Men's Wrestling 10/20/2020 11:01:00 AM CU Athletics

Tiger wrestling brings in 11th-best Non-Division 1 Recruiting Class for 2020-21

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — The USA Wrestling Magazine College Recruiting Rankings have been released and Campbellsville University has a team in the Top 15.

For Non-Division I recruiting classes, the Tigers enter at No. 11 in the Wrestling USA Magazine's ranking released last week. The ranking includes NCAA Division II, III, NAIA, NCJAA. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic that has hampered recruiting across the country, the coaching staff, led by head coach Franky James, brought in 16 student-athletes and was the third-highest recruiting class among all NAIA programs.

This 2020 signing class includes transfer Austin Johnson from Wabash, Ohio State Champ Alex Coleman, Illinois State Champ Fabian Lopez, Virginia State Champ Odysseus Avgeros and State Placers Simon Powell (KY) Dylan Cooper (IL), Chauncey Wilson (VA). In addition, Izzy Foston, Brice Parks and Anthony Parks, all from Ohio, are also state placers. Coleman and Lopez are also Fargo National Champs.

"If your team is showing up in these rankings it's a good sign for your program," said James. "We have a great staff put together this year with the hiring of former NAIA national champion Cody Linton and we expect 2021 to be another strong recruiting class. It takes non-stop work, but our staff is grinding on the daily to make sure the 2021 class is another solid group. We are off to a great start on this next class with the signing of Fargo Champ Zeke Escalera."

The Tigers are coming off a 2019 season that saw them go 21-2 in duals, place at the NWCA National Duals for the 11^thstraight year and finished the season inside the NAIA Top 10 with five NAIA All-Americans.

Of the five All-Americans from last season, Jordan Martinez and Mahlic Sallah are the only returning to the mat but Coach James has added the other three 2020 All-Americans as assistants. Ashton Mutuwa and Michael Diemer join Linton, full-time assistant Jacob Murton and graduate assistant Angel Najar as student-assistant coaches.

The Tigers are scheduled to begin their 2020-21 season on December 5th as they travel to the Missouri Valley Duals.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Michael Diemer: Senior; Maryville, Tenn.

Jordan Martinez: Junior; Maple Valley, Wash.

Ashton Mutuwa: Senior; Cedar Lake, Ind.

Mahlic Sallah: Sophomore; Roanoke, Va.

Fabian Lopez: Freshman; DeKalb, Ill.

Chauncey Wilson: Freshman; Roanoke, Va.

Izzy Foston: Freshman; Columbus, Ohio

Austin Johnson: Freshman; DeKalb, Ill.

Odysseus Avgeros: Freshman; Richmond, Va.

Brice Parks: Freshman; Jackson, Ohio

Players Mentioned

Michael Diemer
: Senior; Maryville, Tenn.

Jordan Martinez
: Junior; Maple Valley, Wash.

Ashton Mutuwa
: Senior; Cedar Lake, Ind.

Mahlic Sallah
: Sophomore; Roanoke, Va.

Fabian Lopez
: Freshman; DeKalb, Ill.

Chauncey Wilson
: Freshman; Roanoke, Va.

Izzy Foston
: Freshman; Columbus, Ohio

Austin Johnson
: Freshman; DeKalb, Ill.

Odysseus Avgeros
: Freshman; Richmond, Va.

Brice Parks
: Freshman; Jackson, Ohio