by John Rizzuti
Managing Editor
InsideTexasWrestling.com
Copyright 2006 All Rights Reserved

Also submitted exclusively to www.Intermatwrestle.com as part of Wrestling “48″

Top Recruit
Luke Ashmore
Bishop Lynch H.S., Dallas
Projected College Weight: 141/149
Background: Luke is the younger brother of the greatest dynamic duo in Texas High School wrestling history – The Bashmore Brothers. Following right behind his brother Ben, Luke is quickly carving out his own identity and the climatic setting he has done so is Fargo, North Dakota. He has been a national freestyle finalist the past three years and won the junior title at 140 this year – anchored by a stunning, do-or-die round-robin fall over heralded Ohio superstud Lance Palmer. The year prior, he won it all in the Cadet division and earned MOW in the process. He’s also a Beast of the East finalist and a National Prep finalist. He has won over 175 high school matches the past three years.

Why he’s # 1: Luke’s tenacity, competitiveness and desire, along with flawless technique and superior, relentless work ethic make him the right choice for number-one from the Lone Star State. In fact, he could be number-one in almost every other state in the Union. He loves to wrestle big matches and he fears nobody. This set of dynamics will make him a force to be reckoned on the college mats in the coming years. Most experts feel Luke will be an NCAA All-American with a shot at being a Division I finalist before he’s through.
Where he’s looking: Oklahoma State, North Carolina, Stanford, Arizona State, Minnesota.

Second-ranked recruit
Luke Silver
Bishop Lynch H.S., Dallas
Projected College Weight: 133/141
Background: Often wrestling in the shadows at Bishop Lynch for the past three seasons, Luke Silver has quietly won over 200 matches, which is an inconceivable accomplishment. Luke is a three-way All-American; winning honors at Junior Nationals, National Preps and at Fargo. That right there says all you need to say about the Silver Bullet.

Why he’s a top recruit: He was also a Beast of the East finalist this past year, narrowing losing to one of the top recruits in the free world, Jordan Frishhorn, 3-1. Up to that match, Luke had allowed only one point in the entire tournament, which is a great testament to his top-notch defense. Silver is rock solid in every part of his wrestling repertoire. His specialty is a stealth-like defense and he is tough as nails to score on. He also loves to compete in the big matches and will wrestle anybody, anytime, anyplace. He has remarkable wrestling pedigree and is an outstanding student, one of the top in his class at Bishop Lynch. Luke Silver is prime-time.
Where he’s looking: Harvard, Stanford, Oklahoma State, North Carolina and Arizona State

Second Tier
Brent Rogers
James Bowie H.S., Arlington
Projected College Weight: 149/157
Background: Texas State champion at 145 and expected to repeat this year. Rogers is a no-nonsense, hard-working, blue-collar wrestler who takes no prisoners on the mat. He racks up points like crazy and is always going for the fall. He is known as a pinning machine. Wrestlers know when they go on the mat to face Brent that they better bring their “A” game or they will get severely punished. He loves to tap dance on his opponent’s forehead.

Why he’s a top recruit: During the junior duals this past summer, Brent went a perfect 7-0 in competition against the top preps from around the country. His style is perfect for college wrestling. He is reminiscent of another Arlington Bowie product that made it all the way to the NCAA finals by the name of Ben Heizer. He has a great reputation at school of being not only a first-class wrestler, but also a first-class citizen. He is the total package.
Where he’s looking: Appalachian State and many others TBD

Josh Sandoval
Heritage H.S., Colleyville
Projected College Weight: 125/133
Background: Anyone who has followed headline-grabbing news in Texas wrestling for the past several years knows the name Sandoval well. Josh has been a staple of championship matches going all the way back to his tenure with the Coppell Stars Club, and right now is considered one of the top prep Greco wrestlers in the nation. Strangely, Josh as struggled to win a state championship despite being a Fargo All-American. It certainly isn’t any indication of heart, work ethic or skills. However, that does not mean that he won’t be a great college wrestler. Josh wants to study Political Science/Law and/or International Affairs in college. His GPA going into his senior year was a 4.3 on a 5.0 scale, and is in the top 25% of his class. His strong academics match up well with his community service/leadership strengths.

Why he’s a top recruit: Josh loves to wrestle and he loves to use his patented and legendary Greco skills to score the big “five- point” moves on his opponents. The question is can he translate these skills into what’s needed at the collegiate level. If he can go 125, he’ll be right in the mix. As you’ll read here repeatedly, the hardest weight for college coaches to fill is 125. Josh will make an outstanding college wrestler. Josh certainly has NCAA All-American potential.
Where he’s looking: Navy, Columbia, Missouri, Northern Colorado, Air Force, plus many others including Cal Poly, Army, Princeton, and Lehigh.

Matt Harris
Cinco Ranch H.S., Katy
Projected College Weight: 174
Background: Matt Harris is a takedown machine. During the 2005-06 season, he blew the doors off his former school record for takedowns with 160 – while wrestling at 160! His career record is 78-16 and his junior year tenure was 45-1 – culminating with a win in the most exciting match in UIL state meet history. Matt is also a great scholar with a 3.4 GPA. He is interested in pursuing an engineering degree. He is also a superstar player for the Cinco Ranch football team. Matt plans on wrestling at 171 this coming season.

