Wrestling Brings in 16-Member Recruiting Class
7/26/2013 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
BUFFALO, NY - With at least one newcomer at every weight class, the 2013 wrestling recruiting class has covered all the bases for first-year head coach John Stutzman. In the mix for the upcoming season will be a group of Division I transfers, and high school standouts from five different states.
Stutzman describes the class of 16 wrestlers as crucial pieces of the team's future.
"These guys want to be here and build a foundation for future success," Stutzman said about his incoming recruits. "They want to put UB back on the map and make us a contender. We want to compete in the MAC and become a consistent top-20 team. That's what this class is all about."
125 - Corey Hollister comes to Buffalo from Perry High School, where he was a three-time New York state qualifier and a place winner for wrestling, but also competed in football and track. Also an outstanding student who was a member of National Honor Society, he will major in pre-med.
141 – Nick Flannery has transferred to Buffalo after three seasons with Cleveland State. Though he grew up in Framingham, MA, he was born in Buffalo and still has ties to the area. He won 20 matches as a sophomore and is coming off a 13 win season in 2013. In his second season, he tied a school record with six pins in dual meet competition.
"He's been here training and taking classes, and he could potentially be our guy at 141," Stutzman said. "He has all the tools, and I've coached against him while at Bloomsburg and I've seen the talent that he has."
149 – Ryan Todora originally committed to Bloomsburg to wrestle for Stutzman, and now follows him to Buffalo. He was a star performer at Pennsylvania powerhouse program Bethlehem Catholic, where he won over 100 career matches. Competing in one of the deepest states in the country when it comes to wrestling, he was a three-time state qualifier and a two-time placewinner.
"We're expecting him to come in and compete for the starting job right away," Stutzman said. "He knows how to win – he's been winning his whole life – and we expect him to perform at a high level."
157 – Jake Campana will add depth to the 157 pound weight class, coming to UB from Southern Regional High School in New Jersey. With the team needing depth in the middle weights, Stutzman projects him to be a valuable and versatile member in the wrestling room.
165 – With Mark Lewandowski no longer locking down the starting spot, a trio of newcomers will compete for a wide-open position. Tyler Rill redshirted last year while at Bloomsburg, but will transfer to Buffalo and start out as the favorite for major time. He was a Maryland state champion in 2011, and had a 117-34 career record in high school. As a true freshman, he redshirted with 12 wins in unattached competition.
Andrew "AJ" Voelker comes from Monroe Woodbury high school, just south of Newburgh, NY. Another incoming recruit with over 100 career wins to his name, Voelker finished fourth in the 2013 New York state tournament. He was a Section IX champion, and plans on competing for a starting spot at UB.
Alex Francik is the third member of the class at 165. Coming from Vestal, NY, he won 38 matches with 18 pins and just five decisions against him in 2012-13. That followed an equally strong junior season, when he won 34 matches (24 by fall) and lost twice all season.
174 – Rrok Ndokaj is another Bloomsburg transfer who will stick with Stutzman in the new position. He also came off a redshirt season, winning 12 matches unattached with six bonus-point wins among them. A Staten Island native, he was an All-State performer and place winner who won 106 career matches for Monsignor Farrell high school.
Austin Weigel is another Section IX standout who will join the Bulls for 2013-14. A product of Onteora High School and the Journeymen Wrestling Club, he won 38 matches as a junior, and won his 100 career match as a senior this past December en route to a Mid-Hudson Wrestling Tournament title. His raw ability will allow him to grow into perhaps a large weight class, but he will begin at 174.
184 – Joe Ariola was a late commit to UB, coming from Oak Park River Forest high school in Illinois, but he may be one of the biggest impacts to the team in the upcoming season. Ranked in the top 20 at 182 pounds by Intermat and Amateur Wrestling News, Ariola was a state champion and will battle returning starter Tony Lock for the starting position.
"We're excited about his addition," Stutzman said, "and after watching him and talking to him we think he can be pretty good pretty quick."
197 – Mike Silvis is another Bloomsburg prospect who has committed to Buffalo. Hailing from Holley, NY, Silvis wrestled at 220 pounds in high school but will eventually compete at 197 in college. He was a two-time state qualifier and place winner, with a fifth place finish and third place finish over the final two years of high school. Additionally, he won over 150 career matches.
James Benjamin will join his former Vestal teammate Francik with the Bulls this season, also competing at 197 pounds. He brings with him an impressive winning pedigree, losing only five times over the final two years of high prep career. As a junior, he went 38-3 with 32 wins by fall, and he went 37-2 with 26 more pins as a senior.
Heavyweight – With depth at heavyweight such a concern for the past few seasons at Buffalo, Stutzman attempted to remedy that with two incoming freshman who will fight for the starting role. Carmine Goldsack comes from New Jersey power program Bergen Catholic, where he was a state place winner.
Anthony Tufaro is a fellow Garden State grappler, coming from Scotchplains-Fanwood High School. Already a mammoth presence at 280 pounds, Tufaro joined Goldsack in the quarterfinal round of the New Jersey state tournament, where they both would bow out.
The team will announce an exciting 2013-14 schedule next week.
