The Open Mat Gives Bulls #11 Recruiting Class Ranking

The Open Mat has released 2011 recruiting class rankings.  The Bulls came in with an outstanding #11 class, a best in school history.  


Here is the excerpt about UB: 

#11  Buffalo  (LY: UR)

#17-Arik Robinson (NY), 125

#8-Blake Roulo (VA), 149

#13-Justin Lozano (CA), 165/174

#16-Jake Waste (MN), 165/174

#19-Justin Heiserman (MI), 197

Abdulgawi Mohammed (NY), 125

Danny Gormley (NY), 133

Class Overview:

The staff at Buffalo are on to something. After crowning 4 MAC Champions and sending a school-record, 6, individuals to NCAA’s, Jim Beichner has facility upgrades in the works and Frank Beasley, who works the recruiting trail tirelessly, has one of the best hauls of the year.

At the top, Arik Robinson became just the 4^th four-timer in NYS history. This season he was named Most Outstanding at both the state tournament and Eastern States, the highest regarded regular season tournament in the Empire State.

Roulo has long been in the national picture. A 3-time Fargo AA and this year’s Beast runner-up, Roulo became just the second wrestler to ever win four class titles at NHSCA’s.

Lozano was a state runner-up this year, earning his second state medal. He’s also made finals appearances in 5 Counties, Doc Buchanan, and NHSCA’s.

Waste has a lengthy resume in both folk and international styles. He just won a Fila GR title in April after winning a state title in Minnesota. In 2009 he became the 6^th ever Cadet Triple Crown Winner.

Heiserman was a three-time state finalist, two-time champ and an NHSCA placer this year.

Why They’re Here:

The Bulls nabbed quality kids at a number of weight classes that will keep that, at minimum, competitive in the MAC for years to come. With this group, look for an increased Buffalo presence in the rankings and at the NCAA tournament in the future.

Why They’re Not Higher:

Last year the Bulls brought in the Soria Brothers to man the lightweights. And they’ve performed better than expected in open competition last year. So Robinson starting isn’t a foregone conclusion.

This class, while heavy on ‘prospects’ in every sense of the word, lacks a #1 type guy. Their impact to their program is immediate, which is why they’re #11. But to become competitive nationally, the individuals here still have so work to do.

A link to the entire article can be found here.