Indiana University Athletics
Wrestling Signs Talented Recruiting Class
11/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 21, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana wrestling team announced the signing of five incoming freshmen to National Letters of Intent for the 2006-07 season, announced head coach Duane Goldman. The class includes student-athletes that have excelled not only on the mats, but have succeeded in the classroom as well.
"We are really pleased and excited about this year's recruiting class," Goldman said. "These guys are going to fill a lot of needs that will be coming up in our program and it's good to know we will be filling those positions with quality students as well as quality athletes. Being Indiana University, we want to draw the best wrestlers from the state. We feel that with this recruiting class we have accomplished that goal."
Nathan Everhart (Tinley Park, Ill./ Andrew), Kurt Kinser (Bloomington, Ind./ Bloomington South), Nick Walpole (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian), Alex Warren (Mooresville, Ind./ Mooresville) and Paul Young (Bloomington, Ind./ Bloomington South) all will join Indiana in the fall of 2006-07.
"Every one of these guys has had extremely successful high school careers to date." Goldman said, "In addition, each one comes in with a very high GPA, which shows their dedication to being a good student as well."
As a junior, Everhart comes to the IU program after being an Illinois state placer despite battling an ankle injury throughout the state tournament. Everhart is a three-sport athlete at Andrew High School where he also participates in football and baseball. At Indiana, Everhart is projected to compete at 197 pounds.
"Nate is a gifted athlete that has excelled in not only wrestling, but also football and baseball while at Andrew High School," Goldman said. "We feel he has unlimited potential and look forward to developing that throughout his career at Indiana."
Kinser signed to become an Indiana Hoosier with his senior year still to go at Bloomington South. Kinser starts his senior campaign ranked fifth nationally and only had one loss last year, which came against the state's top-rated grappler. Kinser will likely compete at 149 or 157 pounds at IU.
"Kurt is an extremely physical hard-nosed wrestler,' Goldman said. "His style of wrestling is tailor made for collegiate wrestling and the Big Ten. Kurt also comes from a good wrestling background as his father was a former Indiana state champion."
Walpole joins the Hoosier grapplers after going undefeated en route to his state championship as a junior. As a sophomore, Walpole's only loss came against then-No. 1 rated Andrae Hernandez, who is currently a 133-pound grappler at IU, to finish third in state that year. Entering his senior campaign, Walpole is ranked 14th in the nation and is looking for his second straight state title in 2006. Walpole is projected to wrestle at either 141 or 149 pounds for the Hoosiers.
"Nick is a great athlete and a great competitor," Goldman said. "Nick seems to know how to save his best for big matches. We are looking forward to the opportunity to have him wear the IU singlet."
Finishing as Indiana state runner-up as a junior, Warren also will join Indiana for the 2006-07 season. Warren's only loss as a junior came against current IU grappler Scott Kelley in the state finals. Warren enters his senior season as the top-rated grappler in Indiana at his weight class and ranks 18th nationally. Warren is projected to wrestle at 133 or 141 pounds at Indiana.
"Alex is very dedicated to the sport," Goldman said. "He puts himself in excellent training situations and competitions year around and has a tremendous future in college wrestling."
Young, the defending high school state champion at 160 pounds, will join Indiana after compiling an already long list of accomplishments at Bloomington South. Young enters his senior campaign ranked ninth nationally. During his junior campaign, Young's sole loss came against current IU freshman Matt Coughlin, who was the state's top-ranked grappler in 2005 and went on to win the state title. At IU, Young is projected to compete at either 165 or 174 pounds.
"Paul comes from a strong wrestling family," Goldman said. "He has a lot of potential for developing into a great collegiate wrestler. Paul is your classical student of the sport, who has great technical skills and is always finding ways to improve."
