May 14, 2008

ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio wrestling head coach Joel Greenlee has inked the 23^rd best recruiting class in the nation according to Rob Sherrill at W.I.N. Magazine. Greenlee added five more wrestlers to the four already committed during the early signing period. This builds on Greenlee's fantastic recruiting in the past two years, with last season's class being ranked No. 17 in the country.

One of the five incoming wrestlers is a transfer from Hofstra, Tyler Mashkow. The freshman compiled a record of 9-4 at 125 pounds last season for the Pride. A native of Islip, N.Y., Mashkow was a three-time state placer in high school, winning the state meet as a junior and earning high school All-American honors.

Also joining Mashkow are four incoming freshmen, all from the state of Ohio.

Josh Speelman wrestled at Madison Comprehensive High School in Mansfield, Ohio, earning Fargo Cadet All-American honors. He is a three-time state placer, second as a senior, fourth as a sophomore and eighth as a junior. Speelman earned a special mention at 135 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine after posting a record of 162-21 in his high school career. He will compete at 133 or 141 for the Bobcats.

Zach Nelson posted a record of 165-22 at Madison Plains High School in Mt. Sterling, Ohio. He is a four-time state placer, taking second as a senior, fourth as a junior, winning the state title his sophomore season and placing eighth as a freshman. He will compete at 141 or 149 for the Bobcats.

Tim Silvers took fifth place at the Ohio state wrestling tournament in his senior season and in that time compiled a record of 153-28 in his four seasons at Eaton High School in Eaton, Ohio. He will compete for time at the 125 pound weight class for the Bobcats.

Matt Pritchard posted a 123-34 record as a heavyweight at Clayton Northmont High School in Dayton, Ohio. He took fifth place in the state meet as a senior and eighth place as a junior. He was a special mention at heavyweight by Wrestling USA Magazine. He will remain at heavyweight for the Bobcats.

Gabe Ramos comes to Athens from Hopatcong, N.J. where he was ranked the No. 18 recruit in the nation at 112 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine and posted a 133-30 record in his four-year high school career. He was a two-time state placewinner, taking seventh as both a senior and a sophomore. He was named a Fargo Jr. All-American and earned a FILA Cadet National Championship. He will compete at 125 pounds for the Bobcats.

These five from the late signing period join four other future Bobcats that committed to Ohio and Greenlee during the early signing period. Kyle Ciccarello (165-33 record at 119 pounds), Steve Wilson (161-18 record at 160 pounds), Chris Kline (182-12 record at 160 pounds) and Dylan Wrage (123-38 record at 189 pounds) all signed National Letters of Intent in November.

All four early signees were nationally ranked by Wrestling USA Magazine at their respective weights. Ciccarello, from South Euclid, Ohio (Brush High School), was ranked the No. 26 wrestler in the nation at 119 pounds. Wilson, from Marion, Ohio (Marion Pleasant, Ohio), earned the No. 13 overall ranking at 160 pounds and was named a high school All-American. Kline, from Westerville, Ohio (Westerville North High School), was the No. 26 ranked wrestler at 160 pounds and was named a Fargo Cadet All-American. Wrage, from Janesville, Iowa (Waverly-Shell Rock High School) was a FILA Cadet All-American and the No. 14 ranked wrestler at 189 pounds. Wilson, Kline and Wrage all won state championships, with Wrage and Kline taking titles as seniors and Wilson earning his state crown a junior.

Click here for the early signing period release.

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Joe Waltasti is the wrestling contact in the Ohio Athletics Media Relations office. He can be reached at waltasti@ohio.edu.