NCAA champion Jay Borschel was added to the Northwestern coaching staff.

May 11, 2012

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern head coach Drew Pariano announced the addition of 2010 NCAA Champion Jay Borschel to the Wildcats coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach. A collegiate standout at Iowa, Borschel racked up an overall record of 98-10 at 174 lbs, was a two-time All-American and Iowa’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2010.

“As a former national champion and key member of three NCAA championship teams, Jay knows what it takes to be successful as a wrestler and I have no doubt that will translate into his coaching career,” Pariano said. “We had a notable 2011-12 season but know that Jay can help us reach the next level. He provides our program with the perfect compliment of intelligence and competitiveness, which shows with his numerous wrestling and academic achievements. His ability to teach our sport will greatly impact our program moving forward.”

Borschel replaces NU three-time All-American Brandon Precin, who served as the team’s volunteer assistant coach during the 2011-12 season. Precin will be focusing on his role with the Wildcat Wrestling Club as he continues to train with the USA Wrestling Program. In his expansive role, Precin will be utilizing his freestyle skills to enhance the WWC and represent Northwestern and the NYAC at various international events throughout the year, beginning with the Hari Ram Grand Prix Tournament in India from May 25-27.

Borschel had a highly successful career at Iowa, which culminated with a national title during his senior year at the 2010 NCAA Championships. En route to his championship, he compiled a perfect 37-0 record and his first Big Ten title as the Hawkeyes won both the conference and national tournaments. Borschel was selected as Iowa’s Male Athlete of the Year and the Jesse Owens Award nominee for the 2009-10 academic year.

The Marion, Iowa, native also reached All-America status his first year on the mat with the Hawkeyes, placing third at the 2008 NCAA Championships as a sophomore. He competed three years for the Hawkeyes after transferring from Virginia Tech, but was part of  Iowa’s three NCAA and Big Ten championship teams during his tenure.

Borschel and Iowa also were nearly unbeatable in dual matches during his time at the school. He went 62-3 in duals, including a 21-1 mark in Big Ten action at 174 lbs. As a team, Iowa was 68-1-0 and a perfect 24-0 in Big Ten duals from 2007-10.

Academics also were a priority for Borschel during his time at Iowa as he was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and two-time NWCA All-Academic award winner. He graduated from Iowa in 2010 with a degree in biology.

Borschel is joined by his wife Jillian Perry.

Northwestern had a memorable 2011-12 season, including an 11-4 dual record, second place showing at Midlands, the best in school history, and ninth-place finish at NCAA’s, the team’s first top-10 placement since 2007. The ‘Cats are looking to improve upon that success in 2012-13 as nine starters, two All-Americans and all six NCAA qualifiers return from the 2011-12 squad.

Join NU head coach Drew Pariano at the 2012 Northwestern Wrestling Golf Outing on May 21.

2012 Wrestling Golf Outing

EVANSTON, Ill. – There are still a limited number of spots available for the 2012 Northwestern Wrestling Golf Outing, which takes place Monday, May 21 at the Chevy Chase Country Club (1000 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, Ill., 60090).

The event begins with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. Lunch and dinner will be provided and a number of prizes will be raffled off.

Be sure to click on the link to the golf outing flyer above. Any questions on the golf outing can be directed to Tim Cysewski at 847-491-4799.

May 8, 2012

2012 NWCA All-Academic

EVANSTON, Ill. – Two Northwestern wrestlers were honored as All-Academic award winners by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. The NWCA announced its list of academic honorees Tuesday and redshirt freshman Pierce Harger along with junior Levi Mele made the grade.

A first-year starter at 165 lbs., Harger had a noteworthy freshman campaign, finishing 22-14 overall and made his first trip to the NCAA championships. He had one of the more grueling schedules on the team, wrestling nine matches against ranked opponents prior to NCAA’s. Harger posted a 10-4 record in dual action, scoring 40 points for the Wildcats in their 11-4 record. An industrial engineering major, Harger also achieved Academic All-Big Ten status for the first time this season.

