The 15 newcomers hail from eight different states and two countries including South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Germany. The group has tallied 14 state titles, 31 state placers and four participants at prep nationals, including two placers.
"I feel like as though we have a great class coming in this year," said Bulldogs Head Coach Rob Hjerling, entering his 13th season as the head of The Citadel Wrestling program. "Several of the incoming wrestlers will be able to compete immediately and I feel as though we addressed our recruiting needs in a big way."
2011-2012 Additions
Weston Beck brings three state titles along with a runner-up title to The Citadel from Rock Hill High School at the 4A South Carolina state level at 130 pounds. Beck is a four-time state finalist, three-time team MVP and was the Male Athlete of the Year at his high school to go along with an impressive career record of 235-9. He also earned Most Outstanding Wrestler in the state of South Carolina at the 4A level.
Vincent Bellaran is one of three New Jersey products in this year's class as he comes down from St. Benedict's Prep and was teammates with incoming freshman Chris Dowdy and current Bulldog Turotogtokh Luvsandorj. Bellaran participated in prep nationals and finished with an overall high school record of 101-35 at 171 pounds.
Zachary Bennett comes from Franklin High School in Tennessee as a two-time state placer in Tennessee at 152 pounds.
Francis Boykin is a local product out of Hanahan High School where he was a state champion his senior year and also placed third in the state in South Carolina at 135 pounds. He was named outstanding wrestling in South Carolina at the 2A level his senior season.
Kyle Casaletto heads south from Southern Regional High School in New Jersey where he was a three-time placer in the state championships and finished runner-up on two occasions at 112 pounds and at 125 pounds. He finished with a career record of 123-17 and was named the team MVP three times along with all-district and all-region on three separate occasions.
Will Connell comes in as a three-time state finalist at Lugoff-Elgin High School as he won the state title twice and finished as a runner-up a third time at 171 pounds in South Carolina.
Matt Devine enters out of Sumter High School where he was a state champion his senior year and also a state qualifier in his high school career in South Carolina at 140 pounds.
Chris Dowdy is a three-time prep school All-American out of St. Benedict's Prep in New Jersey, the same school that reigning SoCon Wrestler of the Year Turtogtokh Luvsandorj attended. Dowdy recorded a record of 144-42 in high school at 140 pounds and lettered all four years. He was a three-time prep national placer and a prep national finalist.
Marshal Haas is an overseas transplant coming from Patch American High School in Germany after placing first and second in Europe at 189 pounds.
Jared Hemmings is a two-time state placer, including a runner-up finish, at Greater Christian Academy in Georgia at the 2A level at 171 pounds.
Aaron Hensen is another local product out of Summerville High School who is a four-time state champion at 125 pounds and finished second at NHSCA. His team won the 2007 state title while he was named the most outstanding wrestler at the 4A level and most outstanding wrestler in the state of South Carolina. Hensen compiled a career record of 154-11.
Charles Holt won a state title and also finished runner-up in 3-A at Myrtle Beach High School at 140 pounds in South Carolina.
Sam McCauley is coming off a state title at Croatan High School in North Carolina at 140 pounds. He also placed fifth in the state earlier in his career.
Jared Michael heads south from North Myrtle Beach High School where he was a two-time state placer and a state finalist his junior year in South Carolina at 189 pounds and at the 3-A level.
Thomas Philbrick comes to The Citadel out of Loudon County High School in Virginia where he placed fifth in the state at 135 pounds.
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