This year marks the third time in the past five years that Ohio has the top wrestling recruit in the nation. David Taylor and Logan Stieber were the nation's top recruits in 2009 and 2010, and Bo Jordan is the nation's top recruit this year. Both Taylor and Stieber have already won NCAA wrestling championships, and Jordan will look to do the same.
This year's Ohio recruiting class is pretty deep in talent behind Jordan in fact there will be three wrestlers, including Bo Jordan, going for their fourth state title in the Buckeye State. This Ohio class has a collective total of six wrestlers in the Top 50 of InterMat's Top 100 seniors.
Bo Jordan (Photo/Kevin Schlosser)Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 160
Projected College Weight Class: 157/165
College: Ohio State (Committed)
Analysis: Bo Jordan is a once in a decade type of talent. With his strength and technical abilities, Jordan was the most coveted recruit in the nation for good reason. He has one blemish his record while at Graham coming to last year's Ohio best recruit Nate Skonieczny as a freshman. Jordan avenged that loss at the state tournament en route to his first state title. Since that loss Jordan is undefeated with many matches being lopsided. Jordan has committed to Ohio State -- a huge grab for the Buckeyes and breaks the family tradition of heading to Wisconsin. Look for big things from Jordan his senior year as he goes for his fourth state title.
2. Nathan Tomasello (Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 120
Projected College Weight Class: 125
College: Ohio State (Committed)
Analysis: Tomasello will be going for his fourth state title this year at 120 pounds. Tomasello has run off 100 straight high school victories going back to his freshman year at 103 pounds. This year he will look for a third Ironman title to go with a potential fourth state title. Tomasello has committed to the Buckeyes and projects to be at 125 pounds.
3. Dean Heil (St. Edward)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 132
Projected College Weight Class: 133
College: Oklahoma State (Committed)
Analysis: Heil looks to be come the third group to win his fourth state title in the Buckeye State. Heil will also become the fourth Eagle from St. Edward to win a fourth state title. Heil, fresh off being crowned champion at the Super 32 Challenge at 132 pounds, will look to take that momentum into the season. Heil will head out to Oklahoma State and projects to be a 133-pounder out in Stillwater for legendary coach John Smith.
4. Anthony Collica (Solon)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 145/152
Projected College Weight Class: 149/157
College: Oklahoma State (Committed)
Analysis: Anthony Collica perhaps overlooked by many spectators in Ohio and around the nation changed that this summer as he won a Junior National freestyle title in Fargo. Collica, already a two-time state champion, really cemented his name nationally over the summer with a brilliant performance in Fargo. Collica, a very funky wrestler that is often hard to score on, will take his talents to Stillwater to wrestle for the Cowboys of Oklahoma State.
Dominic Abounader (Photo/Kevin Schlosser)Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 195
Projected College Weight Class: 197
College: Michigan (Committed)
Analysis: Abounader, already a two-time state champion in the upperweights, will look to cement his legacy as one of the best that St. Edwards has ever had. A perfect blend of brute strength and quickness Abounader had an outstanding year taking second at Ironman but later revenging his only loss in a dual later in the year. Abounader will move on to Ann Arbor at the end of this year joining the long line of Eagles to become Wolverines.
6. Edgar Bright (St. Edward)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 145
Projected College Weight Class: 149
College: Pittsburgh (Committed)
Analysis: Bright comes into the season as the best wrestler in the state not to win a state title. Last year he came in as the favorite before falling to two-time state champion Joey Ward in a very close match that went to overtime. Bright looks to move up to 145 this year and should be able to win his first state title before heading off to Pitt to wrestle in college.
7. B.J. Toal (Troy Christian)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 182
Projected College Weight Class: 184
College: Missouri (Committed)
Analysis: Toal will look for his second state title this year after he was runner-up his sophomore year and winning his first title last year at 182. Toal is ranked No. 7 in the nation at his weight class and should have a strong senior year before going off to join older brother Zach at Missouri.
8. JoJo Tayse (Massillon Perry)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 195
Projected College Weight Class: 197
College: Undecided
Analysis: Last year at 195 JoJo Tayse was able to pull off the upset by knocking off rival James Suvak of St. Edward, who he was beaten by twice last year at Ironman. He was able to claw his way to a close victory. Tayse will look to do the same this year. However, with the addition of Dominic Abounader he will have a serious challenge going for his second state title at 195.
9. Brandon Thompson (Solon)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 120
Projected College Weight Class: 125
College: Undecided
Analysis: Brandon Thompson may be one of the most unheralded wrestlers in the state of Ohio. This year he will be going for his third state title. Thompson is a very difficult wrestler to score on, which should translate well to the college level. This year he projects up to the 120-pound class.
10. Josh Lehner (Lexington)
Projected 2012-2013 High School Weight Class: 195
Projected College Weight Class: 197
College: North Carolina (Committed)
Analysis: Lehner, for a heavier weight, can score points in bunches. Never was this more evident than at the state tournament where he recorded a technical fall in each of four matches. Lehner will look to do the same this year as he did last year before heading to Chapel Hill to wrestle for the Tar Heels.
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