April 30, 2006

Recruiting class puts ODU among mat elite

By: KYLE TUCKER

NORFOLK - For the second year in a row, Old Dominion has hauled in at least a dozen wrestling recruits. And like last year's 14-man class, the 2006 bunch looks like it will rank among the top 10 nationally.

Among the 26 athletes inked by Steve Martin in his first two years as ODU's coach are quite a few highly regarded youngsters.

This year's group includes a junior college national champion and state champs from Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Kansas and Virginia - along with place-winners from Illinois, Florida and New Jersey.

With all that talent, Martin - a former NCAA All-American at Iowa and winner of 13 Group AAA state titles as Great Bridge High's coach - knows it's time to start producing.

"Next year, the expectations are going to rise considerably," Martin said. "And two years down the road, when guys from both these classes are in the lineup, that's when the tale's really going to be told. That's when we'll do some damage."

Martin's newest crew boasts five wrestlers rated among the top 12 in the country at their weight class, according to Intermat's final senior class rankings. Only national champion Oklahoma State had more.

"Basically, the big difference between last year's class and this year is we beat out some of the Big Ten, Big 12 schools," Martin said. "We couldn't do that before. Everyone knows us now. Before it was 'OD-Who?' and 'Are you Division I?' Now we're starting to stockpile blue-chippers, where we almost have two quality kids at every weight.

"Next year, instead of recruiting a bunch of people, we can focus on three or four really, really good guys."

Sixth-ranked James Nicholson (119) of Iowa is statistically the star of the group. But eighth-ranked Jesse Strawn, a four-time Kansas finalist and two-time champ, along with 11th-ranked Matthew Edmondson, a four-time Georgia place-winner and two-time champ, should bolster the upper weights. Both were 189-pounders in high school.

Ninth-ranked Billy Chamberlain, a 119-pound Pennsylvania state champ, and 10th-ranked Kyle Hutter (125) from Illinois, should solidify the Monarchs' lower weights.

Matt Collum can take care of the middle. The former Iowa Central star comes aboard after winning the 157-pound JUCO national title. Martin expects him to contribute quickly.

"We finally got the big fish we've been missing," Martin said. "He can step right in and make some noise. He'll be an All-American."

The Monarchs were runners-up in last season's CAA tournament and qualified four for the NCAA tournament. Martin's goals are to start running away with the conference crown and begin producing NCAA All-Americans and, eventually, national champs.

These last two recruiting classes may see that come to fruition.

"Strawn, he'll definitely be an All-American," Martin said. "He has potential to be a national champ."