Mele is a two-time NWCA All-Academic honoree, also winning the award last season. He had his best year on the mat, going 31-8 as NU’s 125 lbs. starter, including a 13-2 mark in duals. Mele finished fourth at the 2012 Big Ten Championships, which gave him an automatic qualification for his second trip to NCAA’s. Mele is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree as a social policy major and was Northwestern’s co-winner of the team’s highest individual GPA award in 2010-11.

Northwestern has had at least one NWCA All-Academic honoree in eight of the last nine seasons. The NWCA honored 87 individuals this season, including 27 from the Big Ten Conference. The list included five NCAA champions, three NCAA runner-ups, 23 All-Americans and 77 NCAA qualifiers.

Mike McMullan won the inaugural Jake Herbert Freshman of the Year Award at the team's year-end banquet.

May 7, 2012

EVANSTON, Ill. – After a top-10 finish at the 2012 NCAA Championships, two All-Americans, the best Midlands finish in school history and another winning dual season, there were a number of things to celebrate at Northwestern’s annual year-end banquet. Over the weekend, head coach Drew Pariano and his staff recognized the numerous achievements from the 2011-12 season and presented the team with a variety of awards.

The banquet began with the coaching staff handing out the letterwinner awards and honoring those who achieved Academic All-Big Ten status. Each year, NU has three team awards for most points, most net takedowns on the season and most falls. This year those three awards went to two different wrestlers.

Junior Jason Welch (157) took home two of the three trophies as the Stuteville High Point-Scorer and Lupton Takedown Award Winner. Welch had the best record of his three-year NU career, going 27-3 overall and 15-0 in dual action. He was rarely taken down throughout the course of the year but racked up points on a consistent basis, winning seven of his matches by major decision and another four by technical fall. Welch did not lose a dual match all season, helping NU score 67 points at 157 lbs. as Northwestern went 11-4 in dual action.

With a team-leading 13 pins on the season, junior Levi Mele (125) won the Jack Riley Fall Trophy. Mele had 13 of Northwestern’s 54 falls, an improvement upon the team’s 45 pins last season. Mele, a two-time NCAA qualifier, also had the most wins of his NU career, going 31-8 and 13-2 in duals.

A new award was added to the list this season as redshirt freshman Mike McMullan (heavyweight) won the Jake Herbert Freshman of the Year Award. This award was fitting for McMullan as he was the highest-placing NU freshman at NCAA’s since Herbert’s third-place finish in 2005. McMullan had a spectacular first season on the mat for Northwestern, finishing third at NCAA’s for his first All-America honor, placed fourth at Midlands and went 29-11 on the season.

Welch, McMullan and redshirt freshman Lee Munster also were honored for their performances at NCAA’s and Midlands. The team’s two 2012 All-Americans (Welch and McMullan) and two 2011 Midlands Champions (Munster and Welch) each received special awards commemorating their achievements at the tournaments. Welch became NU’s 15th two-time All-American as he took fourth at 157 lbs. while McMullan’s third-place finish gave the ’Cats two top-eight finishers in six of the last seven years and NU’s best finish in the team race (ninth) since finishing fourth during the 2006-07 season.

After 49 years of wrestling at the Midlands Championships, Northwestern had its best finish in school history, finishing second in 2011. NU added two new champions to the list as Welch (157) and Munster (174) both won titles. In total, five NU wrestlers placed at the team’s annual tournament as Mele (fourth, 125), McMullan (fourth, heavyweight) and senior John Schoen (eighth, 197) joined Welch and Munster on the medal stand.

It was a pretty unbelievable weekend for the Northwestern wrestling team as one of its own qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Northwestern grad Jake Herbert won the 84 kg/185 lbs. freestyle division to become the first NU wrestler to win the U.S. Olympic Trials, securing a spot on Team USA.

