"This class will help give us a strong foundation over the next three to four years," remarked Barbee, who is excited about the group. "The kids we are bringing in from the prep school have put themselves in position to succeed at West Point in the Corps and in the wrestling room."
With the loss of 11 seniors, the starting lineup is wide open, according to the Army mentor.
"I challenge each one of our recruits to make their mark right away. We have a lot of unproven weight classes going into next season and a freshman could certainly break into the starting lineup."
Matt Kyler, who put together a 136-13 career record in high school with a state title in 2005, is one of Army's most-heralded recruits. He was ranked the 11th best high school senior and No. 19 overall this past year by USA Wrestling. Kyler won the Pennsylvania state title as a junior, while placing third as both a sophomore and senior. He won the junior national Greco title in 2005, along with placing fourth in the freestyle bracket.
A two-time placewinner in the state of Minnesota, Ryan Mergen enters West Point's gates following a year at USMAPS, where he went 7-0 on the wrestling mat. Mergen, who placed eighth at the junior nationals while in high school, placed fifth at the state tournament as a junior before finishing runner-up as a senior.
Andy Nicodin compiled a 125-5 career mark in high school, where he won two state titles (2003 and 2004) and placed runner-up at the state championships once (2002). Ranked as high as 12th by NHSCA in 2005, Nicodin is a six-time Greco and freestyle state champion.
A product of USMAPS, Lance Penhale was a three-time state champion in Alaska, where he compiled a career mark of 89-12. Penhale, who went 17-7 at the prep school last season, was ranked as high as 12th by USA Wrestling during his senior year of high school.
Adam Smetana is coming off a productive season at USMAPS, where he put together a 17-5 record last year. The Valencia, Pa., native won the Greco/freestyle state championship in 2004.
Richard Starks, a native of Midway, Ky., won three straight state championships and authored a flashy 205-14 while in high school. He ranked as high as 16th in the nation among seniors by USA Wrestling in 2005-06.
Steven Gilbert, a four-time state champion in New Mexico, comes to the Academy having authored a 117-13 record in high school. A NHSCA All-American in 2003 and 2004, Gilbert ranked as high at No. 12 in the nation as a junior.
Adam Martinez, a three-time state champion in New Mexico, comes to Army following a decorated high school career, during which he racked up an impressive career record of 200-28. Martinez won state titles as a sophomore, junior and senior, after placing runner-up as a freshman. The Las Vegas, N.M., native also won the state crown during his eighth grade year.
Chris Grill comes to Army after placing seventh at the state championships as a junior and senior. The Lansdowne, Pa., product authored a 133-32 career record, setting the school and Delaware County records in the process.
A native of Valrico, Fla., Ryan Nye comes to Army having authored a 138-42 career record in high school. Nye won the state title as a senior last season after placing runner-up as a junior. Ranked as high as 26th among high school seniors by USA Wrestling last year, Nye is a two-time member of the National Team. He won back-to-back state titles in Greco, while finishing third in the freestyle competition.
A two-time state champion in North Carolina, Charles (Chip) Reed comes to Army straight from high school, where he authored a 127-21 career record. Reed, who placed first at the NHSCA preseason nationals in 2004 and 2005, ranked among the Top 20 nationally by USA Wrestling and by WrestlingInternational.com.
A native of Sioux Center, Iowa, Casey Mouw arrives on the banks of the Hudson River following a high school career during which he forged a record of 138-31. Mouw placed sixth at the state tournament as a senior.
A four-year letterman in three different sports, Ed Mobley is coming off a sixth-place finish at the Indiana state championships as a senior.
Another native of Pennsylvania, Robert O'Neill embarks on his Army career after a year at Army's prep school, where he went 2-1 on the wrestling mat.
David Quinn, a two-time all conference selection and three-time all-county honoree, forged a 78-31 record in high school. A state qualifier as a sophomore, Quinn won a district and county championship in 2005.
2006-07 Army Wrestling Recruiting Class (Incoming Freshmen)
Name Wt. Hometown High School
Steven Gilbert 174 Albuquerque, N.M. Albuquerque Academy
Christopher Grill 149/157 Lansdowne, Pa. Upper Darby High School
Matthew Kyler 125/133 Clearfield, Pa. Clearfield Area High School
Adam Martinez 149/157 Las Vegas, N.M. Robertson High School
Ryan Mergen 174/184 Monticello, Minn. Monticello High School
Ed Mobley 197 Beech Grove, Ind. Beech Grove High School
Casey Mouw 174 Sioux Center, Iowa Sioux Center Community High School
Andy Nicodin 165 Falcon, Colo. Hilltop Baptist School
Ryan Nye 141 Valrico, Fla. Bloomingdale Senior High School
Robert O'Neill 184 Washington Xing, Pa. Council Rock High School North
Lance Penhale 125 Kenai, Alaska Nikiski Junior Senior High School
David Quinn 165 Flemington, N.J. Hunterdon Central Regional High School
Charles (Chip) Reed 197/HWT Winston Salem, N.C. Robert B. Glenn High School
Adam Smetana 125/133 Valencia, Pa. Mars Area High School
Richard Starks 184/197 Midway, Ky. Woodford County High School
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