Nathan Tomasello was the nation's No. 15 recruit in 2013 (Photos/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)The 2017-18 collegiate wrestling season came to its conclusion this past weekend with the completion of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Cleveland. The seniors competing in that tournament were mostly fifth-year seniors, so that means in most cases they graduated high school in 2013. An interesting discussion to have is one about the overall careers of the graduated wrestlers.
Another perpetual question is if those that come into college as the best prospects perform the best in college. There's also the conversation about those that grow, develop, and thrive through their college careers from both highly touted prep prospects and being lesser touted entering college.
Below are the top 25 NCAA Division I collegiate careers for wrestlers that graduated high school in 2013.
1. J'den Cox (Missouri)
Rank in 2013: No. 6
Accomplishments: Four-time All-American (without a redshirt year), three-time NCAA champion (2014, 2016, 2017); also 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and 2017 world bronze medalist
2. Zain Retherford (Penn State)
Rank in 2013: No. 3
Accomplishments: Four-time All-American (redshirt came after true freshman season), three-time NCAA champion (2016-2018); also 2017 world team member, 2017 Hodge Trophy winner (favorite for 2018 Hodge as well)
3. Isaiah Martinez (Illinois)
Rank in 2013: No. 5
Accomplishments: Four-time All-American/finalist, two-time NCAA champion (2014, 2015)
4. Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State)
Rank in 2013: No. 15
Accomplishments: Four-time All-American, 2015 NCAA champion
5. Bo Jordan (Ohio State)
Rank in 2013: No. 1
Accomplishments: Four-time All-American, 2017 NCAA runner-up
6. Dean Heil (Oklahoma State)
Rank in 2013: No. 17
Four-time NCAA qualifier, three-time All-American, two-time NCAA champion (2016, 2017); round of 12 in 2018
7. Adam Coon (Michigan)
Rank in 2013: No. 2
Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, three-time All-American, two-time NCAA runner-up (2015, 2018); round of 12 as true freshman in 2014
8. Brandon Sorensen (Iowa)
Rank in 2013: No. 62
Accomplishments: Four-time All-American, 2016 NCAA runner-up
9. Darian Cruz (Lehigh)
Rank in 2013: No. 50
Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, three-time All-American, 2017 NCAA champion; round of 12 in 2016, redshirt year was in 2015
10. Jared Haught (Virginia Tech)
Rank in 2013: No. 68
Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, three-time All-American, 2018 NCAA runner-up
11. Anthony Ashnault (Rutgers)
Rank in 2013: No. 7
Accomplishments: Three-time All-American, injured this past season and seeking a 6th year of eligibility
12. Joey Dance (Virginia Tech)
Rank in 2013: No. 8
Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American (did not redshirt); round of 12 in 2015
13. Amar Dhesi (Oregon State)
Rank in 2013: From Canada
Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American
14. Zach Epperly (Virginia Tech)
Rank in 2013: No. 26
Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American; round of 12 in 2017, did not utilize fifth year senior eligibility
15. Chad Walsh (Rider)
Rank in 2013: No. 91
Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American; round of 12 in 2018
16. Anthony Collica (Oklahoma State)
Rank in 2013: No. 20
Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, 2016 All-American (did not redshirt); round of 12 in 2015
17. Joey Lavallee (Missouri)
Rank in 2013: No. 73
Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, 2017 NCAA runner-up; round of 12 in 2014 as a true freshman and 2018
18. Peter Renda (North Carolina State)
Rank in 2013: No. 54
Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, 2016 All-American; round of 12 in 2018, redshirt year came in 2017
19. Jacob Kasper (Duke)
Rank in 2013: Not ranked
Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American
20. Domenic Abounader (Michigan)
Rank in 2013: No. 11
Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, 2018 All-American; round of 12 in 2016, redshirt year came in 2017
21. Brett Harner (Princeton)
Rank in 2013: No. 45
Accomplishments:Three-time NCAA qualifier, 2016 All-American (did not redshirt)
22. Michael Macchiavello (North Carolina State)
Rank in 2013: Not ranked
Accomplishments: Two-time NCAA qualifier, 2018 NCAA champion; round of 12 in 2017, redshirt year came in 2016
23. B.J. Clagon (Rider)
Rank in 2013: No. 10
Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, 2015 All-American; round of 12 in 2017, injured this past season
24. Ethan Ramos (North Carolina State)
Rank in 2013: No. 93
Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, 2015 All-American
25. Ronnie Bresser (Oregon State)
Rank in 2013: No. 76
Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, 2018 All-American; round of 12 in 2016
Honorable Mention
Jadaen Bernstein (Navy)
Rank in 2013: Weight class only
Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, round of 12 in 2017 and 2018
Nathan Butler (Stanford)
Rank in 2013: No. 64
Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, round of 12 in 2018
Scott DelVecchio (Rutgers)
Rank in 2013: No. 73
Accomplishments: Two-time NCAA qualifier, 2018 All-American, redshirt year came in 2016
Troy Heilmann (North Carolina)
Rank in 2013: No. 48
Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, 2018 All-American, redshirt year came in 2016
Mike Hughes (Hofstra)
Rank in 2013: Weight class only
Accomplishments: Two-time NCAA qualifier, 2018 All-American, redshirt year came in 2017
Matt McCutcheon (Penn State)
Rank in 2013: No. 49
Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, round of 12 in 2015 and 2017, injured this past season
Ronnie Perry (Lock Haven)
Rank in 2013: Not ranked
Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, 2018 NCAA runner-up
Clayton Ream (North Dakota State)
Rank in 2013: No. 59
Accomplishments: Four-time NCAA qualifier, three-time Elite 90 winner (2016-2018)
Connor Schram (Stanford)
Rank in 2013: No. 24
Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, 2016 All-American, injured this past season
Nick Wanzek (Minnesota)
Rank in 2013: No. 22
Accomplishments: Three-time NCAA qualifier, round of 12 in 2017 and 2018
For reference purposes, below were the final top 100 Class of 2013 wrestler rankings:
1. Bo Jordan (Graham, Ohio)
2. Adam Coon (Fowlerville, Michigan)
3. Zain Retherford (Benton, Pennsylvania)
4. Ben Whitford (St. Johns, Michigan)
5. Isaiah Martinez (Lemoore, California)
6. J'Den Cox (Hickman, Missouri)
7. Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield, New Jersey)
8. Joey Dance (Christiansburg, Virginia)
9. Oliver Pierce (Allen, Texas)
10. Bryant Clagon (Toms River South, New Jersey)
11. Domenic Abounader (St. Edward, Ohio)
12. Brooks Black (Blair Academy, New Jersey)
13. Zach Beard (Tuttle, Oklahoma)
14. Cody Wiercioch (Canon McMillan, Pennsylvania)
15. Nathan Tomasello (CVCA, Ohio)
16. Eric Morris (Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania)
17. Dean Heil (St. Edward, Ohio)
18. Russ Parsons (Blair Academy, New Jersey)
19. Brandon Jeske (Cox, Virginia)