Not only was Herbert the first NU wrestler to make the United States Olympic Team (Jack Griffin was an alternate in 1992), but he also is the lone former Big Ten wrestler on this year’s freestyle squad. The winners of the U.S. Olympic Trials for freestyle are as follows with their college affiliation in parentheses:

55kg: Sam Hazewinkel (Oklahoma)
60kg: Coleman Scott (weight not yet qualified for Olympics) (Oklahoma State)
66kg: Jared Frayer (Oklahoma)
74kg: Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska)
84kg: Jake Herbert (Northwestern)
96kg: Jake Varner  (Iowa State)
120kg: Tervel Dlagnev  (University of Nebraska – Kearney)

There was no shortage of coverage at the trials and below you can find a plethora of articles, photo galleries and videos on Northwestern Olympian Jake Herbert.

NBCOlympics.com: 2012 Wrestling Trials: What we learned

NBCChicago.com: Chicago will be well-represented on Olympic Wrestling Team

New York Times: New Breed of U.S. Wrestlers Will Head to Olympics

TheMat.com: Olympic Trials come to exciting end in front of mover 13,000 in Iowa City

TheMat.tv: Trials Video Features & Interviews

TheMat.com: Photo galleries from top photographers at Olympic Wrestling Trials

The Des Moines Register: Herbert dashes Paulson’s Olympic hopes 

InterMat: 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Interviews: Sunday

InterMat: Nine more champions crowned on Sunday at Trials

Chicago Tribune: Olympic Trials: Ellis Coleman earns spot on U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling team (scroll down for Herbert report)

Examiner.com: Hazewinkel, Frayer, Herbert Dlagnev win 2012 US Olympic Trials Sunday

SI.com: Frayer upsets hometown favorite to qualify for first Olympic team

ESPN.com (Associated Press): Ellis Coleman earns bid to London Games

Daily Northwestern: Northwestern alums wrestle for spots in London

From before the Trials…
ESPN.com (Associated Press): Cael Sanderson’s absence opens door for Jake Herbert at U.S. Olympic Team Trials

Deseret News (Associated Press): Young wrestling stars on display at Olympic Trials

Register NOW for Summer Camps! 

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern wrestling and head coach Drew Pariano, coming off an 11-4 dual season, have announced plans for its 2012 team and individual camp season. Northwestern is hosting three different sessions on its Evanston campus, including team, intensive and technique camps.

In Pariano’s second season as head coach at Northwestern, the Wildcats posted a victorious dual season with an 11-4 overall record, including a perfect 7-0 mark in nonconference action. The Wildcats had a successful showing at the 2012 Big Ten Championships as six wrestlers placed and all qualified for the 2012 NCAA Championships, which run next week, March 15-17 in St. Louis, Mo.

Since 2006, Northwestern has produced a total of three NCAA individual titles, 14 All-Americans, 35 NCAA qualifications and six individual Big Ten titles under the direction of Pariano, associate head coach Tim Cysewski and assistant coach Matt Storniolo. Camp participants will learn various skills from Pariano, Cysewski, Storniolo and NU volunteer assistant coach Brandon Precin. A three-time All-American at Northwestern, Precin is currently working towards earning a spot on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s Freestyle Team.

The schedule for the summer is as follows:

June 25-28: Competition & Team Camp (recommended grades 8-12)
This camp will take you to the next level with instruction from a world class staff trained to meet your competition goals. The camp will include three-to-four dual meets and technical instruction on a daily basis. The goal of the competition and team camp is to make you a complete wrestler through exceptional competition. Our camp system is proven and we believe that in order to beat the best you need to outwork your opponent.  Furthermore, we will teach you and your team the concepts that work at the elite levels of high school and college wrestling. This session is not offered to commuters.

July 8-12: Intensive Camp (recommended grades 8-12)
Many sessions will be held in the multi-million dollar Ken Kraft Wrestling Complex, giving you one of the finest training facilities in the nation to prepare for summer competition. The 2012 Northwestern Intensive Camp’s goal is to make you a successful wrestler at the highest competitive levels. Furthermore, we will teach you the concepts that work at the elite levels of high school and college wrestling.

