Raleigh, N.C. -
First-year head coach Pat Popolizio announced seven student-athletes have signed with the Pack during the fall signing period. The class has been ranked ninth nationally by theopenmat.com, and the second-best in the ACC.
“Our coaching staff worked extremely hard to bring a very important recruiting class to NC State,” said Popolizio. “This group of guys will pave the way for the future for Wolfpack Wrestling. They have a great attitude and are extremely motivated. That coupled with their talent level makes this a very exciting time for the Wolfpack.”
Here’s a look at each of the Pack’s signees:
• Brenden Calas (Seton Hall Prep School, N.J.)
Ranked No. 10 nationally at 120 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 120 pounds, will wrestle at 125 at NC State … Currently posts an 85-9 high school record … The 2012 New Jersey state champion at 113 pounds … 2010 state champion at 103 pounds, 2010 state qualifier at 103 as well … 2012 Fargo Junior Greco Roman National 8th Place (All-American) at 120 pounds … 2010 Fargo Cadet Greco Roman National 8th Place (All-American) at 105 pounds.
“Brenden is a winner, he wins when it matters most. He will be going for his third state title in one of the toughest states in the country.” - Popolizio
• Scott Del Vecchio (South Plainfield High School, N.J.)
No. 63 overall recruit in the country by flowrestling.org … No. 90 overall by D1collegewrestling.net … Ranked No. 4 at 132 pounds by flowrestling.org, No. 7 by intermatwrestle.com, and No. 11 by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 132 pounds, will wrestle at 133 at NC State … 119-10 career high school record … 2012 undefeated New Jersey state champion at 132 pounds with a 44-0 record … 2011 and 2010 state qualifier … Finished fourth at the 2012 Super 32 at 132 pounds … 2012 Journeyman Classic Champion … 2010 and 2009 Ironhorse Invitational Champion.
“Scott’s high school is known to produce some of the best talent in the country and Scott is one of those wrestlers. He will be joining former South Plainfield great, Tyler Hunt, at NC State. He has a very flashy style that will be great to watch.” - Popolizio
• Chris Wilkes (Whitfield School, Mo.)
No. 88 overall recruit in the country by D1collegewrestlingnet.com … No. 89 overall by both intermatwrestle.com and flowrestling.org … Ranked No. 10 nationally at 132 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … No. 13 at 138 pounds by intermatwrestle.com … Currently competing at 138 pounds, will wrestle at 133/141 at NC State … Holds a 155-7 career high school record … 2012 Missouri state champion at 126 pounds … Finished third at state championships in 2011 (130 pounds) and 2010 (125 pounds) … USA Wrestling Folkstyle National Champion … 2011 Fargo Cadet Freestyle All-American, finished third at 130 pounds … Outstanding wrestler of the 2011 Granite City “Red Schmitt” memorial Tournament at 126 pounds.
“Chris is a very dynamic wrestler. He has the ability to score a lot of points for NC State. Last season he beat the top recruit in the country in his weight, and we expect him to continue to build on that.” - Popolizio
• Max Rohskopf (West Holmes High School, Ohio)
Ranked No. 28 nationally at 138 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 145/152 pounds, will wrestle at 149/157 at NC State … Holds a 105-19 career high school record … Finished third at the 2012 Ohio state tournament at 138 pounds … Went 44-3 on the year … Was seventh at the 2011 state championships at 130 pounds … Was 31-5 overall … 2012 state qualifier at 119 pounds … 2012 Michigan Grappler Fall Classic champion at 145 pounds.
“Max’s winning attitude will have a big impact on our future at NC State. He is very focused on accomplishing his goals.” - Popolizio
• Chad Pyke (Woodward Academy, Ga.)
Nationally-ranked honorable mention All-American at 138 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 152 pounds, will wrestle at 157 at NC State … Holds a 240-17 career high school record … 2012 Georgia state champion at 138 pounds … Went 86-4 on the year … Finished third at 2011 state championships at 125 pounds, and was fifth in 2010 at 112 pounds … 2012 Clinch Gear Prep Slam champion at 138 pounds … Was fourth at 2011 Clinch Gear Prep Slam at 125 pounds and champion at 112 pounds in 2010 … 2012 USA Wrestling preseason national runner-up at 152 pounds.
“Chad is a perfect fit for what we look for in a recruit. He is a student of the sport and has a huge upside. We are excited to see Chad develop over the next several years.” - Popolizio
• Peter Renda (Brandywine Heights High School, Pa.)
No. 43 overall recruit in the country by flowrestling.org … Ranked No. 5 nationally at 170 pounds by flowrestling.org … No. 8 at 170 pounds by intermatwrestle.com … Also ranked No. 11 nationally at 160 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 170/182 pounds, will wrestle at 174/184 at NC State … Holds a 120-22 career high school record … 2012 Pennsylvania state finialist at 152 pounds … Finished fifth at state championships at 135 pounds in 2011, and seventh at 119 pounds in 2010 … 2012 Fargo Junior Freestyle All-American, 8th place at 160 pounds … Was third at the 2012 Super 32 … 2012 Journeyman Classic champion.
“We are very excited that Pete is part of the Wolfpack. He will have an immediate impact on our program. He brings a strong work ethic and the ability to compete at a high level right away.” - Popolizio
• Shayne Brady (Carthage High School, N.Y.)
Currently competing at 182 pounds, will wrestle at 184 at NC State … Has 166 high school wins … Took second at the 2012 New York state championships at 170 pounds … Finished the year with a record of 38-2 … 2012 Super 32 eighth place finish at 182 pounds … Was a 2011 state qualifier at 152 pounds.
“Shayne is constantly improving and has a big upside in college. We look for him to be right in the mix to start at 184 pounds.” - Popolizio
Note: We have additional recruits verbally committed but we are not yet able to comment on those athletes.
