CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -- Tiger Wrestling has added 10 more recruits for the 2011-12 recruiting class, Campbellsville University head coach Franky James announced Tuesday. The Tigers snagged a pair of transfers to go with eight incoming freshman, bringing the total number of recruits to 18 for the summer so far.
One of the transfers, TD Thurston, is no stranger to the Tiger program. Not only has Thurston wrestled against the Tigers for North Carolina Pembroke, his brother Tim was an All-American for the Tigers in 2011 and will be a senior this winter. TD was a two-time National High School Coaches Association All-American. James is hoping the Brothers Thurston can repeat some of its past success. The Thurston duo won state titles in high school in 2008. TD won the 3A state title at 103pounds, while his older brother took the 119-pound title. TD is expected to wrestle 125 pounds while Tim will compete at 133.
Junior Brandon Westerman comes to CU with ties to the Tiger program. Westerman was coached by former Tiger grapller Kyle Norred at McEachern High School in Georgia. Westerman won four state titles across three divisions in high school. Last year, while attending Marion Military Academy in Alabama, Westerman won the National Collegiate Wrestling Association national championship in the 141-pound class.
"Brandon is a kid we did not get out of high school, but we are very excited to be getting him now," said James.
The Tigers went further south to pluck a pair of freshmen from Florida. Virgil Toms and Ty Cartmell each one won state titles in the Sunshine State. Toms won a state title at Springstead High School as a junior in 2010. Cartmell won his state title this past February for Viera High School.
"Virgil Toms is very tough and is a big signing that will give us some stability and security in the lower weights for the future," said James. "We're excited about Ty Cartmell. He is the total package and could be very good."
The Tigers also add state champion Ronta Burgess from North Carolina. The Thomasville High School product graduated as the school's all-time leader in wins.
Accompanying the aforementioned additions will be a pair of Peach State grapplers, Luke Rakes and Johnathan Hill. Rakes, from Altoona, Ga., was a state runner-up and three time state placer. Hill, also a pupil of Norred at McEachern, was a state placer.
Rounding out the class will be a trio of Kentucky products, Cole Proctor, Kyle Terry and Shelby Floyd. Proctor, a South Oldham High School product, was a state placer. Terry was a state runner-up and three time state placer at Central Hardin High School. Former Larue County Hawk, Floyd, was a state runner up as well, losing to fellow Tiger commitment, Joe Whalen.
The Tigers open their 2011-2012 season on November 5th in Ypsilanti, Mich., in the Eastern Michigan Open.
2011 TIGER RECRUITING CLASS
Chris Teague | Greenville, S.C. | Spartanburg Methodist College 149 2x S.C. State Champion
TD Thurston | High Point, N.C. | UNC-Pembroke 125 2x N.C State Champion High School AA round of 12 Ncaa DII @ 133 lbs
Brandon Westerman | Powder Springs, Ga. | Marion Military Institute141 4x Ga. State Champion NWCA National Champion
Brandon Barnett | Cynthiana, Ky. | Harrison County High School 184/197 2x Ky. State Finalist 1x State Champion.
Antonio Brooks | Chattanooga, Tenn. | Central High School 197/285 Tenn. State placer 3rd
Paul Gryniuk | Washington Court House, Ohio | Washington Court High School 165/174 Ohio State Placer 3rd
Cody Herald | Covington, Ky. | Simon Kenton High School 141/149 Ky. State runner up
Conor Maglecic | Cincinnati, Ohio | Norwood High School 184/197 Ohio State Qaul
Travis McIntosh | Washington Court House, Ohio | Miami Trace High School 184 Ohio State Champion ranked 18th at 215 by intermat.
Joe Whalen | Lexington, Ky. | Henry Clay High School 149/157 KY State Champion
Virgil Toms | Ocala, Fla. | Springstead High School 125/133 2x FL. State Champion
Ronta Burgess | Thomasville, N.C. | Thomasville High School 133/141 N.C. State Champion
Kyle Terry | Elizabethtown, Ky. | Central Hardin High School 141/149 Ky. State runner up
Shelby Floyd | Upton, Ky. | Larue County High School 149/ 157 KY. State Runner up
Cole Proctor | Crestwood, Ky. | South Oldham High School 149 Ky State Placer 4th
Luke Rakes | Altoona, Ga. | Altoona High School 165 1x VA state Placer 3x GA. State Placer and runner up.
Johnathan Hill | Powder Springs, Ga. | McEachern High School 165 Ga. State Placer 4th
Ty Cartmell | Melbourne, Fla. | Viera High School 184 Fl. State Champion
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