The camp provides a comprehensive approach to the sport. We understand the commitment it takes to win state and national titles. Each aspect of the sport is addressed using a combination of technical instruction, drill sessions, live wrestling and strength training, with an emphasis on the mental approach to wrestling. Our coaching staff will provide you with concepts that will allow you visualize your success.

July 8-11: Technique Camp (recommended grades 5-12)

The 2012 Northwestern Technique Camp’s goal is to make you a successful wrestler and to meet your specific technical needs. We encourage every wrestler to ask the staff questions and we will do our best to address every technical inquiry. Each aspect of the sport is addressed using a combination of technical instruction, drill sessions, live wrestling and sportsmanship. Our camp system is specifically structured to ensure that you will retain the knowledge and skills that you learn during your time at the NU Wrestling Camp. Campers will be grouped into several target groups and ALL campers will receive instruction from a varsity Northwestern wrestler.

All Northwestern Wrestling Camps are available to any and all entrants and those entrants can only be limited by age, gender and number of campers. Interested participants can access complete camp information or register online by following the links at the top of the page.

For more information on Northwestern Wrestling Camps, email nuwrestlingcamps@gmail.com.

Jake Herbert defeated Travis Paulson in a best-of-three series to earn a spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team.

April 22, 2012

 Photo Gallery

Brackets & Results from U.S. Olympic Trials 

TheMat.TV Interviews from U.S. Olympic Trials 

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Two-time Northwestern NCAA champion and Hodge trophy recipient Jake Herbert can officially add the title of Olympian to his resume. The NU graduate has once again reached one of wrestling’s highest honors as he won the 84 kg/185 lbs. freestyle division at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials Sunday to punch his ticket to London for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

“It hasn’t really hit me yet,” Herbert said moments after the finals. “Being an Olympian is amazing, but I just can’t wait to get back to my family and hang out with them tonight. It’s been a big sacrifice. The ups and downs have been crazy this year. I’ve been hurt. I’ve been injured. I’ve been emotionally hurt and physically hurt, and to be able to come through and come back and dig deep and get this is huge.”

Herbert won two matches and did not give up a point prior to facing Travis Paulson (Sunkist Kids/Cyclone Wrestling Club) in the best-of-three finals. Herbert shut out former Missouri NCAA champion Max Askren (NYAC/Westpoint RTC) 3-0, 6-0 and blanked Phil Keddy (Hawkeye Wrestling Club), a former Iowa three-time All-American, 1-0, 1-0 before meeting Paulson.

In the finals, Herbert won the first period of the opening match, 1-0. Paulson then evened the match, winning the second period 2-1. In the decisive third period, Herbert scored with 28 seconds left but Paulson scored the final point with 11 seconds left, winning the third period, 1-1 and the first match.

Herbert would not lose a period the rest of the way. In the second match, he outscored Paulson 7-4 in two periods. The former Wildcat scored a three-point move late in the first and tacked on another point in the closing seconds to take the first, 4-2. He then scored three one-point moves in the second, winning the second, 3-2 and forcing a third match.

Herbert then officially became an Olympian, outscoring Paulson 5-1 in two periods in the final match. He took the first period 3-0 and Paulson tallied his lone point of the match with 1:41 remaining in period two. Herbert would then tie the score with a point at the 59-second mark and added another with 25 seconds left to win, 2-1.

Herbert is the first Northwestern graduate to win the trials and earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. Former NU NCAA champion Jack Griffin was an alternate for Team USA in 1992. Herbert now focuses his attention to his next goal of winning gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics, which run from July 27-Aug. 12 in London.

NU volunteer assistant coach and three-time All-American Brandon Precin also represented Northwestern at the U.S. Olympic Trials. He wrestled at 55 kg/121 lbs. and met Iowa’s two-time NCAA champion Matt McDonough (Hawkeye Wrestling Club) in the first round. McDonough, a junior at Iowa who received a wildcard for the trials, moved on with a 2-0, 3-0 decision. Precin then took on Ben Kjar (Kingdom Klub), who was the first-ever All-American at Utah Valley, and concluded his run at the Olympic Trials as Kjar won 6-0, 1-0.

