folks are waiting for Malik to make a jump. Rocky came on the second half of the year and looks to be the 184 starter moving forward. Lots of upside to this young group. Gable Steveson was the #1 overall and more than likely will be
the most accomplished unless Sasso or Aaron Brooks out do him with titles.

2019- Overall #1 (TR's 3rd number 1)
#1- Greg K...I can't bring myself to type his name.
#4- Carson Karchla
#5- Jordan Decatur
#32- Dylan D'Emilio
#50- Isaac Wilcox
Jacob Decatur
Nick Oldham
Tyler Stein
**Jordan Decatur was the only one to see collegiate action this year with less than impressive results in the deepest weight in the country. There were flashes of brilliance, but ultimately the year did not go as TR had probably planned. Kirkleviets departure to PSU leaves major questions about the future of OSU upper weights. Kirkliveit will be a generational talent and will challenge for NCAA titles and world team spots. Karchla finished his RS year at 16-0 including a win over top 12 teammate Ethan Smith. He looks to challenge for a starting spot next year and potentially be one of the top guys at 165 if he can stay healthy. D'Emilio had his RS season cut somewhat short by injury, but a year to develop might put him in a spot to challenge for a starting spot at 133 or 141. Jacob Decatur also had a decent redshirt season but continues to struggle with size issues.

2020- ???
Anthony Enchemendia (was to enroll at OSU in May)
Bryce Heppner
Santo Cantu
**The Enchemendia enrollment/commitment soap opera looked to be finalized....twice... with the Bucks. The Covid-19 pandemic has put things further on hold. Heppner will join his brother on the team, and could potentially challenge for the 157 spot down the line. Cantu is an upper weight that I no little about. Braxton Amos and the kid who went to Okie State were the co number 1's for this class. I'd imagine Enchemendia would've been ranked higher had he been on the scene earlier. Has Jesse Vasquez committed anywhere?

So this is the result of boredom. I hope you enjoyed reading it. Who would you rate as the following:
-Diamond in the rough (who was the lowest rated, but most productive)
-Ho hum award (Highest rated, Didn't live up to expectations. We can do that on here we're not publicizing this)
-Who is your all decade recruiting team. Who would you pick, coming out of high school, to fill out your ten weights.



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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Jack Muni added to this discussion on March 21, 2020

InterMat has Jesse Vasquez still undecided, plus he is at 145. Would there be a spot for him?



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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Bill Splete added to this discussion on March 21, 2020

We are going to have to circle back to Echemendia at some point, don't get me wrong he is tough as nails, but he should be for a grown man wrestling high school kids, from what I have heard very khetag Pliev, it's all water under the bridge, but still not cool and people that do this should be called out, he kept actual high school kids from achieving their dreams, that is also not cool.



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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Brady Hiatt added to this discussion on March 21, 2020

Varner only won once? Ugh, my memory going. Told a guy he won twice when we were talking about Richard Immel’s twitter bracket match-ups.

David Craig was a stud in HS. Looked like he suffered from HEW upon HS graduation.

Diechler’s career was ended by concussion problems.

Thanks for going back, gathering the info and starting this thread. Great to tead some names that’d I’d forgotten about.



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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Bruce Andrews added to this discussion on March 22, 2020

Thanks for taking the time to put this list together. Not sure I agree with your comment about “a dearth of other talent” in 2006.

Sad to see that 3 wrestlers mentioned have already passed away at such young ages.



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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Drew Taylor added to this discussion on March 22, 2020

Fun read. Thanks for putting it together.

Some things that stand out:

-the most accomplished guys on this list showed flashes of greatness right away. There's not much late blooming, although we certainly see proof of guys making strides from good to great (Humphrey, Heflin, Pletcher, and I'd even argue Myles Martin).
-Tom Ryan in his first full class signed John Weakley over Dustin Kilgore. That decision, Ryan said later, cost Ohio State a national title. Weakley was a two time champ at CVCA and had success at Fargo (champ?). Kilgore did not compete much nationally. Mistakes happen.
-I'm afraid the 2018 class is beginning to mirror the 2011 class. Huge class with just okay results. I still have hope that Hoffman will find his way and Kinner can compete at his natural weight.
-Jose Rodriguez is an enigma. Started his RS freshman season on fire and looked like a title contender. Within weeks he was getting teched by average guys and by the end of the season was off the roster.



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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Jared Ball added to this discussion on March 22, 2020

Quote from Brady Hiatt's post:

"Varner only won once? Ugh, my memory going. Told a guy he won twice when we were talking about Richard Immel’s twitter bracket match-ups.

David Craig was a stud in HS. Looked like he suffered from HEW upon HS graduation.

Diechler’s career was ended by concussion problems.

Thanks for going back, gathering the info and starting this thread. Great to tead some names that’d I’d forgotten about."



You were correct, Varner won it twice.

Dearth was the wrong word to use. Not sure why I used that word for 2006. Maybe it was an autocorrect. “Wealth” of talent maybe more accurate.

I forget who said it, but as far as the 2018 class...they are allowed to get better. It doesn’t click for everyone at the same time.

A couple of other Did guy knows I saw regarding recruiting.. I didn’t realize that both Michael Beard and Anthony Cassiopi had both verbaled elsewhere prior to landing at their current destinations.



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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Jim Kessen added to this discussion on March 22, 2020

Quote from Jared Ball's post:

"

Quote from Brady Hiatt's post:

"Varner only won once? Ugh, my memory going. Told a guy he won twice when we were talking about Richard Immel’s twitter bracket match-ups.

David Craig was a stud in HS. Looked like he suffered from HEW upon HS graduation.

