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Discussion Topic: Notre Dame inks state champion Don Stocum
Dan Cosimi added to this discussion on May 10, 2008
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Falcons ink Ohio Heavyweight Champ Stocum
Skip Snow - Notre Dame College SID
April 24, 2008
The Notre Dame wrestling program announced the signing of Don Stocum to a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Letter of Intent to continue his wrestling career with the Falcons. Stocum, a Cleveland native, is the Ohio high school state wrestling champion at heavyweight in Division 3 and a standout from Kirtland High School, where he earned four varsity letters in wrestling and three in football.
The son of Gary and Marla Stocum, Don went 42-1 for the Hornets in his senior season. He won all eight tournaments he competed in during the 2007-08 season, including the North Coast Classic, the Division 3 Classic, the Southview Tournament, the Husky Invitational (where he was named the Outstanding Wrestler), the Chagrin Valley Conference tournament, and the Sectional, District, and State Tournaments. Stocum was tabbed as a First Team All-Plain Dealer and First Team All-News-Herald selection. He was also named the Chagrin Valley Conference’s Outstanding Wrestler.
As a senior, Stocum was a team captain on the Hornets’ wrestling and football squads. He was an All-Ohio selection in Football as an offensive lineman.
In the March 1 title bout at the state wrestling finals, Stocum earned a 7-0 shutout victory over two-time state placewinner Derick Hesson of Caldwell to claim the championship. It was the climax of Stocum's dominating performance in Columbus. His first round bout ended quickly with a pin of Norwalk St. Paul's Chris Doughty in 1:35. In the quarterfinals he drew returning state qualifier Aaron Edington from Marion Pleasant. Stocum had little trouble with Edington as he won by pin in only 1:20. The semifinal bout was to be the toughest of the tournament, but Stocum controlled the match and blanked two-time state placewinner Jacob Southwick from Tontogany Otsego by a 6-0 decision.
Stocum’s high school accolades also include being named First Team All-CVC in both his junior and senior seasons. In those two years, the future wrestling Falcon went a combined 77-5 with 53 pins, in 82 heavyweight bouts. Stocum grappled in the heavyweight division all four years at Kirtland. His four-year record for the Hornets was 112-37.
“Don is well-known to wrestling fans in this area,” said Notre Dame head coach Frank Romano. “He brings a lot of talent to College Road, and we’re thrilled to have him on board.”
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