Fans can watch a re-broadcast of Herbert’s victory in the finals tomorrow from 2-5 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Network. Visit this website to find the NBC Sports Network in your area.

NU volunteer assistant coach Brandon Precin is ready for this weekend's U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

April 19, 2012

Broadcast Information • 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Schedule • Complete Bios on 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Athletes • Official U.S. Olympic Trials Website • Dream Team Classic Preview (Jason Tsirtsis Competing) 

EVANSTON, Ill. – Former Northwestern wrestlers Brandon Precin and Jake Herbert will compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials this weekend in Iowa City, Iowa, with the hopes of achieving their Olympic dreams. Competition runs Saturday, April 21-Sunday, April 22 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Precin (55 kg/121 lbs.) and Herbert’s (84 kg/185 lbs.) freestyle weight classes will be contested Sunday.

Precin, a three-time NU All-American at 125 lbs., is one of 14 entrants in the competitive 55kg/121 lbs. weight class that currently features 2011 U.S. World Team member Nick Simmons, 2008 Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo and 2012 Pan American Champion Sam Hazewinkel.

“It’s an exciting time of the year, it’s what I’ve worked for up until this point and I’m ready to wrestle,” Precin said. “I look back at all the repetitions I did, all the training I did and I feel that I’m ready. I know what I want to achieve, so having that training just makes me feel good. There can’t be any doubts about what you’ve done training-wise, so I’m going into the trials thinking that I can win it.”

This past year, Precin has balanced working as a volunteer assistant coach with the Wildcats while training for the Olympic trials. He qualified for this weekend’s event by placing second at the 2011 Freestyle Olympic Trials Qualifier in December. He competed in a number of other freestyle events throughout the year, finishing runner-up at the 2012 Dave Schultz Memorial International in February and took fifth at the 2011 Dmitry Korkin International in Russia during early October.

“It would mean a lot to me (to make the Olympic team),” Precin said. “It would reflect a lot on the efforts of my support staff, the coaches and athletes here at NU as well as my family and friends. I feel that it would be, not only me making the team, but that it was a team effort. Having a group of people behind me is really what has propelled me to get this far.”

Considered the front-runner at the 84 kg/185 lbs. division, Herbert takes his second shot at the Olympic trials and is one of 14 expected to wrestle this weekend. A two-time NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy recipient at Northwestern, Herbert earned his spot at the trials as a past U.S. World Team member (2010) and by finishing second at the 2011 World Team Trials. Herbert is one of the most decorated athletes in the weight class as he won a 2011 Pan American Championships title, a silver medal at the 2009 World Championships and three-straight (2009-2011) U.S. Open titles.

Other contenders in the 84 kg weight class include Keith Gavin (third at 2011 World Team Trials, runner-up to Herbert at 2010 World Team Trials), Travis Paulson (2010 U.S. World Team) and Jon Reader (2011 Freestyle Olympic Trials Qualifier champion) among others. Herbert finished runner-up to Cael Sanderson at the 2011 World Team Trials, but it has been reported that the Penn State head coach will not compete this weekend.

While past NU greats seek to make the Olympic team, a future Wildcat also will wrestle this weekend. NU signee Jason Tsirtsis has been selected to compete at the prestigious Dream Team Classic all-star match Friday, at 7 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This annual dual pins some of the best high school wrestlers in the country against the top Iowa high school seniors. Tsirtsis is the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the country at 145 lbs. and he follows in the footsteps of Herbert who wrestled at the event in 2003.

Fans can watch Precin and Herbert LIVE from the trials as NBCOlympics.com will provide a webcast of the preliminary rounds. In addition, NBC Sports Network will present six hours of next-day coverage of the trials. The first day of Olympic Trials wrestling action (matches from April 21) will be aired on Sunday, April 22 from 3-6 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Network. Final day action (April 22) will be aired on Monday, April 23 from 2-5 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Network. Click this link to find the NBC Sports Network in your area.

True freshman Jameson Oster was a FILA Junior National Runner-Up at 138.75 lbs./63 kg.

