This group, ranked the 19th-best recruiting class by pre-eminent wrestling news source InterMat, has won a combined eight state championships in high school, earning titles in Ohio, Oklahoma, New York, Massachusetts and Alabama.
Five of the wrestlers are ranked in the top-30 nationally in their respective weight classes, including one, Kyle Cowan, who is ranked No. 1 at 215 pounds. Cowan finished his high school career 125-0 over three varsity seasons in Oklahoma with three state championships.
“We are excited to add these eight quality individuals to our program,” Eiter said. “They have all worked tremendously hard both on the mat and in the classroom to give themselves an opportunity to compete for the University of Pennsylvania. They have all had high levels of success both at the state and national levels. We look forward to them continuing that progression while at Penn.”
Projected 174/184 pounder Zach Agostino comes to Penn from Egg Harbor Township, N.J. where he competed at 171 pounds. He is a three-time District 32 champion and the 2009 Region 8 champion for Egg Harbor Township High School. This past season, Agostino finished sixth at the New Jersey State Championships and ended the season ranked 30th at 171 pounds.
Trenton, N.J. product Canaan Bethea finished second in New Jersey at 171 pounds this season for Trenton Central and earned a No. 12 ranking at that weight nationally from InterMat. Bethea finished 32-1 in his senior season and 134-14 for his career. Those 134 wins set a record in his county for a public school wrestler. Along the way, Bethea became just the third wrestler in Mercer County history to win four county tournaments. He was a three-time District 25 champion and won the Region 7 title in 2010. Recently, Bethea placed fifth at High School Nationals.
Making the trek to Philadelphia from Spain Park High School in Alabama is 2010 Alabama state champion at 135 pounds, Geoffrey Bostany. In 2009, Bostany was runner-up at the state championships. He projects to slot in at 125 for the Quakers after a senior season that saw him finish with a 50-3 record.
Kyle Cowan, a Tulsa, Okla. native, was the No. 1-ranked high school wrestler at 215 pounds in the nation this past year according to InterMat, and the 24th-ranked recruit in any weight class. He earned that distinction with his third-consecutive undefeated season at 215 pounds, finishing with a third Oklahoma state title after a 41-0 season for Cascia Hall Prep. His three-year record in varsity competition was 125-0. He is projected to compete at heavyweight for the Quakers.
Another upperweight wrestler joining the Quakers is Steven Graziano from Syosset (N.Y.) High SchooL. A district placewinner in the Empire State, Graziano placed sixth at the prestigious Super 32 tournament at 215 pounds, defeating the fifth-ranked wrestler in the country along the way. He is projected to compete at either 197 or heavyweight for the Red and Blue. Throughout his career at Syosset, Graziano had his hand raised at the end of a bout 105 times.
Also joining the Quakers in the fall of 2010 will be Buchanon, N.Y. native Andrew Lenzi. The fourth-ranked 135-pounder in the high school ranks at the end of the season (and third senior), Lenzi is the 65th-ranked recruit across all weights according to InterMat. While at Fordham Prep, Lenzi won two state championships, in the process becoming the first Catholic League grappler in New York history to win multiple state championships. This past spring, he claimed his second title with a win over the wrestler who holds New York’s record for most wins in a career. Lenzi finished his high school career with a 167-15 record and projects to start his career at 141 pounds for the Red and Blue.
A Needham, Mass. native, Jordan Michelson is another state champion headed to Penn in the fall of 2010. He won the Massachusetts crown at 140 pounds in 2010 with an undefeated 50-0 campaign. He followed that up with a win at the New England Championships and a 4-2 record at Senior Nationals. The Needham High School product had 133 wins over his varsity career.
Another state champion making his way to University City is Brad Wukie from Ohio. The University School product won a Division II state championship at 160 pounds this year and projects to 165 pounds when he takes the mats for Penn in the fall. He ended the season ranked 16th in the country at 160 pounds by InterMat. Over his career at the University School, Wukie finished second, fourth and fifth at the state championships to go with his title, and compiled a record of 143-28. In 2009, Wukie finished third in the Freshman/Sophomore bracket at the Michigan State Open, competing against – and defeating – wrestlers already in college.
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