"We're excited about this class," Manning said. "These young men are good students and great wrestlers. Our philosophy is to recruit tough, hard-nosed competitors who are willing to work hard, and these guys fill that criteria. We're really excited about these young men joining the Husker wrestling family."
Included among the 13 signees are four wrestlers ranked in the top 20 nationally in Intermat's High School All-Class Individual Rankings. This list is headed by fall signee Matt Vacanti. A four-time state champion at Papillion-LaVista High School in Papillion, Neb., Vacanti was the third-ranked 140-pound high school wrestler in the nation according to Intermat.
Another highly touted in-state recruit is Cameron Browne, who was ranked sixth at 215 pounds. The Plattsmouth, Neb., native and the brother of current Husker Brandon Browne was a state champion and finished third at high school nationals. He is expected to wrestle at 197 pounds at NU.
Also listed among the top 10 in his weight class is Jordan Burroughs. Projected to wrestle at either 149 or 157 for Nebraska, Burroughs was ranked seventh at 135 pounds by Intermat after a strong high school career including a state championship at Winslow Township High School in New Jersey, the alma mater of current NU wrestler Vince Jones.
Another New Jersey recruit, Bobby Laraway, was ranked 12th at 171 pounds. The Union, N.J., native and graduate of St. Benedict's Prep is slated to wrestle at 174 pounds next season after a high school career that saw him win the prep national championship and take fourth in a high school prep tournament.
"We had a pretty young team this year, and these 13 guys will blend in nicely with the wrestlers we have coming back next year," Manning said.
Nebraska returns seven NCAA qualifiers and eight starters from last year's squad, which finished with a 12-5 dual record and in 16th place at the NCAA Championships.
Nebraska Wrestling Class of 2006
133-Matt Vacanti, Papillion, Neb. (Papillion-La Vista)
141-Casey Gubbles, Randolph, Neb. (Randolph)
149-157-Jordan Burroughs, Sicklerville,, NJ (Winslow Township)
141-Malcolm McGruder, Omaha, Neb. (Creighton Prep)
149-Curtis Salazar, Greeley, Colo. (Valley)
149-Paul Sanders, Blanding, Utah (Blanding)
165-Frank Jonas, Wichita, Kan. (Kapaun-Mt. Carmel)
165-Alex Ward, Baltimore, Md. (Mt. Saint Josephs Prep)
165-Andy Johnson, Yankton, S.D. (Yankton)
165-Stephen Dwyer, Rockton, Ill. (Hononegah)
174-Bobby Laraway, Union, N.J. (St. Benedicts Prep)
197-Nick Schaefer, Omaha, Neb. (Skutt Catholic)
197-Cameron Browne, Plattsmouth, Neb. (Plattsmouth)
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