The 2007-08 Trojan wrestling team will be made up of eight different states including nineteen individuals from Iowa. The Trojans will be represented by states such as Nebraska, Minnesota, California, Arizona, Virginia, Missouri, and Illinois. There were thirteen individual state championships won among this years group, with twelve All-American honors, three national championships, seven nationally ranked individuals and one high school All-American.
The in-state talent that will help begin the inaugural season at NIACC is very rich with experience and local ties. Nineteen individuals hail from Iowa. They consist of Seth Cooper (Keokuk), Nathan Jones (Ankeny), Jordan Bartoszek (Mason City), Tyler Eckerman (Garner), Casey Watts (La Porte City), T.J. Moen (Des Moines), Ben Riedinger (Council Bluffs), A.J. Youngblut (Raymond), Harley Godderz (Rudd), Jeff Ragan (Mitchellville), Nick Fox (Riceville), Clarence Jordan (Waterloo), Jordan Graham (Mason City), Jason Schweer (Waverly), Tylor Pilcher (Fairfield), Luke Stika (Cresco), Jadd Dithmart (Ogden), Skyler Morrison (Sioux City), and Hiram Serrano (Muscatine).
The Iowa group is highlighted by a handful of state placers and state champions. Leading this group is four-time state placer and two-time state champion T.J. Moen from Saydel High School. Moen made the finals three times winning two titles and also placing seventh as a sophomore. Moen was very successful on the national scene winning a Cadet Greco National Championship and placing third in Junior Greco in Fargo. Moen is currently the No. 12 rated senior in the country by Wrestling USA magazine and No. 7 by Intermat.
A handful of state placers from Iowa will help bring the Trojans back to national prominence. Nathan Jones, a team-mate of Moen for Saydel, placed 6th in 2007. Union High School product Casey Watts finished as a three-time state placer out of La Porte City. Don Bosco will be represented by A.J. Youngblut who finished 7th. The upper weights will be led by a couple of state runners-up in Luke Stika and Jadd Dithmart. Both placed 2nd respectively at 189. Stika for Cresco-Crestwood and Dithmart for Ogden. Hiram Serrano placed 6th at heavyweight.
Bordering state Nebraska will be well represented with two very accomplished young men. Leading the way will be three-time undefeated state champion DaVaughn Perkins. Perkins comes to NIACC from Omaha North High School where he went 86-0 with three titles. Perkins also claimed a Cadet National Championship and All-American honors in Fargo, most recently placing third in Junior Greco-Roman. Perkins is the No. 6 rated senior in the nation as rated by Wrestling USA magazine, No. 10 by Intermat and is a Top 100 recruit. Lastly from the Cornhusker state is Jerald Parker of Lincoln Northstar High School. Parker was a two-time state placer, finishing as the state runner-up in 2007.
Arizona will also be providing a quad of student-athletes for NIACC's new program. All four come from Camp Verde High School, a powerhouse in Arizona that is always loaded with talent. 2x state placer and heavyweight state champion Beau Tudor will make his way to Iowa to continue his academic and athletic career. Tudor won the 2007 state championship while placing third in 2006. Brothers and former team-mates of Tudor's are Aaron and Tyler Hancock. Aaron claimed two state titles for Camp Verde and was ranked No. 21 in the nation in 2005 by Wrestling USA magazine. Tyler was a two-time state placer finishing fourth and sixth. Rounding the Camp Verde clan is 2007 state runner-up, Preston Brogdon.
Just north of Iowa is Minnesota which will provide NIACC with two very talented young student-athletes. Out of Burnsville is David Bjorkstrand. Bjorkstrand was a two-time Minnesota state placer, finishing third and fifth respectively. Bjorkstrand was also successful on the national scene claiming All-American honors on both the Cadet and Junior level in Fargo finishing sixth twice. Heavyweight state runner-up Jacob Schotanus from Southland High School will look to make an impact at heavyweight.
Six other states each have one individual that will join the Trojans. Leading this group is arguably the top recruit in the country in Albert White. White hails from Harvey, IL where he claimed four Illinois state championships for St. Rita High School. White also claimed the 2006 Junior National Freestyle title in Fargo. White is currently the No. 1 rated senior in the country by Wrestling USA magazine, No. 2 by Intermat, No. 1 by Amateur Wrestling News, No. 1 by W.I.N. magazine and the No. 3 recruit in the nation by Intermat.
The east coast will provide one student-athlete from a storied program. Timothy Hill comes to Iowa from nationally ranked Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, VA. Tim was a Virginia state qualifier and placed 6th at the Iron Man Tournament.
Cody Hogan comes to Iowa from Richmond, MO where he was a four-time state placer finishing his senior year as a state champion and finishing third twice and second as a freshman. Hogan also finished as a high school senior All-American placing 5th at NHSCA Senior Nationals in Virginia Beach in 2007. Hogan is currently ranked No. 8 by Wrestling USA magazine and No. 7 by Intermat.
Rounding out the class will be two transfers that could make an immediate impact for the Trojans. These two young men all competed in college for another program and will get back on track at NIACC. Head Coach Richard Fergola comes to NIACC from Dana College. Glenn Rhees wrestled for Dana College in 2005 and will be making his way back into college wrestling at NIACC. Rhees was highly decorated as a prep placing fourth in the California state championships and claimed three Junior Greco All-American honors in Fargo. As a red-shirt at Dana College, Rhees placed second at the prestigious Kaufman-Brand Open at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Jordan Graham who is originally from Mason City, was a starter for powerhouse Wartburg, before coming back to Mason City.
"NIACC and my coaching staff did an absolutely wonderful job in the recruitment of these student-athletes," said Fergola. I am very excited about our first year at NIACC and the opportunity to coach such an elite level group."
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