Many Ramirez, a former wrestler for UNC Greensboro and the 2011 SoCon Champion at 125, is transferring to Chattanooga and will be eligible immediately. He has one semester of eligibility remaining and is expected to step in at 125 and defend his title. He will replace senior Demetrius Johnson (Memphis, Tenn.) who is battling a knee injury that will likely keep him out the rest of the season.
Ramirez is a native of El Paso, Texas, and prepped at Britt High School in Fayetteville, N.C. He has also represented Puerto Rico in international events and was their national champion at 55kg in 2008. Ramirez, a three-year letter winner for the Spartans, graduates from UNCG this month and will enroll in graduate school at UTC. Greensboro eliminated its wrestling program following the 2010-11 season.
"We are excited about adding Manny to our program," stated Eslinger. "We are certainly familiar with him from his career at UNCG and we expect him to bring that same intensity to Chattanooga for his final semester of collegiate wrestling."
Also joining the Mocs as a part of the 2012-13 incoming class are Zach Brisdon (Sandown, N.H.), Caleb Denny (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Landon Reed (Ringgold, Ga.). Brisdon and Reed are both defending state champions while all three were on the Honor Roll for their work in the classroom.
Brisdon is expected to compete at 125 for the Mocs next fall. He has a 135-15 career record at Timberland High School in Plaistow, N.H., that also includes three individual state titles.
Reed will compete at 141 on the collegiate level. He went 57-5 as a junior at nearby Heritage High School in Ringgold, Ga. He was the Georgia 3A state champion and also won the Sham Slam as a junior.
Denny is a heavyweight from Moeller High School in Cincinnati. He was a state qualifier as a junior and is fifth on the preseason Super 32 in his class.
"All three of these individuals bring something unique to our program, but they all have the same characteristics we are looking for in Chattanooga wrestling," concluded Eslinger. "They are all excellent students who love wrestling and want to be challenged to compete at the highest level."
Manny Ramirez - 125 - Fayetteville, N.C. (UNC Greensboro)
Chattanooga: Transferred to UTC following the 2011 fall semester ... has a 35-28 career record ... joins the Mocs after UNCG cut its program in 2011.
2011-12 - Junior Season: Went 21-12 and won the SoCon Title at 125 ... posted a 12-6 mark in dual matches and was 4-1 in SoCon action.
2009-10 - Sophomore Season: Went 7-9 as a redshirt sophomore at 125 pounds ... won a bronze medal at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games in the 55 kg freestyle weight class where he represented Puerto Rico ... qualified for the games by winning the World Team Trials ... also represented Puerto Rico at the Canada Cup Wrestling Championship where he came in fourth place.
2008-09 - Freshman Season: Won the Puerto Rican National Championship in freestyle at 55 kg ... represented Team Puerto Rico's freestyle team at 55 kg at the 2009 Pan-American Championships for the second consecutive season ... came in fourth place after going 4-2 at the Hokie Open.
2007-08 - Redshirt Season: Redshirted the season ... was 2-3 on the season, competing at the North Carolina State Open and the Southern Scuffle.
High School: 2007 graduate of Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, NC...wrestled four years with the Buccaneers...finished with 185 career wins...four-time all-conference, two-time regional champion, two-time conference champion, and two-time all-region...finished in fifth-place at the North Carolina State Tournament his junior and senior year...team was back-to-back regional champions.
Personal: Manuel Jose Ramirez... born May 20, 1989 in El Paso, TX... son of Jose and Yanis Ramirez of Fayetteville, NC... has two siblings, Jenice and Victor... majoring in communication studies at UNCG.
Zach Brisdon - 125 - Sandown, N.H. - Timberlane HS
Three-time state champion for Timberlane High School in Plaistow, N.H. ... wrestles for head coach Barry Chooljian ... has a 135-15 prep record over the last three years ... team dual record is 59-2 over the last three years ... won the New England Championship as a sophomore ... won the Beast of the East Championships in 2009 & 2010 ... won the Eastern States Classic in 2009 & 2010 ... recognized annually on the school's Honor Roll ... PERSONAL ... Son of Sharon and Gary Brisdon ... has one older sister, Annie ... plans to major in Criminal Justice.
Caleb Denny - 285 - Cincinnati, Ohio - Moeller HS
Two-time district qualifier at Cincinnati's Moeller High School ... qualified for the state championships as a junior in 2011 ... fifth on the preseason Super 32 heading into his senior campaign ... competes for head coach Jeff Gaier ... went 33-16 as a junior and 26-16 during his sophomore year ... also competed in football ... Academic All-Ohio selection and on the Honor Roll ... PERSONAL ... Full name is Caleb Alexander Denny ... son of Jeff and Missy Denny ... born May 30, 1993 ... has one younger sister, Holly ... plans to major in Mechanical Engineering.
Landon Reed - 141 - Ringgold, Ga. - Heritage HG
Defending state champion at Heritage High School in Ringgold, Ga. ... posted a 57-5 record as a junior ... finished in the top-5 in the state in his three prep seasons ... regional champion as a sophomore and junior ... competes for head coach Kenny Hill ... recognized on the school's Honor Roll ... PERSONAL ... Full name is Landon Macaulay Reed ... son of Jay & Amy Still and Mike & Karen Reed ... born March 22, 1994 ... has two younger sisters, Anna Kate Still and Emma Reed ... father played football at Carson Newman ... plans to major in Secondary Education.
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