Incoming wrestling class ranked 25th in nation by Web site

Only a few months before the start of regular-season play, the Hoosier wrestling team received an accolade that could mean big things for next season. Intermat.com has recently named the incoming freshman class as the 25th best class in the nation. Earlier this summer, Wrestling International Newsmagazine ranked the newest Hoosier class as 22nd nationally. \n“This was another important year for us,” IU Coach Duane Goldman said. “We pursued these guys hard and were fortunate to come away with them.” \nThe Big Ten is a notorious wrestling powerhouse, which is evident in the fact that eight of the eleven teams are ranked in Intermat.com’s top 30. The Hoosiers are welcoming five new faces to the roster next season, all of whom have at least one state championship under their belt. \n“The Big Ten is extremely competitive in every aspect – competition, recruiting and scholastics,” Goldman said. “(Recruiting is) a battle. We have to try to keep pace and climb the ladder at the same time. It’s a lot of work, but there are a lot of rewards.”\nJeff Pelton (Bellevue, Ohio/Bellevue) was this year’s D-II state champion in Ohio in the 135 pound weight class. He finished his career with a phenomenal 150-13 overall record, including 79 pins. Wrestling International Newsmagazine ranked Pelton as the 20th best in his class in April, before he went on to defeat two more major opponents. \nMatt Powless (Evansville/Memorial) was the 2007 state champ at 171 pounds. As a senior, Powless accumulated a 51-0 record, and became the first wrestler at Memorial to win a state championship. \nReece Freeman (Bloomington/Bloomington South) went 45-0 his senior year, snatching up a state champion title in his 125-pound weight class. He has an overall record of 179-10 in his four years at South. Freeman is a former teammate of both Kurt Kinser and Paul Young, current wrestlers on the IU squad. \nJoe Fagiano (Chicago/ St. Patrick) was the 2006 Illinois state champ at the 215-pound weight class, and was a runner up in 2007. Fagiano finished his career with a 129-28 overall record and was ranked 10th in his weight class by Wrestling International Newsmagazine earlier this year. \nMatt Ortega (Rio Rancho, N.M./Rio Rancho) set a school record by winning four state championships during his high school career. He won championships in the 103, 112, 119, and 125-pound weight classes, and was ranked eighth in the 125-weight class by Wrestling International Newsmagazine. \nOrtega will be joining standout grappler Angel Escobedo in the 125-pound weight class this season. Although Escobedo has dominated in this weight class, Goldman is confident that Ortega, as well as the other recruits, will find an active spot on the team.\n“Every one of those guys will be in the lineup and will be able to contribute in the way they do best.” Goldman said.