Wrestling Introduces Early Signees
Nov 24 | Wrestling
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers wrestling has received National Letters of Intent from six standout grapplers, five of whom are recognized as Intermat Top 100 recruits. These Scarlet Knights are set to join the program in 2016-17, bringing with them "To the Banks" numerous wrestling credentials.
Among the six signees are four N.J. natives - Matthew Correnti (Delran, N.J.), Brett Donner (Wall, N.J.), Joseph Grello (Newton, N.J.), and Brandon Paetzell (Phillipsburg, N.J.). Joining the program from Ohio is Alex Mackall (Austintown, Ohio) and from New York is Bergen Catholic product Kevin Mulligan (Blauvelt, N.Y.).
Mulligan (No. 50), Correnti (No. 54), Paetzell (No. 62), Grello (No. 70), and Mackall (No. 71) are considered top 100 overall recruits in the nation, according to Intermat. Donner, meanwhile, is ranked No. 14 nationally at 182 pounds.
"We are super excited about this class," said ninth-year head coach Scott Goodale. "This has been a two-year process. The staff has built relationships with these guys and sold the vision of Rutgers wrestling and the direction of the program. We feel this class is special and will have the ability to not only be successful student-athletes, but to score points at the national tournament.
"[Associate head coach] Donny Pritzlaff, [assistant coach] John Leonardis, and [volunteer assistant coach] Joe Pollard deserve a lot of the credit. They worked extremely hard to put this class together."
Matthew Correnti
197/285 Pounds
Delran, N.J. | Holy Cross Academy
Notes: Ranked No. 54 overall recruit by Intermat … ranked No. 5 nationally at 220 pounds … three-time NJSIAA placewinner, finishing second, third, and eighth … three-time Cadet and Junior All-American … two-time high school national champion.
Brett Donner
165/174 Pounds
Wall, N.J. | Wall HS
Notes: Ranked No. 14 nationally at 184 pounds … finished third at the 2014 NJSIAA State Championships … a Super 32 runner-up … fifth-place finisher at the 2014 Flo Nationals.
Joseph Grello
165/174 Pounds
Newton, N.J. | Bergen Catholic HS
Notes: No. 70 overall recruit by Intermat … ranked No. 7 in the country at 170 pounds … 2015 NJSIAA State Champion at 170 pounds … 2015 Cadet World Team member … Junior Freestyle Nationals All-American.
Alex Mackall
125/133 Pounds
Austintown, Ohio | Walsh Jesuit HS
Notes: No. 71 overall recruit, according to Intermat … rated the No. 10 126-pounder in the nation … 2014 Ohio state champion at 120 pounds and 2015 runner-up … 2015 high school All-American … finished second at the National High School Championships … finished fifth at the Junior National Freestyle Championships.
Kevin Mulligan
197 Pounds
Blauvelt, N.Y. | Bergen Catholic HS
Notes: Ranked the No. 50 overall recruit by Intermat and No. 7 nationally at 195 pounds … 2015 NJSIAA State Champion at 182 pounds … two-time Junior Freestyle Nationals All-American.
Brandon Paetzell
125/133 Pounds
Phillipsburg, N.J. | Phillipsburg HS
Notes: Tabbed the No. 62 overall recruit by Intermat and ranked No. 4 nationally at 120 pounds … 2014 NJSIAA runner-up at 106 pounds … finished fifth at 106 pounds as a freshman … 2014 Beast of the East Champion.
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