April 16, 2012

TheMat.TV: Watch Complete Matches & Interviews from FILA Junior National Championships 

TheMat.com Coverage of FILA Junior National Championships 

Complete FILA Junior National Championships Results/Brackets 

MADISON, Wis. – A group of seven current and future Wildcats wrestled at the 2012 FILA Junior National Championships this past weekend in Madison, Wis. True freshman Jameson Oster, sophomore Kaleb Friedley and incoming freshman Jason Tsirtsis were placewinners for their respective weight classes and qualified for the U.S. Junior World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., from May 25-26.

Competing in the 138.75 lbs./63 kg weight class, Oster won four-straight matches to earn a spot in the championship bout against Steven Rodrigues from the Illini Wrestling Club. Despite a final score of 2-2, 1-1, Oster finished as a FILA Junior National Runner-Up because Rodrigues had a two-point move in the first period and scored the last point. Since the 138.75 lbs./63 kg weight class is not a FILA international weight, Oster will compete at 132.25 lbs./60 kg at the world team trials.

Friedley made an impressive run in the wrestlebacks to finish sixth at 145.5 lbs./66 kg. He dropped his first match against Ohio State’s Hunter Stieber (Ohio RTC), but came back to win five-straight bouts to reach the consolation semifinals. Included in those five wins was a victory over 2012 ACC Champion at 149 lbs., Nick Brascetta of Virginia Tech where Friedley advanced with a 5-1, 3-2 score. He ended up placing sixth after meeting Minnesota’s Dylan Ness, a 2012 NCAA finalist at 149 lbs., in the fifth-place match.

Tsirtsis also competed at 145.5 lbs./66 kg and took third. His lone loss came in a close 2-0, 4-2 decision against eventual champion Destin McCauley. In total, Tsirtsis won six matches, including one by fall and one by technical fall, en route to his third-place finish.

Redshirt freshmen Pat Greco (145.5 lbs./66 kg), Dylan Marriott (154.25 lbs./70 kg) and Pierce Harger (163 lbs./74 kg) along with incoming freshman Garrison White (132.25 lbs./60 kg) also competed at the junior national championships.

Last year, redshirt freshman Lee Munster won his second junior national title in freestyle while Harger and redshirt freshman Alex Polizzi also qualified for the world team trials. Wrestlers that were born between 1992-94 were eligible to compete in this year’s FILA Junior National Championships.

NU head coach Drew Pariano's 2012 recruiting class was ranked No. 10 in the country by WIN Magazine.

April 3, 2012

EVANSTON, Ill. - Members of Northwestern head coach Drew Pariano’s second recruiting class recently wrapped up their high school careers and have compiled a number of achievements, living up to the group’s top-10 ranking. The class of five had a successful finish to their high school seasons and a number of them are still competing at national tournaments. The class, which was rated the 10th best in the country by WIN Magazine, continues to compile various accolades and below is a brief update on each signee, along with a few articles highlighting their achievements over the past few months.

Jason Tsirtsis • Crown Point, Ind. • Crown Point H.S. 
Projected College Weight: 141/149 lbs.

Jason Tsirtsis is only 18 years old, yet he was seconds away from qualifying for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. This past weekend, he wrestled at the final U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in Cedar Falls, Iowa. This was the last chance to qualify for the trials, and the 18-year-old held his own against some of the best wrestlers in the country at any age. He won his first bout by fall against Gage Harrison and then advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating 2009 NCAA Champion from North Carolina State, Darrion Caldwell, 8-0, 1-1 (Tsirtsis scored the final point in the second period, thus advancing in the best-of-three bout). He then earned a spot in the semifinals, with a win over Vincent Hannon, 1-1, 2-0, 5-2, before former two-time All-American Joe Johnson (Iowa, ’06) edged Tsirtsis in the semis, 3-1, 1-4, 4-3.

