Lake Erie Wrestling Announces First Recruiting Class

PAINESVILLE, OHIO – With the schedule set and a new practice facility under construction, the only thing that remains for the Lake Erie College wrestling team is the finalization of the roster that will make up the inaugural Storm team this winter.  Since coming on board when the program was announced in November, head coach Kevin Hoogenboom has brought in 22 student-athletes into the fold with several more expected to join by the start of school in the fall.

"I'm very pleased with this first class," Hoogenboom said.  "Despite being a new program, there is a lot of excitement and interest in Lake Erie College wrestling as evident by the fact we are bringing in kids from Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.  We have a number of guys signed that placed at their respective state meets and many more who qualified for their state tournaments."

Of the 22 newcomers, 15 come from in-state, six hail from Pennsylvania with another from Upstate New York.  Of the 15 Ohioans, eight were state qualifiers in 2010, highlighted by state runner-up Joe Linden (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) and a pair of third-place finishers in Joe Poyser (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) and Zachary Vargo (Stow, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy).

"This group is talented, and each one of them will have an immediate impact on our team next season as well as on the future of our program," said Hoogenboom.  "I anticipate a very competitive room in the fall with a lot of guys battling for starting spots.  The key will be to get everyone on the same page and working towards common goals. If we are able to do that, then I think our first year can be successful."

That first season starts Nov. 13 at Washington & Jefferson College with the W & J Open.  The Storm will host its first match at the Jerome T. Osborne Family Athletic & Wellness Center Saturday, Dec. 4, vs. Seton Hill University. 

"It would be great to 'pack the house' for that first home match," Hoogenboom said.  "There are a lot of wrestling fans in Northeast Ohio and I believe they will enjoy watching our team compete and for our team, there's nothing like wrestling in front of a big crowd."

2010 Lake Erie College Wrestling Recruiting Class

* Projected weight classes for 2010-11 season

-LEC-