Wrestling Announces Talented 2020 Signing Class
Dec 11 | Wrestling
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers wrestling head coach Scott Goodale unveiled his 2020 recruiting class, as Kyle Epperly, Connor O'Neill and John Poznanski all signed National Letters of Intent (NLIs) to compete for the Scarlet Knights beginning next fall.
According to FloWrestling, Poznanski is the No. 4 overall recruit nationally at 182 pounds and O'Neill is the No. 11 overall recruit at 170 pounds, as both were 2019 NJSIAA finalist as juniors. Epperly, who finished seventh in the state last season at 195 pounds at Jackson Memorial with a 43-4 record, makes it three 2019 NJSIAA placewinners to sign with the Scarlet Knights.
"From an upper-weight standpoint, all three fill our needs," Goodale said. "They are all guys we have been tracking for a long, long time and three guys who have grown up alongside our program. We feel all three of these guys can score points now at the national tournament."
Kyle Epperly
Jackson Township, N.J. • Jackson Memorial
Scholastic Weight: 195 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 197 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at Jackson Memorial High School … went 43-4 with 22 pins as a junior … finished seventh in the state, fourth at Region 7 and captured the District 28 title as a junior … also secured an individual Shore Conference title as a junior … helped Jackson Memorial to a NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 state sectional title in 2018-19 … two-time district champion, three-time state medalist and two-time conference medalist … All-Shore Conference second team selection in 2018-19 by the Asbury Park Press … owns 84 career victories.
Connor O'Neill
Green Brook, N.J. • DePaul Catholic
Scholastic Weight: 160/170 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 174 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at DePaul Catholic … No. 11 overall recruit in the country at 170 pounds by FloWrestling … 2019 Fargo All-American (7th, 170 pounds) … went 40-3 with a runner-up finish in the state at 160 pounds as a junior in 2018-19 … as the No. 6 seed at the state tournament, picked off the No. 3 seed en route to an appearance in the finals … 2019 NJSIAA Region 2 and District 6 champion … helped DePaul Catholic to a District 6 title … also captured individual title at Powerade Wrestling Tournament as the seventh seed during junior campaign … 2019 Bergan Record Athlete of the Week … two-time region and three-time district champion during scholastic career … picked up 35 victories as a sophomore wrestling at 152 pounds … Cadet Freestyle National Tournament runner up in 2018.
John Poznanski
Colonia, N.J. • Colonia
Scholastic Weight: 182 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 187 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at Colonia High School … No. 4 overall recruit in the country at 182 pounds by FloWrestling … 2019 Fargo All-American (8th, 182 pounds) … went 42-3 with a runner-up finish in the state at 182 pounds as a junior in 2018-19 … 2019 NJSIAA Region 4 & District 15 champion … also claimed a 2019 Middlesex Conference title during junior season … 2019 All-GMC Conference selection by My Central Jersey … third-place result at Beast of the East 2018 … finished third in the state at 160 pounds as a sophomore with a 48-5 record … two-time region and three-time district champion … 34-9 as a 145-pound freshman in 2016-17.
Rutgers Wrestling is presented by Eat Clean Bro, an Official Partner of Rutgers Athletics.
According to FloWrestling, Poznanski is the No. 4 overall recruit nationally at 182 pounds and O'Neill is the No. 11 overall recruit at 170 pounds, as both were 2019 NJSIAA finalist as juniors. Epperly, who finished seventh in the state last season at 195 pounds at Jackson Memorial with a 43-4 record, makes it three 2019 NJSIAA placewinners to sign with the Scarlet Knights.
"From an upper-weight standpoint, all three fill our needs," Goodale said. "They are all guys we have been tracking for a long, long time and three guys who have grown up alongside our program. We feel all three of these guys can score points now at the national tournament."
Kyle Epperly
Jackson Township, N.J. • Jackson Memorial
Scholastic Weight: 195 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 197 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at Jackson Memorial High School … went 43-4 with 22 pins as a junior … finished seventh in the state, fourth at Region 7 and captured the District 28 title as a junior … also secured an individual Shore Conference title as a junior … helped Jackson Memorial to a NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 state sectional title in 2018-19 … two-time district champion, three-time state medalist and two-time conference medalist … All-Shore Conference second team selection in 2018-19 by the Asbury Park Press … owns 84 career victories.
Connor O'Neill
Green Brook, N.J. • DePaul Catholic
Scholastic Weight: 160/170 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 174 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at DePaul Catholic … No. 11 overall recruit in the country at 170 pounds by FloWrestling … 2019 Fargo All-American (7th, 170 pounds) … went 40-3 with a runner-up finish in the state at 160 pounds as a junior in 2018-19 … as the No. 6 seed at the state tournament, picked off the No. 3 seed en route to an appearance in the finals … 2019 NJSIAA Region 2 and District 6 champion … helped DePaul Catholic to a District 6 title … also captured individual title at Powerade Wrestling Tournament as the seventh seed during junior campaign … 2019 Bergan Record Athlete of the Week … two-time region and three-time district champion during scholastic career … picked up 35 victories as a sophomore wrestling at 152 pounds … Cadet Freestyle National Tournament runner up in 2018.
John Poznanski
Colonia, N.J. • Colonia
Scholastic Weight: 182 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 187 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at Colonia High School … No. 4 overall recruit in the country at 182 pounds by FloWrestling … 2019 Fargo All-American (8th, 182 pounds) … went 42-3 with a runner-up finish in the state at 182 pounds as a junior in 2018-19 … 2019 NJSIAA Region 4 & District 15 champion … also claimed a 2019 Middlesex Conference title during junior season … 2019 All-GMC Conference selection by My Central Jersey … third-place result at Beast of the East 2018 … finished third in the state at 160 pounds as a sophomore with a 48-5 record … two-time region and three-time district champion … 34-9 as a 145-pound freshman in 2016-17.
Rutgers Wrestling is presented by Eat Clean Bro, an Official Partner of Rutgers Athletics.
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