University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Wrestling Announces Eight Commitments
11/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Gopher Wrestling recently announced that eight incoming student-athletes have each signed National Letters of Intent and officially committed to wrestle at the University of Minnesota.
"This is a great group of young men. They are talented wrestlers, but they're also training and living the right way. That's important to us," said Head Assistant Coach Brandon Eggum. "We like the types of individuals they are. We like the type of people they are and their work ethic. Down the road, we see these guys playing some key roles as we continue to strive to be one of the top programs in the country, year in and year out."
Briefly on each of the eight signees:
Currently the nation's top-ranked high school wrestler at 195, Bobby Steveson is a two-time Minnesota State Champion who also claimed the Junior National Freestyle Championship last summer. When he officially joins the team, there will be four Apple Valley High School alums on the Gopher roster (Jordan Kingsley, Brandon Kingsley, Gannon Volk).
Fredy Stroker is a two-time Iowa State Champion and a three-time finalist for Bettendorf High School. Ranked in the top five nationally at 145, he has placed fourth at Junior National Freestyle each of the past two seasons.
Oak Park River Forest's Larry Early III is following in the footsteps of fellow OPRF alums Chris and Nick Dardanes by coming to wrestle at Minnesota. Early, who is ranked in the top five nationally at 145, won the Illinois State Championship at 145 last year, and has placed in the top-three all three years he has competed. He's also won National Championships in Cadet Greco and Folkstyle.
Gresh Jones is a three-time Montana State Champion and ranked among the top 25 nationally at 126. He has compiled a 149-4 wrestling for Sidney High School, which is also the alma mater of Coach Eggum. In fact, Jones and Eggum even share a high school coach, Guy Melby.
Carrying on a family tradition, Ben Brancale from Eden Prairie will become the third from his immediate family to wrestle for the Gophers, following his father David and older brother Sam, who is currently on the team. Brancale finished second at 138 in last year's Minnesota State Tournament, the second top-three finish he's earned in the event during his high school career.
Osseo High School's Carson Brolsma is a two-time Minnesota state place-winner who finished second in last season's state tournament at 145, capping a 43-2 junior season. On the national stage, Brolsma placed at the Junior Nationals in Folkstyle last summer.
James Berg finishes second at 136 in the Minnesota State Tournament last year for New Prague High School after qualifying for the tournament at 126 as a sophomore. Gopher Athletics is in Berg's blood - both of his parents were student-athletes at the University of Minnesota as well (his father wrestled for the Gophers, while his mom was on the track and field team).
Dalton Clark claimed the North Carolina State Championship at 145 last winter, becoming the first individual state champ in Providence Grove High School's history. As a sophomore, Clark placed third in the state tournament. He has also competed a Junior Nationals.
Rylee Streifel of Prior Lake (Minn.) has a future at heavyweight at the collegiate level. He earned All-American honors last summer at Junior Nationals in freestyle after completing a 46-4 season in state high school competition. Streifel also has a strong academic background. He will be inducted into the National Business Honor Society later this week.
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Players Mentioned
