InterMat Staff

Whittemore-Prescott

St. Mary's Catholic Central

Manton

After spending 11 years on the Central Michigan coaching staff and five years as a wrestler, Ben Bennett has gotten the call to replace the legendary Tom Borrelli as the Central Michigan's next head coach. Bennett was one of the best wrestlers in CMU history, winning four MAC titles and becoming the program's first four-time All-American. Bennett sits down with Kevin Claunch to discuss his new role, when it came to be, what he learned from Coach Borrelli, what's special about Mount Pleasant and much more: For the full interview:

An already strong Oklahoma Class of 2025 got even stronger, literally and figuratively, with Saturday morning’s verbal commitment from #40 Austin Johnson (Muncy, PA). Johnson is a three-time Pennsylvania state finalist and one-time champion (2023) competing between 215 and 285 lbs. He pulled the rare feat of making the Pennsylvania AA state finals as a freshman at 285 lbs, but has competed in the postseason at 215 lbs in the two years that have followed. For his career, Johnson is 111-4. Outside of Pennsylvania, Johnson placed in both styles in Fargo in 2021, at the 16U age division, taking fourth in freestyle and making the Greco-Roman finals at 220 lbs. A year later, he was sixth in UWW Cadet freestyle at 92 kg. During the high school regular season, Johnson has made the Powerade finals in each of the last two years. He won the tournament in 2022 and was a runner-up to Jude Correa (Wyoming Seminary/Michigan) this season. In addition to his ranking within the Class of 2025, Johnson is also currently ninth in the nation via MatScouts final rankings 215 lbs. Five of the nine wrestlers above him are seniors. Johnson’s commitment gives Oklahoma five top-100 recruits for the Class of 2025 and three in the top-50. He’ll join #22 Jake Hockaday (IN), #35 Bryce Burkett (MN), #53 Sebastian DeGennaro (FL), and #76 Anthony Harris (NJ) in Roger Kish’s second full recruiting class. Oklahoma’s 2024 recruiting class is massive and features good prospects at about every single weight. Heavyweight is one of the many weights that were addressed. That being said, the Oklahoma staff is in the process of revamping the entire roster and needs high-impact wrestlers at almost every weight. So, there may be a quality prospect or two ahead of Johnson in the Sooner room, but that’s also to be expected. You can assume Oklahoma’s Class of 2024 will be prominently featured in InterMat’s Class of 2024 recruiting rankings, as well. For Oklahoma’s current Class of 2025 Click Here

Muncy

Grand Junction Central

MonDak via Minot State

Coolidge

Vista Peak

Earlier this week, Virginia Tech head coach Tony Robie announced the latest edition to his coaching staff. He added Zach Tanelli, formerly the head coach at Columbia, to come aboard as an Associate Head Coach. Tanelli just wrapped up a season in which his team produced a pair of EIWA champions and his first individual All-American, Lennox Wolak. Coincidentally, Wolak is also headed to Virginia Tech as a graduate transfer. A few days after it was all official, Tanelli joined our Robbie Wendell to discuss the rationale for this move, his accomplishments at Columbia, the potential that Virginia Tech holds, his relationship with the existing staff, Carhartt vests.....and much more! For the full interview:

Washington

Mason City

Racoon River-Northwest

Tascosa

Lathrop

Washington

Shawnee Mission West

West Marshall

Deer Valley

Waianae

Warden

Cadott

Gallatin

Tawas Area