Wrestling has bright future with the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation

Penn's wrestling team lost five graduating seniors who were all NCAA qualifiers and Eastern finalists or champions. Although the loss is a difficult one, the Quakers have 11 new recruits of whom six are state high school champions and three are All-Americans. "This is the most important recruiting class in recent years and that it comes in with such quality is excellent timing," Penn coach Roger Reina said. The timing of this incoming class is especially important because the 1996-97 team was approximately half juniors and seniors, and with so many graduating seniors last year, there will be a high rate of turnover in the positions this and next year. That provides a great opportunity for the incoming class to contribute to the team. "The program has been building for more than two years, but in the past two years reached a new level of success," Reina said. "Student-athletes are looking for programs to succeed." Not only were the recruits looking for a good wrestling program, most cited Penn's reputation of strong academics as the primary reason for their decision to come to Philadelphia. As Yoshi Nakamura(150-pound weight class) from Elyria, Ohio, a two-time state champion puts it, "Penn's actually one of the best package deals you can get. Not only do they have a top ranking in academics, but also in wrestling. What can go wrong with No. 1?" Brett Canna (167) was the Southeast Regional Champion from Downingtown, Pa., and chose to join the Quakers because of "Penn's academic reputation, especially the Wharton School of Business and its No. 1 rank internationally? Secondary was its outstanding wrestling program." Rick Springman (165) from Norristown, Pa., placed third in the freestyle category at Junior Nationals this summer and earned All-American status. He felt that the competition was a good indication of the "level of competition that's out there." Springman was more impressed with Penn wrestling's national recognition rather than their strong performance in Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championships, which the Quakers have won two years in a row. Martine Apodaca, from Amarillo, Texas, was a four-time high school state champion in the 134-pound weight class. "I came to Penn wanting to get better, improve as a wrestler," he said. He has watched Penn's performance at the Easterns and was really impressed. "They were awesome!" Apodaca also competed in Junior Nationals and finished eighth in the Greco-Roman category, gaining All-American status. He almost earned All-American status in the freestyle category as well. Justin Bravo (114) from Brooklyn, N.Y., placed sixth at Junior Nationals and is also an All-American. Bravo, Apodaca and Springman led Penn's new recruits to gain national exposure. In fact, Amateur Wrestling News will list the group as the No. 11 recruiting class in the nation next week. The Quakers are hoping the incoming class can continue their success, but that can be difficult because their past successes will have no impact in college competitions. "We are starting with a clean slate," Joe Chandler of Massillion, Ohio said. "It doesn't matter what you did in high school. College is a new slate."