Wrestling Adds Seven Freshmen For 2004-05 Season
5/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Wrestling Adds Seven Freshmen For 2004-05 Season
5/4/2004
PITTSBURGH ?
"This is an outstanding recruiting class," Stottlemyer said. "They are a very talented and committed group of young men who will contribute significantly to the future of Pittsburgh wrestling. These individuals have displayed excellent character throughout their scholastic careers and we are excited that they have chosen to attend the University of Pittsburgh."
The Panthers finished in third place in both the Eastern Wrestling League regular season and league meet in 2003-04 and qualified six wrestlers for the NCAA Championships in St. Louis last month. Below are the seven additions to the Panthers? roster:
Joe Ciampoli (Altoona HS) was a two-time place winner at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Wrestling Championships, including a sixth-place finish at 119 pounds as a sophomore and a seventh-place finish this past year at 135 pounds. In addition, Ciampoli is a member of the Pennsylvania National Freestyle Team. He is projected as a 133/141-pounder for the Panthers.
Kyle Deliere (Canon McMillan HS) is one of two Western Pennsylvania natives to join the Panthers? ranks for next season. Deliere placed sixth at this past year?s PIAA Championships at 171 pounds and also won the Powerade tournament at the same weight class. He is projected at either 174 or 184 pounds for Pittsburgh.
Dave Morgan (West Scranton HS) advanced to the finals of the 2004 PIAA Championships at 130 pounds to earn a second-place finish and also placed fourth at the 2002 state meet at 119 pounds. Morgan is a member of the Pennsylvania National Freestyle Team and is currently ranked among the top 12 nationally in his weight class.
Nick Padezan (Penn-Trafford HS) was a Powerade champion this past season at 189 pounds and placed seventh at the PIAA Championships in March. The Panthers project Padezan as either a 174- or 184-pounder and is the third member of the Pennsylvania National Freestyle Team to join Pittsburgh in 2004-05.
The Panthers? only signing of the fall period was Sean Richmond (Easton HS). Richmond was a two-time place winner at PIAAs, including a fourth-place finish last month at 160 pounds and a fifth-place finish in 2003 at 152 pounds. He is currently ranked in the top 20 nationally at his weight class and is projected to wrestle at 157/165 pounds for the Panthers.
Zachary Sheaffer (Cumberland Valley HS) was a two-time third-place finisher at the PIAA Championships in 2003 and 2004 and won the Beast of the East Tournament this past season in the heavyweight class. He is currently ranked eighth in the nation at heavyweight and will compete at the 285-pound class for Pittsburgh.
Lou Thomas (Parkersburg HS) is the only member of the 2004-05 recruiting class outside of Pennsylvania and he joins the Panthers from West Virginia, where he was a three-time state champion. Thomas was voted the best high school wrestler in West Virginia this past season, won the Powerade tournament, and placed second in both the Beast of the East and Iron Man competitions. Currently the second-ranked wrestler at 215 pounds nationally, Thomas is projected to compete at 197 pounds for Pittsburgh.