Rutgers' Recruiting Class Ranked No. 4 By Intermat
Jul 17 | Wrestling
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers wrestling program, under the guidance of second-year head coach Scott Goodale, saw its 2008-09 recruiting class ranked No. 4 nationally by Intermat, behind Minnesota, Wisconsin and Central Michigan.
"This class is obviously one we think could be very special," said Goodale after the class was ranked No. 3 nationally by W.I.N. Magazine on May 13th. "It is an indication of the direction this program is going. The coaching staff's goal was to build a fence around this state and keep the best kids home. I believe we have done that. These guys all share the same vision and really want to help the State University be successful. At the same time we understand they come to us with great scholastic credentials. College will be a tough transition for them and they need to prove they are worthy of this ranking. It will be a challenge for them in the class and on the mat, but one I know they are all looking forward to."
Rutgers' 2008-09 recruiting class includes Scott Winston (Jackson, N.J.), the number two ranked senior recruit in the nation by InterMat, who finished his stellar career at Jackson Memorial High School 137-0. In winning his third state championship, Winston became the first four-year wrestler to finish his career without a single loss. The other 2007-08 New Jersey state champions who committed to RU are Jesse Boyden (Kenilworth, N.J.) of Brearley, who won at 215, Nick Menditto (Ocean, N.J.) of Ocean Township, who won at 152 for the second consecutive year and Joey Langel (Farmingdale, N.J.) of Howell, who won the 112-pound class.
"The administration has been unbelievably supportive and allowed us to attract some of the top kids in America," said Goodale. "We would not have been able to recruit this class without the commitment of the administration."
Other wrestlers who will be attending Rutgers in 2008 include Greg Zannetti (Edison, N.J.) of J.P. Stevens, who finished second at 152, Ocean Township's Zach Coulas (Ocean, N.J.), who finished fifth at 130-pounds, Trevor Melde (Wayne, N.J.) of DePaul, ranked the 17th-best recruit in the nation by InterMat and Dan Rinaldi (Lodi, N.J.) of Lodi, who is ranked No. 19 at 171-pounds by USA Wrestling. Joining them will be Matt Fusco (East Rutherford, N.J.), who finished fifth in the High School Nationals, Dave Greenwald (Union, N.J.), who transferred from Iowa Central after finishing second in the Junior College Nationals, Dave Seidenberg (Hazlet, N.J.), Ryan Roddy (Woodbridge, Conn.) and Sean Dedeyn (Bayville, N.J.).
