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    Wildmo gives verbal to Michigan State

    Two-time state champ Roger Wildmo of Durand (Michigan) had a tough decision to make with three big-time wrestling programs knocking on his door this summer, but in the end Wildmo chose to stay close to home and stay in his comfort zone with coach Tom Minkel and Michigan State University.

    Roger Wildmo (Photo/MichiganGrappler.com)
    "I chose Michigan State because I have been training there since middle school and I have always wanted to be a Spartan," said Wildmo in a phone interview. "I am really looking forward to working with coach Minkel and wrestling for his team."

    Wildmo is currently ranked by InterMat as the No. 34 pound-for-pound recruit senior recruit the country, the highest ranked Michigan recruit by InterMat right now. He is arguably the biggest in-state pickup for the Spartans in recent years, and he steps into a program that has had a great deal of success from 133 through 149 the past couple of years.

    "I look forward to working with Chris (Williams) and Roger (Chandler), I think they will help me get better and continue to learn and improve," said Wildmo regarding the Spartan assistant coaches. "Seeing some of the wrestlers who have had success there with them makes me confident that they will be able to help me."

    Wildmo, who finished third at the FloNationals last year and eighth at the 2009 Super 32 Challenge, is projected to wrestle at 149 in college. He says the plan is to redshirt his first year, which will allow for NCAA qualifier David Cheza to finish up his senior season next year and Wildmo to slide right in for State in the 2012-13 season.

    "I plan on redshirting to start, but I like setting my goals high," said Wildmo. "I want to win an NCAA and Big Ten title, but my main goal is to at least be an All-American for Michigan State."

    Wildmo will join a Spartan team that has been towards the bottom of the Big Ten conference the past few years, but he says that he is confident they have what it takes to become a top-tier Big Ten program in the near future.

    "I think the program is picking up and I would like to be a part of helping MSU move forward towards the top. It will be cool getting to wrestle with Danny (Osterman) and a couple other guys I have known for a while," said Wildmo. "I have a good work ethic and I like to make my partners better, so I hope that MSU can get more people like me to build a good room and a good team."

    Wildmo had narrowed his college choices down to three big time programs before deciding to commit with Michigan State.

    "I had narrowed it down to State, CMU, and Indiana. They were all close in my mind but my relationship with the coaches and the program at Michigan State, as well it being so close to home is what made me choose to go there."

    Wildmo, the No. 4 recruit in Michigan Grappler's recruiting rankings, was the No. 1 recruit in our Spring recruiting rankings and appears to be built for college wrestling. He is tough on top and has proven to be competitive with nation's best middleweights.

    This year he will be a huge favorite to win his third state title after dominating everyone in Division 3 at 140 pounds last year, however he also plans on getting some more national competition in as the Grappler Fall Classic (Oct 16 in Tecumseh, MI) and the Super 32 Challenge (Oct. 31 in Greensboro, NC) are also on the docket for him this fall.

    Wildmo is the fourth member of Michigan's Class of 2011 to commit as Conor Youtsey committed to the US Military Academy a week ago and Devin Pommerenke (CMU) and Cam Jackson (Michigan) committed earlier this summer as well.

    InterMat was granted permission to republish this article from MichiganGrappler.com.
    http://michigangrappler.com/files/High_School/HS1011/wildmo_michiganstate.html

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