Tsirtsis earned a spot in the third-place bout, defeating Will Rowe (Oklahoma, ’11), 4-0, 2-1. Since Cary Kolat, who already qualified for the trials, finished first at 66 kg, the runner-up and third-place wrestlers earned a trip to the trials. Tsirtsis wrestled Zach Bailey, a two-time All-American from Oklahoma, in the third-place bout and after dropping the first period 3-0, he came back to win the second 1-0. In the decisive third period, Bailey scored the winning point in the closing seconds to win the qualifying spot, 1-0.

This is all coming on the heels of Tsirtsis’s historic high school season as he became just the eighth wrestler in Indiana history to win four individual state titles. Tsirtsis powered through his competition at the Indiana state tournament, including a 22-7 win by technical fall in the 145 lbs. final, to capture his fourth and final crown and complete his high school career with an impressive 176-2 overall record. Those two losses? Came in the form of 3-2 decisions during his freshman season.

Tsirtsis also has been selected to compete at various all-star events. He helped Team USA win the 2012 Dapper Dan Classic with his 13-4 major decision at the all-star event. He also will compete at the prestigious Dream Team Classic, which takes place April 20, a day before the Olympic Trials, in Iowa City. This event annually features some of the top high school wrestlers in the country as former NU grapplers Jake Herbert and Ryan Lang are past participants.

• Post Tribune: Wrestler of the Year: Crown Point’s Jason Tsirtsis
• InterMat: Dapper Dan results
• Flowrestling.org: Jason Tsirtsis Just Keeps Scoring
• Post-Tribune: Crown Point’s Tsirtsis Finishes Career as Eighth Wrestler to Win Four Titles
• Wrestling USA Magazine: Dream Team Classic Dual Meet

Dominick Malone • Granby, Conn. • Wyoming Seminary 
Projected College Weight: 125 lbs.

Dominick Malone won his second national prep title, this time at 126 lbs., in February. The Wyoming Seminary product, which is the same high school that current NU All-American heavyweight Mike McMullan attended, also was named the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler and won the Ray Mendoza Award for most team points.

• Patch.com: Granby’s Malone Wins National Prep Wrestling Title
• CitizensVoice.com: Seminary’s Malone Crowned National Champion

Garrison White • Concord, N.C. • Jay M. Robinson
Projected College Weight: 125/133 lbs.

Garrison White won his third-straight North Carolina state title and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the 2012 state meet. White pinned his 126 lbs. finals opponent in just 44 seconds to win his third state crown.

This past weekend, he wrestled at 2012 FloNationals and finished third at 120 lbs. White went 6-1 at the tournament, winning two matches by fall, one by major decision and had a 20-5 tech fall victory in the third-place bout.

• Independent Tribune: Garrison White Threepeats in State Wrestling
• Independent Tribune: White Reigns in State Wrestling Finals

Ben Sullivan • Eagle River, Alaska • Apple Valley H.S. (Minnesota)
Projected College Weight: 165/174 lbs.

Ben Sullivan helped Minnesota powerhouse Apple Valley High School win its 20th-consecutive title at the individual tournament and seventh-straight state team title, defeating St. Michael-Albertville, 49-24, in the finals. Sullivan took home a bronze medal at 170 lbs. in the individual tournament and recorded a win for Apple Valley in the finals of the team tournament. He also placed in the top eight at 152 lbs. at the NHSCA Senior Nationals to earn All-America status.

Sullivan is originally from Alaska where he was a two-time state finalist and 2011 state champion. He moved to Minnesota prior to his junior year to wrestle for Apple Valley and after sitting out his junior year, was able to compete as a senior. This InterMat article from 2010 explains his unique situation and decision to move across the country. 

Matt Greene • Slingerlands, N.Y. • Columbia
Projected College Weight: 133/141 lbs.

Matt Greene had a phenomenal regular season, posting a perfect 48-0 record at 126 lbs., with 32 of those wins coming by fall, heading into the New York State Wrestling Tournament. He reached the 50-win mark during the state tournament, which included a fall in 55 seconds to record his milestone 50th victory. Greene lost to the eventual state champion but concluded the season with an impressive 50-2 record and 33 falls.

• TimesUnion.com: Columbia is confident