Joining the ISU squad next year will be Joey Cozart (Brandon, Fla.), Mikey England (Centerville, Iowa), Ryak Finch (Safford, Ariz.), Kyven Gadson (Waterloo, Iowa), Luke Goettl (Clarksdale, Ariz.), Brandon Jones (West Des Moines, Iowa), Michael Moreno (Urbandale, Iowa) and Trevor Voelker (Adel, Iowa).
“We are very happy with the class we have coming in next year,” Jackson said. “They are going to make an immediate impact on our team and help our program accomplish its goals. They are highly-ranked guys that are full of potential and talent and they are excited to come to Iowa State. They know our tradition.”
The Cyclone recruiting class is highlighted by star power and Cyclone legacy.
Four signees (Cozart, 152 pounds; Finch, 119 pounds; Gadson, 189 pounds; and Moreno, 171 pounds) reside within Intermat’s Class of 2010 Top 100 ranking. Cozart, Finch and Moreno are all ranked within the top-30 wrestlers in the nation by the website. The foursome holds six state titles and 10 prep finals appearances between them.
Moreno’s father, Mike, was an All-American at 134 pounds for ISU in 1992. The father of Kyven Gadson, Willie, was a two-time All-American (1975-76) at 177 pounds.
“We are excited about the legacy wrestlers,” Jackson said. “Gadson, Moreno and Voelker are now Cyclones themselves. Their families’ love and passion for ISU has never waivered. They thought Iowa State University was a class school with the type of academic and athletic standards they were looking for their college educations.”
Top local Iowa talent is prepared to hit the Cyclone wrestling room. Jones won the 2009 3A 112-pound title at Valley High school in West Des Moines. England, a three-time Iowa state placewinner (140 pounds, 145 pounds and 171 pounds), hails from Centerville. Voelker, the nephew of former Cyclone two-time 190-pound NCAA champion Eric Voelker, has placed twice at state, most recently at 189 pounds.
Jackson knows the importance of finding home-grown talent that emerges from the state of Iowa’s rapid wrestling scene.
“We are looking to communicate with all coaches in the state of Iowa,” Jackson said. “Our coaching staff at Iowa State is here with our arms open to welcome in-state kids. We will fight very hard to bring in the best athletes in our state.”
Arizona standout Luke Goettl rounds out the eight-man class. Goettl is a three-time state champion hailing from Clarksdale, Ariz. He has taken titles at 112 pounds, 125 pounds and 130 pounds.
“There are high expectations for everyone,” Jackson said. “We’d like all of them to make an impact.”
Jackson notes the fact that he and his coaching staff are looking for student-athletes, with an emphasis on the “student”.
“First and foremost, we push academics,” Jackson said. “ISU student-athletes graduate at a rate of 79 percent. We want student-athletes to come here first for academics, then for athletics. We have a great coaching staff which is going to challenge these student-athletes.”
Class of 2010 Wrestling Signees
Joey Cozart, Brandon, Fla. (Brandon)
Three-time Florida state champion ... has taken titles at 125 pounds, 140 pounds and 145 pounds ... ranked 29th in his class by Intermat ... considered to be one of the top-five 152-pound preps nationally by Amateur Wrestling News and Intermat ... wrestled for storied Brandon High School program that has won 19 team championships and crowned 70 individual titlists ... coached by his father, Russ Cozart.
Mikey England, Centerville, Iowa (Centerville)
Three-time state 2A placewinner ... has compiled a 121-25 record ... took runner-up honors as a junior at the Iowa state tournament, competing at 171 pounds ... wrestled to third place as a sophomore at 145 pounds ... placed fourth at 140 pounds in his freshman year ... ranked 16th at 171 pounds by Intermat ... competed in the 2009 Junior Nationals.
Ryak Finch, Safford, Ariz. (Safford)
Considered the top 119-pounder in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News and Intermat two-time Arizona state 3A champion ...stands at 154-2 on his career ... Junior Nationals double champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman at 112 pounds in 2009... two-time NHSCA national champion ... finished sophomore and junior seasons with perfect marks of 40-0 and 56-0, respectively ... rated by Intermat as the 23rd best wrestler in the class of 2010 ... was runner-up at both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the 2008 Junior Nationals ... state runner-up as a freshman at 103 pounds ... member of a five-time defending state champion team at Safford ... coached by Herman Andrews.
Kyven Gadson, Waterloo, Iowa (East)
Went undefeated, 38-0, as a junior en route to 3A 171-pound state title, winning by fall in four of five matches ...state runner-up as a sophomore at 145 pounds ... ranked in the top-10 at 189 pounds by both Amateur Wrestling News and Intermat ... 2009 FILA Cadet freestyle national champion at 85 kg (187.25 pounds) ... double state champion competing in Greco-Roman and freestyle as a sophomore ... took first place wrestling at 152 pounds at ASICS Folkstyle Nationals in 2008 ... coached by father, former ISU All-American Willie Gadson.
Luke Goettl, Clarksdale, Ariz. (Mingus Union)
Three-time Arizona state 4A-D2 champion ... titlist at 112 pounds, 125 pounds and 130 pounds ... Junior Nationals champion in Greco-Roman at 125 pounds in 2008 ... crowned champion at Southern Plains regional in 2009 ... ranked 12th and 10th at 135 pounds by Amateur Wrestling News and Intermat, respectively ... coached by Tom Wokasch.
Brandon Jones, West Des Moines, Iowa (Valley)
Iowa state 3A 112-pound state titlist as a junior ... went 37-3 en route to the championship ... placed seventh as a sophomore at 103 pounds ... notched a 119-pound fourth-place finish at USA Wrestling’s 2009 Preseason Nationals ... took top-honors at the Northern Plains regional, competing at 119 pounds ... runner-up in state freestyle tournament at 119 pounds ... finished fourth at ASICS Folkstyle Nationals in 2009 ... coached by Travis Young.
Michael Moreno, Urbandale, Iowa (Urbandale)
State runner-up in Iowa class 3A at 160 pounds as a junior and at 152 pounds as a sophomore ... has recorded a career mark of 111-13 ... took fourth in the 145-pound division as a freshman ... considered one of the top 10 preps at 171 pounds by both Amateur Wrestling News and Intermat ... ranked 22nd best wrestler in the class of 2010 by Intermat ... runner-up finish competing in freestyle at 171 pounds at the Northern Plains regional ... saw action at Junior Nationals at 171 pounds ... coached by father and former Cyclone, Mike Moreno.
Trevor Voelker, Adel, Iowa (Dallas Center-Grimes)
Two-time Iowa state 2A placewinner ... finished fifth in the state at 189 pounds as a junior after compiling a 47-3 mark ... recorded a sixth-place showing at 171 pounds as a sophomore ... competed at Junior Nationals as a junior ... nephew of former Cyclone two-time NCAA 190-pound champion Eric Voelker ... coached by Clint Knoll.
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