20. Anthony Collica (Solon, Ohio)
21. Ryan Solomon (Milton, Pennsylvania)
22. Nick Wanzek (Simley, Minnesota)
23. Mikey Racciato (Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania)
24. Connor Schram (Canon-McMillan, Pennsylvania)
25. Kyle Langendorfer (Lincoln Way East, Illinois)
26. Zach Epperly (Christiansburg, Virginia)
27. Brian Murphy (Glenbard North, Illinois)
28. Austin Matthews (Reynolds, Pennsylvania)
29. Frank Mattiace (Blair Academy, New Jersey)
30. Jake Short (Simley, Minnesota)
31. Mitch Sliga (Fishers, Indiana)
32. Aaron Bradley (Nazareth, Pennsylvania)
33. Ricky Robertson (Carl Sandburg, Illinois)
34. Mitch Bengtson (St Cloud Apollo, Minnesota)
35. Ryan Diehl (Trinity, Pennsylvania)
36. Spencer Empey (Reed, Nevada)
37. Brooks Climmons (Pope, Georgia)
38. Neal Molloy (Danville, Indiana)
39. Dalton Brady (Chandler, Arizona)
40. Ray O'Donnell (Saucon Valley, Pennsylvania)
41. Garrett Krohn (Arvada, Colorado)
42. Kevin Norstrem (Brandon, Florida)
43. Jacob Taylor (Bald Eagle Area, Pennsylvania)
44. Tyson Dippery (Central Dauphin, Pennsylvania)
45. Brett Harner (Norristown, Pennsylvania)
46. Preston Lehmann (West Fargo, North Dakota)
47. Jake Hart (Hampton, Pennsylvania)
48. Troy Heilmann (South Plainfield, New Jersey)
49. Matt McCutcheon (Kiski Area, Pennsylvania)
50. Darian Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic, Pennsylvania)
51. Edgar Bright (St. Edward, Ohio)
52. Jordan Ellingwood (Plainfield Central, Illinois)
53. Cole Johnson (De Soto, Wisconsin)
54. Pete Renda (Brandywine Heights, Pennsylvania)
55. Broc Berge (Kasson-Mantorville, Minnesota)
56. Tyler Askey (Northgate, Georgia)
57. T.J. Miller (Camden Catholic, New Jersey)
58. Adam Reth (West Delaware Manchester, Iowa)
59. Clayton Ream (Holt, Missouri)
60. Markus Scheidel (St. Edward, Ohio)
61. Brad Perkins (Oak Park, Missouri)
62. Brandon Sorensen (Denver-Tripoli, Iowa)
63. Jacob Schmitt (St. Johns, Michigan)
64. Nathan Butler (Leavenworth, Kansas)
65. Jake Marlin (Creston, Iowa)
66. Zach Zupan (Canastota, New York)
67. Christian Pagdilao (Santiago Corona, California)
68. Jared Haught (Parkersburg, West Virginia)
69. Jonas Gayton (Clovis, California)
70. Garrett Hammond (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania)
71. Jake Velarde (North Kitsap, Washington)
72. Joey Lavallee (Reno, Nevada)
73. Scott DelVecchio (South Plainfield, New Jersey)
74. Barlow McGhee (Rock Island, Illinois)
75. Nick Kee (Scotland, North Carolina)
76. Ronnie Bresser (Henley, Oregon)
77. Peter Santos (Oakmont, California)
78. Cain Salas (Blue Springs, Missouri)
79. Parker Vonegidy (Piedmont, North Carolina)
80. Chet Spears (Sheldon, Oregon)
81. Dennis Gustafson (Forest Park, Virginia)
82. Kaleb Baker (Christian Brothers, Tennessee)
83. Javier Gasca (Kingsburg, California)
84. Chris Vassar (Cedar Cliff, Pennsylvania)
85. Wayne Stinson (Northern Highlands, New Jersey)
86. Darick Lapaglia (Blue Springs, Missouri)
87. Colin Holler (Carl Sandburg, Illinois)
88. Noah Forrider (Marysville, Ohio)
89. Luke Wilson (Righetti, California)
90. T.J. Fabian (Shoreham-Wading River, New York)
91. Chad Walsh (Camden Catholic, New Jersey)
92. B.J. Toal (Troy Christian, Ohio)
93. Ethan Ramos (Hawthorne, New Jersey)
94. Mech Spraggins (Belleville West, Illinois)
95. Cody Crawford (Cascade, Oregon)
96. Lawrence Otero (Volcano Vista, New Mexico)
97. Justin Arthur (Huntington, West Virginia)
98. Payne Hayden (St. Johns, Michigan)
99. Jed Mellen (Payson, Utah)
100. Andrew Atkinson (Liberty Christian Academy, Virginia)
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