“Our coaching staff worked extremely hard to bring a very important recruiting class to NC State,” said Popolizio. “This group of guys will pave the way for the future for Wolfpack Wrestling. They have a great attitude and are extremely motivated. That coupled with their talent level makes this a very exciting time for the Wolfpack.”
Here’s a look at each of the Pack’s signees:
• Brenden Calas (Seton Hall Prep School, N.J.)
Ranked No. 10 nationally at 120 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 120 pounds, will wrestle at 125 at NC State … Currently posts an 85-9 high school record … The 2012 New Jersey state champion at 113 pounds … 2010 state champion at 103 pounds, 2010 state qualifier at 103 as well … 2012 Fargo Junior Greco Roman National 8th Place (All-American) at 120 pounds … 2010 Fargo Cadet Greco Roman National 8th Place (All-American) at 105 pounds.
“Brenden is a winner, he wins when it matters most. He will be going for his third state title in one of the toughest states in the country.” - Popolizio
• Scott Del Vecchio (South Plainfield High School, N.J.)
No. 63 overall recruit in the country by flowrestling.org … No. 90 overall by D1collegewrestling.net … Ranked No. 4 at 132 pounds by flowrestling.org, No. 7 by intermatwrestle.com, and No. 11 by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 132 pounds, will wrestle at 133 at NC State … 119-10 career high school record … 2012 undefeated New Jersey state champion at 132 pounds with a 44-0 record … 2011 and 2010 state qualifier … Finished fourth at the 2012 Super 32 at 132 pounds … 2012 Journeyman Classic Champion … 2010 and 2009 Ironhorse Invitational Champion.
“Scott’s high school is known to produce some of the best talent in the country and Scott is one of those wrestlers. He will be joining former South Plainfield great, Tyler Hunt, at NC State. He has a very flashy style that will be great to watch.” - Popolizio
• Chris Wilkes (Whitfield School, Mo.)
No. 88 overall recruit in the country by D1collegewrestlingnet.com … No. 89 overall by both intermatwrestle.com and flowrestling.org … Ranked No. 10 nationally at 132 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … No. 13 at 138 pounds by intermatwrestle.com … Currently competing at 138 pounds, will wrestle at 133/141 at NC State … Holds a 155-7 career high school record … 2012 Missouri state champion at 126 pounds … Finished third at state championships in 2011 (130 pounds) and 2010 (125 pounds) … USA Wrestling Folkstyle National Champion … 2011 Fargo Cadet Freestyle All-American, finished third at 130 pounds … Outstanding wrestler of the 2011 Granite City “Red Schmitt” memorial Tournament at 126 pounds.
“Chris is a very dynamic wrestler. He has the ability to score a lot of points for NC State. Last season he beat the top recruit in the country in his weight, and we expect him to continue to build on that.” - Popolizio
• Max Rohskopf (West Holmes High School, Ohio)
Ranked No. 28 nationally at 138 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 145/152 pounds, will wrestle at 149/157 at NC State … Holds a 105-19 career high school record … Finished third at the 2012 Ohio state tournament at 138 pounds … Went 44-3 on the year … Was seventh at the 2011 state championships at 130 pounds … Was 31-5 overall … 2012 state qualifier at 119 pounds … 2012 Michigan Grappler Fall Classic champion at 145 pounds.
“Max’s winning attitude will have a big impact on our future at NC State. He is very focused on accomplishing his goals.” - Popolizio
• Chad Pyke (Woodward Academy, Ga.)
Nationally-ranked honorable mention All-American at 138 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 152 pounds, will wrestle at 157 at NC State … Holds a 240-17 career high school record … 2012 Georgia state champion at 138 pounds … Went 86-4 on the year … Finished third at 2011 state championships at 125 pounds, and was fifth in 2010 at 112 pounds … 2012 Clinch Gear Prep Slam champion at 138 pounds … Was fourth at 2011 Clinch Gear Prep Slam at 125 pounds and champion at 112 pounds in 2010 … 2012 USA Wrestling preseason national runner-up at 152 pounds.
“Chad is a perfect fit for what we look for in a recruit. He is a student of the sport and has a huge upside. We are excited to see Chad develop over the next several years.” - Popolizio
• Peter Renda (Brandywine Heights High School, Pa.)
No. 43 overall recruit in the country by flowrestling.org … Ranked No. 5 nationally at 170 pounds by flowrestling.org … No. 8 at 170 pounds by intermatwrestle.com … Also ranked No. 11 nationally at 160 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine … Currently competing at 170/182 pounds, will wrestle at 174/184 at NC State … Holds a 120-22 career high school record … 2012 Pennsylvania state finialist at 152 pounds … Finished fifth at state championships at 135 pounds in 2011, and seventh at 119 pounds in 2010 … 2012 Fargo Junior Freestyle All-American, 8th place at 160 pounds … Was third at the 2012 Super 32 … 2012 Journeyman Classic champion.
“We are very excited that Pete is part of the Wolfpack. He will have an immediate impact on our program. He brings a strong work ethic and the ability to compete at a high level right away.” - Popolizio
• Shayne Brady (Carthage High School, N.Y.)
Currently competing at 182 pounds, will wrestle at 184 at NC State … Has 166 high school wins … Took second at the 2012 New York state championships at 170 pounds … Finished the year with a record of 38-2 … 2012 Super 32 eighth place finish at 182 pounds … Was a 2011 state qualifier at 152 pounds.
“Shayne is constantly improving and has a big upside in college. We look for him to be right in the mix to start at 184 pounds.” - Popolizio
Note: We have additional recruits verbally committed but we are not yet able to comment on those athletes.
Outstanding job by this coaching staff!
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