Diechler’s career was ended by concussion problems.

Thanks for going back, gathering the info and starting this thread. Great to tead some names that’d I’d forgotten about."



You were correct, Varner won it twice.

Dearth was the wrong word to use. Not sure why I used that word for 2006. Maybe it was an autocorrect. “Wealth” of talent maybe more accurate.

I forget who said it, but as far as the 2018 class...they are allowed to get better. It doesn’t click for everyone at the same time.

A couple of other Did guy knows I saw regarding recruiting.. I didn’t realize that both Michael Beard and Anthony Cassiopi had both verbaled elsewhere prior to landing at their current destinations."



I think Beard verbally committed to Northwestern before ending up at PSU

Speaking of recruits any news on potential new Bucks? I know they were in on #2 120 Ayala before he committed to Iowa.



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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Jeff Streu added to this discussion on March 22, 2020

Quote from Jared Ball's post:

"

2010: Overall class rank #8
#1 Logan Stieber (4 X NC)
#39 Josh Demas (NQ)
#37 Tyrell Fortune (Juco champ)
**The recruitment of Logan Stieber represents a tipping point, IMO, for Tom Ryan. TR had finished 2nd in 2009, but had done so with the likes of guys recruited by Russ. Logan was the first major recruit to choose the Bucks, which ultimately led to an avalanche of talent defending into Columbus. Logan is one of the few names on the list to be the number #1 overall recruit and finish as the best collegiate wrestler of his class. Demas was a solid contributor to the lineup making the R12 and being a fraction of an inch from AA. Fortune never took the wrestling matt, but made noise in other areas of athletics.

"



Fortune was also an NCAA DII champ.



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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Jeff Streu added to this discussion on March 22, 2020

Quote from Bill Splete's post:

"We are going to have to circle back to Echemendia at some point, don't get me wrong he is tough as nails, but he should be for a grown man wrestling high school kids, from what I have heard very khetag Pliev, it's all water under the bridge, but still not cool and people that do this should be called out, he kept actual high school kids from achieving their dreams, that is also not cool."



I have no idea whether Echemendia's supposed age is fabricated, but if it isn't he was still eligible to wrestle at Fargo last year and in HS in 2018-2019 - by only a matter of days. I'm not in favor of holding kids back for sports reasons, and I agree that a 19 year old has an advantage over 14-18 year olds, but if someone's within the age limit I have no complaints.

Do we know that Echemendia's - or Pliev's for that matter - age was not correct?



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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Bill Splete added to this discussion on March 22, 2020

My source wrestled with him in Cuba, and Rich Bender was contacted about his age and not letting him wrestle, but it was too late to stop him at Fargo. His estimated age from my source is 24 years of age. He is eligible for college but not high school. My first clue was watching him wrestle fields from Brunswick, the kid is a beast, and it looked very much like he was wrestling a grown man, Fields is a bear, very strong and high level, it looked odd and the commentators were bringing it up. He was however kept out of other age group tournaments after that but not sure if it was juniors trials(20 and under) or universities, I will have to go back and check, this is no secret at the national level or among the major schools. In the end, it won't change anything and nothing really can be done, but it bothers me and isn't fair.

As for PlievI am very certain that question was asked, answered and he was removed from the record books.



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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Dan Strope added to this discussion on March 22, 2020

I never realized that Tyler Caldwell was a Buckeye recruit.



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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Jeff Streu added to this discussion on March 22, 2020

Quote from Bill Splete's post:

"My source wrestled with him in Cuba, and Rich Bender was contacted about his age and not letting him wrestle, but it was too late to stop him at Fargo. His estimated age from my source is 24 years of age. He is eligible for college but not high school. My first clue was watching him wrestle fields from Brunswick, the kid is a beast, and it looked very much like he was wrestling a grown man, Fields is a bear, very strong and high level, it looked odd and the commentators were bringing it up. He was however kept out of other age group tournaments after that but not sure if it was juniors trials(20 and under) or universities, I will have to go back and check, this is no secret at the national level or among the major schools. In the end, it won't change anything and nothing really can be done, but it bothers me and isn't fair.

As for PlievI am very certain that question was asked, answered and he was removed from the record books."



Wow, I had heard rumblings that Echemendia was a little older than he stated, but 24 is egregious if true. I'm surprised more was not said about it if Rich Bender knew.

Wikipedia (I know, not the greatest source) has Pliev born on 02/20/84, which would have made him 18 at the end of his "senior" year. When was he actually born? OHSAA still has him in past state tournament results. What record book was he removed from?



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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Jack Muni added to this discussion on March 22, 2020

FYI, Echemendia lists his birthday as Sept. 10, 1999 on his twitter account. So he would be 20 right now. Most incoming freshman are 18-19 right?



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Discussion Topic: Buckeye recruiting over the years
Jeff Streu added to this discussion on March 22, 2020

Quote from Jack Muni's post:

"FYI, Echemendia lists his birthday as Sept. 10, 1999 on his twitter account. So he would be 20 right now. Most incoming freshman are 18-19 right?"



That's the same date that was on his bio for last year's Fargo finals. He would have been 19 for a brief spell at the start of the 2019-2020 school year, which theoretically would have been his freshman year. If that actually is his birthdate, it would be equivalent to a kid who's already one of the oldest in his grade being held back one year (basically the same situation as Aaron Pico). Not necessarily fair, but "legal".

The cutoff for USA Wrestling's Junior division is September 1st, meaning last year's Fargo participants had to be born after 09/01/99, meaning he just barely made it (if 09/10/99 is his actual).



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