June 22, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - University of Virginia head wrestling coach Lenny Bernstein has announced the addition of 17 student-athletes to the UVa wrestling program. The Cavaliers' 2005 recruiting class, ranked #22 in the nation by InterMat Wrestling's Top-25 recruiting class rankings, consists of 17 members to potentially fill eight different weight classes. The highly-touted recruiting class features 13 first-years, four transfers and wrestlers from five different states (Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey and Washington).

UVa's 2005 recruiting class is one of the most prolific classes ever signed by the Cavaliers. Five of Virginia's 17 top recruits come to UVa with very lofty credentials and highlight Bernstein and his assistant coaching staff's recruiting efforts. Here is a closer look at the Cavaliers' incoming class of wrestlers:

Name		Weight	High School		State
Ross Gitomer	125	Blair Academy		New Jersey
Brent Jones	197	Robinson		Virginia
Trevor Bowers	141	Lake Catholic		Ohio
Mikey Sewell	157	Inglemoor		Washington
Eric Albright	133	Red Lion		Pennsylvania
Nate Barbee	125	Stonewall Jackson	Virginia
Zach Anderson	125	James River		Virginia
Ben Johnson	133	Jackson			Ohio
Peter Ferrara	133/141	Central Bucks West	Pennsylvania
Nick Alparone	141	Hunterdon Central	New Jersey
Chris Ianovale	141	The Haverford School	Pennsylvania
Danny Artusio	149	James Wood		Virginia
Jake Siegel	149	Oscar Smith		Virginia
Kristian Parker	149	Hanover		Virginia
Kyle Artusio	157	James Wood		Virginia
Nick Buck	184	Christiansburg		Virginia
Jason Fuller	HWT	Kempsville		Virginia

Ross Gitomer, a 125-pounder from Blair Academy in New Jersey, placed second at the National High School Wrestling Championships. He is a National Prep School Champion and is ranked as a Top-5 recruit in every recruiting publication.

"Ross is a blue-chip recruit and a very well coached wrestler from the national powerhouse Blair Academy," said Bernstein. "He has tremendous upside as he was below the national radar when we signed him in the Fall. But since then, he placed second at The Beast of The East and Senior Nationals. We expect to red-shirt him his freshman year."

Brent Jones, a 197-pounder from Robinson High School in Virginia, placed third at the National High School Wrestling Championships and fourth at the Junior National Championships. He was a Virginia AAA State Champion, a four-time placer at the Virginia AAA States and was also ranked as a Top-5 recruit in every recruiting publication.

"Brent has been highly touted since his freshman year in high school," said Bernstein. "He is very powerful and has placed high in the Folkstyle, Freestyle and Greco-Roman national events. Brent is the total package as he will look to help the team at 197-pounds."

Trevor Bowers, a 141-pounder from Lake Catholic High School in Ohio, placed sixth at the National High School Wrestling Championships and was an Ohio State Champion.

"Trevor really impressed our coaching staff by winning the Ohio States back in March," said Bernstein. "But he impressed us even more with his sixth place finish at Senior Nationals in April. Trevor is an 'in your face' type wrestler and is a bit unorthodox, but he is hard to score on and knows how to win."

Mikey Sewell, a 157-pounder from Inglemoor High School in Washington, is a three-time Washington State Champion and was ranked as the #1 recruit in the state of Washington - regardless of weight class.

"Mikey is an ex-hockey player who is very powerful and wrestles extremely hard the entire match" said Bernstein. "He will be fun to watch as his style is bruising and athletic. Since he did not compete in the High School Nationals, he did not get ranked as high as he should, but I believe he is a Top-5 wrestler in the USA - just like Gitomer and Jones."

Eric Albright, a 133-pounder from Red Lion High School in Pennsylvania, placed fourth at the Pennsylvania State Championships and was ranked as a Top-20 recruit in the USA.

"Eric is a year-round wrestler who won the nationally ranked Powerade Tournament," said Bernstein. "He is very dangerous from many different positions. This usually separates the good college wrestlers from the great ones. If he makes some strength gains this summer, he can be very successful at 133-pounds this year."

Not to be overshadowed by their fellow newcomers, a dozen other UVa newcomers will look to make their mark on the mats next season. Here is a closer look at the rest of Virginia's 2005 recruiting class:

- Nate Barbee is a 125-pounder from Stonewall Jackson High School in Virginia. He placed sixth at the Junior National Championships and took third at the Virginia State Championships.

- Zach Anderson is a 125-pounder from James River High School in Virginia. He placed fourth at the Virginia State Championships.

- Ben Johnson is a 133-pounder from Jackson High School in Ohio. He placed second at the Division I Ohio State Championships.

- Peter Ferrara is a 133/141-pounder from Central Bucks West High School in Pennsylvania. He placed sixth at the Pennsylvania State Championships.

- Nick Alparone is a 141-pounder from Hunterdon Central High School in New Jersey. He placed fourth at the New Jersey State Championships.

- Chris Ianovale is a 141-pounder from The Haverford School in Pennsylvania. He is a three-time National Prep School placer and is a transfer from Georgetown University.

- Danny Artusio is a 149-pounder from James Wood High School in Virginia. He placed second at the 2004 Virginia AA State Championships and is a transfer from Lord Fairfax Community College.

- Jake Siegel is a 149-pounder from Oscar Smith High School in Virginia. He placed fourth at the Virginia AAA State Championships.

- Kristian Parker is a 149-pounder from Hanover High School in Virginia. He placed fourth at the 2004 Virginia AAA State Championships and is a transfer from East Carolina University.

- Kyle Artusio is a 157-pounder from James Wood High School in Virginia. He placed third at the 2004 Virginia AA State Championships and is a transfer from Lord Fairfax Community College

- Nick Buck is a 184-pounder from Christiansburg High School in Virginia. He is a Virginia AA State Champion and a four-time Virginia AA state placer.

- Jason Fuller is a heavyweight from Kempsville High School in Virginia. He is a football scholarship player who is a two-time Virginia AAA state placer.

Here is a look at InterMat Wrestling's Top 25 recruiting Classes which ranks Virginia's class #22 in the country:

InterMat Wrestling's Top 25 Recruiting Classes (www.intermatwrestle.com)

Rank	School
1.	Iowa State
2.	Virginia Tech
3.	Cornell
4.	Penn
5.	Penn State
6.	Oklahoma State
7.	Hofstra
8.	Old Dominion
9.	Nebraska
10.	Iowa
11.	Minnesota
12.	West Virginia
13.	Northern Iowa
14.	Indiana
15.	Central Michigan
16.	Lehigh
17.	Illinois
18.	Northern Illinois
19.	Missouri
20.	Maryland
21.	Cal Poly
22.	VIRGINIA
23.	Kent State
24.	Ohio University
25.	North Carolina State

Honorable Mention: Buffalo, Cal-Davis, Clarion, Eastern Michigan, Edinboro, Harvard, Michigan State, North Dakota State, Purdue, Rider, The Citadel, West Point.

--- UVa ---