Wrestling: Turnbull Signs Seven Recruits
June 28, 2006 04:30 PM | General
June 28, 2006
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| Craig Turnbull |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University wrestling coach Craig Turnbull today announced the signing of seven additional wrestlers to the 2006 class.
Freshmen Brandon Boyer (Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley), Matt Lemma (Hadden Township, N.J./Hadden Township), Andrew Riley (Wilmington, Del./Saint Mark’s), Ryan Romano (Hoover, Ala./Hoover), Ben Walderon (Morgantown, W.Va./University) and transfers Jared Garvin (Morgantown, W.Va./Belmont Abbey) and Lou Thomas (Parkersburg, W.Va./Pitt) join Tyler Oravec (New Kensington, Pa./Kiski Area High) and Nate Carr, Jr. (Atlanta, Ga./Jones County High) who signed with the Mountaineers back in November during the early signing period.
“In some ways it was a challenging recruiting year as the two previous classes were ranked Top 10 nationally and we had little scholarship money to work with,” says Turnbull. “But I feel that we brought in a really good group of guys that can really help out our progam.
“Both Tyler and Nate we think are future All-Americans and we also think that these recruits have great potential as well.”
Boyer comes from Saucon Valley High where he was a wrestling and football standout. The projected 197-pounder posted a career record of 94-19 with 76 pins to earn all-district honors three times. As a senior, Boyer finished third at states, second at the Liberty Hurricane Classic, winning the John Fritz Pinner Award, and competed at nationals in the 215-pond weight class.
Lemma was a two-time New Jersey state qualifier for Hadden Township High. Wrestling at 145-pounds as a senior, Lemma finished as the district champion and regional runner-up. He also finished as the regional runner-up in 2004 and 2005. Lemma is projected to wrestle in college at either 141 or 149-pounds.
Riley claimed 99 career wins for Saint Mark’s High over four years. As a senior he posted a 31-8 record with four tournament championships out of a possible seven and a runner-up finish at states. As a senior he also claimed championships at the Independence conference tournament, Maryland Classic tournament, Vanguard Invitational and Milford tournament (twice). Riley posted a fifth-place finish as a junior at states as well. He is projected to wrestle at 133-pounds for WVU.
Romano comes to West Virginia as the all-time wins leader at Hoover High, as he posted a 45-5 record as a senior. He captained his team as a junior and senior to state championships both years. The four-time Alabama state qualifier finished second as a sophomore, second as a junior and third as a senior. Romano entered the 2006 season as the 28th best senior according to USA Wrestling. He is projected to wrestle at the 141 or 149-pound weight class.
Walderon was one of the best West Virginia wrestlers over his last three seasons for University High. The two-time NCAC champion won the Region I tournament as a senior en route to a second place finish at states where he took fourth a year earlier. Walderon wrapped up his career with a 113-36 record with two titles at the Amityville (N.Y.) tournament, receiving the Champion of Champions award as a junior.
Garvin spent a season wrestling at Division II Belmont Abbey in Belmont, N.C., before transferring home to WVU. In high school, he was a standout for Morgantown where he posted a 48-3 record as a senior and a fifth place finish at the West Virginia state wrestling tournament and finished third at the 2003 state tournament with a final record of 44-4. Garvin is projected to wrestle at either the 125 or 133-pound weight class at WVU.
Thomas is a hometown product that spent his first two seasons at EWL rival Pitt where he posted a record of 9-14 as a sophomore, making the transition from 197-pounds to heavyweight. A three-time state champion at Parkersburg High, Thomas posted a 14o-15 career record and 45-2 mark as a senior. His high school honors also included a three-time All-America selection and the 2004 John Dutton West Virginia state wrestler of the year award winner.
