June 10, 2006

ODU wrestling class again ranked among nation's top 10

By: KYLE TUCKER

NORFOLK - With one junior college national champion and five prep wrestlers ranked among the top 12 in the country at their weight class, there was no question Old Dominion coach Steve Martin had another stellar recruiting class.

But this week brought further validation.

National wrestling media outlets W.I.N. Magazine and Intermat both released their national team recruiting rankings, and for the second straight season, ODU is in the top 10. W.I.N. has the Monarchs' class rated eighth in the country. Intermat has Martin's bunch at No. 10.

"It's huge," Martin said, "especially if you look at the other teams."

On Intermat's list, seven of the nine schools ranked ahead of ODU finished in the top 10 at the NCAA championships. The Monarchs' class is rated ahead of top-10 NCAA finishers Iowa and Michigan.

On W.I.N.'s list, all seven of the teams ranked ahead of ODU were top-16 at the NCAAs, and the Monarchs' class rates ahead of Michigan, Oklahoma, Iowa, Iowa State and Cornell - all top-15 finishers at the NCAA championships this year.

"We're in there with the Big Ten and Big 12," Martin said. "We're ahead of some of the best. Those are big names. It's going to make recruiting a little easier next year."

Should the Monarchs manage a third consecutive top-10 class in 2007, Martin said, his plan to bring ODU into the nation's elite will be under way .

Martin has stocked the team with 26 prospects in the past two recruiting classes.

This year's group is headlined by JUCO national champion Matt Collum, along with state high school champs from Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Kansas and Virginia, as well as place-winners from Illinois, Florida and New Jersey.