Here is a look at the top 10 freshmen heading into the 2014-15 season.
Kyle Snyder fell to Russian wrestling legend Gatsalov at the Beat the Streets event (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)A three-time undefeated state champion in Maryland before moving his senior year to Colorado Springs to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Kyle Snyder was the most decorated high school talent two years ago when he committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Today, he has a wealth of international wrestling experience, including a Junior World championship, Junior World bronze and a match against Russian wrestling legend Khadzhimurat Gatsalov.
In his first year back on the mats he will be facing a crowded 197-pound weight class that features seven returning All-Americans and a wrestler who reached the round of 12. The only wrestler not in the mix is Nick Helfin, the man he intends to replace.
Buying Snyder to win an NCAA championship before he leaves Columbus is like purchasing Google at the IPO price of $85. You almost can't lose.
Bo Jordan (Ohio State)
The Jordan family business of winning NCAA hardware will continue with newest NCAA stud Bo.
The son of St. Paris Graham head wrestling coach Jeff Jordan, Bo eschewed the family allegiance to Wisconsin and matched up with Ohio State head wrestling coach Tom Ryan.
On the mat, the four-time Ohio state champion crushed his competition during his redshirt campaign, going an impressive 23-0 en route to winning five tournaments. His wins included five major decisions, four technical falls and 11 falls. He was arguably the most impressive redshirt in the nation last season.
Bo's only setback came at University Nationals where he took fourth place, losing to Kent State's Ian Miller and Boston University's Nestor Taffur.
Isaiah Martinez (Illinois)
Expectations couldn't be higher for 2013 mega recruit Isaiah Martinez. The California native took 2014 to redshirt and racked up an impressive 13-2 record, which included a win over Wisconsin All-American Isaac Jordan.
Outside of the collegiate scene, Martinez has found both success and frustration. He's made the finals of both the FILA Junior Nationals and FILA Junior World Team Trials, but dropped both gold medals to fellow Californian Anthony Valencia.
He is expected to premier at 157 pounds, and under the close eye of Mark Perry -- who helped usher in the success of two-time NCAA champion and California native Jess Delgado -- Martinez is in a prime position to challenge for the podium as a freshman.
After an undefeated redshirt season at Ohio State, Nathan Tomasello cruised to a FILA Junior National title this past spring (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)The 125-pounder has a bevy of workout partners rotating through the Ohio RTC and little excuse to not make an immediate and oversized impact on the Buckeye program.
Tomasello was a perfect 18-0 as a redshirt last year for Coach Ryan, beating Kory Mines of Edinboro, 11-1, in their only meeting. Mines went 2-2 at the NCAA tournament.
An unblemished redshirt season only adds promise to a high school campaign that included three Junior National freestyle titles and four high school state championships.
Despite a FILA Junior World Team Trials loss to Thomas Gilman, the expectations for Tomasello couldn't be higher heading into the 2014-15 season.
Anthony Ashnault (Rutgers)
The biggest recruit to ever head to Scott Goodale's Rutgers program, Anthony Ashnault can, and will, win at the NCAA level. The Scarlet Knights have struggled to earn All-American honors during Goodale's tenure. But after an unexpected NCAA tournament run by Anthony Perrotti in 2014, that drought has officially ended. With Ashanult coming in at 141 pounds in 2015 it will be a season filled with promise for the Garden State.
Ashnault was the first-ever undefeated four-time state champion from New Jersey. At the collegiate level he is 15-3 and won the National Collegiate Open, but it was his work at University Nationals where he beat defending NCAA champion Jason Tsirtsis of Northwestern that signaled his ability to compete -- and win -- at the highest level of Division I. Ashnault's semifinal win over Tsirtsis was followed up with a finals triumph over All-American Michael Mangrum.
Though Ashnault would go 0-1 at the University Worlds, the young Jersey stud made a statement in 2014. He has shown the ability to dispatch some of the nation's top lightweights. Expect him to see the podium multiple times in his career, including at least one shot at the NCAA title.
Jake Short (Minnesota)
With the Dardanes brothers expected to make the slog back to their more natural weights of 141 pounds and 133 pounds, Minnesota native Jake Short looks to move into the Minnesota lineup at 149 pounds in 2014-2015.
Short, whose father Will was an All-American for the Gophers, was a four-time state champion coming out of high school and went 25-8 as a redshirt. He's a tough, hard-nosed wrestler with strong defense. Short took eventual NCAA champion Tsirtsis the distance before dropping a 2-0 match at the Midlands.
Brandon Sorensen (Iowa)
The Hawkeye's big recruit from two years ago, Brandon Sorensen will look to build on an impressive redshirt campaign.
The four-time Iowa state champion put up an impressive 24-4 record as a redshirt, finishing third at Midlands and had wins over All-American Zach Neibert of Virginia Tech and teammate Brody Grothus.
He will be in a weight class that is quickly filling with young talent and proven winners. Finding the podium in 2015 will mean that the youngster has made even more strides. He's talented, disciplined and in all the best ways a ready-made Iowa wrestler.
Zach EpperlyVirginia Tech head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser has literally known Zach Epperly since he was born. The former head wrestling coach at Christiansburg High School, Dresser is now set to coach a wrestler in Epperly who has only ever known the Dresser-Weber system.
Expectations are high for Epperly, who was a four-time Virginia state champion, high school All-American and the No. 26 overall recruit. Last season he wrestled an impressive 31 matches, going 29-2 as a redshirt. He also racked up four tournament titles, including the Hokie Open title where he defeated All-American Turtogtokh Luvsandorj of The Citadel in the finals.
Epperly still projects at 174 pounds where he will have plenty of opportunity to make the podium in 2015 and an NCAA title before (if ever) he leaves Blacksburg.
Mitch Sliga (Northwestern)
Drew Pariano's recruiting talents weren't just unleashed with his monster 2014 class. Mitch Sliga amassed a high school record of 178-4 and won four Fargo titles.
Last year as a redshirt Sliga posted an admirable 26-5 record, though many of those wins were expected.
Should he find his rhythm at 184 pounds in 2015 Sliga could be a contender to make the podium. However, he struggled a bit at the FILA Junior Nationals and FILA World Team Trials and will need to have made significant gains from 2014. That improvement is something Coach Pariano and the Wildcat program are counting on heading into several seasons of high expectations in Evanston.
Kevin NorstremA five-time state champion from storied Florida powerhouse Brandon High School, Kevin Norstrem is another lightweight the Hokies expect to make an impact in the coming years.
As a redshirt in 2014 Norstrem clocked three tournament titles and went 5-1 at the National Collegiate Open to place third. Overall, he put up a 21-4 record.
He will have to battle for a starting spot at 133 pounds where ACC champion Dennis Gustafson will look to retain his position as the Hokie starter.
Honorable Mention:
Brooks Black (Illinois)
Zach Beard (Wyoming)
Mitch Bengtson (North Dakota State)
Matt McCutcheon (Penn State)
Cody Wiercioch (Pitt)
Ricky Robertson (Wisconsin)
Nick Wanzek (Minnesota)
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