Why he’s a top recruit: Matt brings athleticism, extreme strength, heart, dedication, and a no-fear attitude to the mat. He is a money wrestler. When the chips are down, when the clock is ticking to zero, you want Matt Harris wearing your singlet. He has the pedigree of a winner, plus he’s a product of the heralded wrestling factory at Cinco Ranch. If he so desires, Matt has the skills to wrestle in college and he’ll make a fine addition to any program, even an elite one at that. Matt is tenacious. Matt is ferocious. Matt is a no-nonsense winner.
Where he’s looking: TBD

Jimmy Peterson
Madison H.S., San Antonio
Projected College Weight: 141
Background: Jimmy is an All-American last year at Junior nationals, being the only UIL wrestler to do so. He also racked up 50 points and a fall at UIL state as he demolished everyone in his path to the state title. His record was 38-0. He pinned superstar Dakota Frizzell at the Brute Bowl and pinned an awesome wrestler Colin McElroy from The Woodlands at state. When you throw kids like those guys above who just happen to be just this side of terrific, then you’ve got what it takes.

Why he’s a top recruit: Jimmy is a college coach’s dream. He is a good student with a 3.3 GPA. Also he won state in Greco-Roman and freestyle and been a member of Team Texas for three years and has competed in Fargo three years. Peterson is also a tremendous cross-country runner, another thing that college people will love. He is now a four-time varsity runner and a three-time team Captain.
Where he’s looking: TBD

Chase Gallatin
Highland Park H.S. Dallas
Projected College Weight: 141
Background: He’s called the “Gattling Gunn” for one simple reason. He keeps coming and coming hard after his opponents with great ferocity and determination. Chase is the type of kid who nobody would really expect much out of since he didn’t start young and he doesn’t have that wrestling pedigree. But with hard work and by wrestling and competing year-around, Chase has managed with hard work and intestinal fortitude to make the top ten list. He is the UIL runner-up at 135 this past year and is expected to battle for the title this coming spring.

Why he’s a top recruit: What does it take to wrestle in college? Most of all it takes great wrestling skills and a superior mental attitude. Chase has both. Wrestling at this level requires a supreme sacrifice by an athlete to excel and Chase can and will do whatever it takes to do just that. He is willing to pay whatever price there is to be part of a college-wrestling program. Chase won nine out of twelve matches against stiff national competition at junior duals this past summer.
Where he’s looking: TBD – Chase is wide open.

Kyle Anderson
Highland Park H.S., Dallas
Projected College Weight: 165/174
Background: Of all the high school wrestler’s backgrounds examined by us, no one was more impressive than Kyle Anderson. We believe that to wrestle in college takes more than just wrestling skills. It takes kids with heart and character and great citizenship. Wrestlers who come from Highland Park know how to win. They excel in the classroom. Kyle is a 4.0 student and ranks 4th out of 480 students in his class. Kyle excels at all academics (in all AP classes) and he also contributes hundreds of hours of time to many charitable causes. Kyle has been wrestling since 4th grade and both of his uncles were grapplers.

Why he’s a top recruit: During the 2005-2006 Season – as a junior Kyle won more than 50 matches and notched a bronze medal at UIL state as he helped lead Highland Park to yet another title. In addition to all of his academic and community service work, Kyle wrestles year around and works with the Dallas Dynamite club team where he gets additional superb coaching to further develop his technical skills. Kyle wants to take his wrestling to the next level and that is where college wrestling fits in. He has full NCAA potential.
Where he’s looking: Stanford, Cornell, Princeton, Duke

Jamison Sheets
Cinco Ranch H.S. Katy
Projected College Weight: 141/149
Background: Jamie is one of the best technical wrestlers in the state. Since his freshman year state championship, many observers may consider him to be an underachiever. However, a career record of 128-12, with 88 wins by fall and 19 tournament championships with numerous MOWs awards says different. Jamie has a 4.0 GPA with and has exceptional math skills. Jamie plans on studying engineering in college.

Why he’s a top recruit: Jamie’s few losses have come from the best wrestlers in Texas. Jamie has been team co-captain both his junior and senior years for Cinco Ranch and earned “Coaches Award” in 2006 (which he shared with Will McNair). If he remains healthy, he is on target to blast through nearly all the career records held at Cinco Ranch by former great Matt Tiffin. Jamie definitely has Division I potential.
Where he’s looking: Army, Navy, Columbia, Missouri, Maryland, Purdue and several others.

Danny Caraveo
Franklin H.S. El Paso
Projected College Weight: 125/133
Background: Danny’s incredible, spine-tingling quarterfinal match with Josh Sandoval at UIL state was the second greatest match of the entire tournament. If Josh is on the list (and he is) then Danny needs to be here. His only loss other than the match to Sandoval was to state champion Kevin Jury. Danny plans on being an attorney after leaving school and he is one guy you don’t want to be cross-examined by! He should be wrestling year around, though.

Why he’s a top recruit: The “El Paso Bad Boy” is a top recruit simply because he has the best single leg takedown in all of Texas High School wrestling – a move reminiscent of the great John Smith’s world class single. He is also quick as a cat, and very strong for his weight. He’s lean, yet powerful. If he can go 125 he can wrestle at any college in America. Even if he goes 133 he can compete with the best.
Where he’s looking: Central College (Iowa), William Penn (Iowa), Newman (Kansas), Wabash College (IN), Others TBD

Brandon McDonald
Canyon Randall H.S. Canyon
Projected College Weight: 125
Background: Brandon is a wrestling machine. In addition to winning All-American Honors at Fargo in Junior Freestyle, and wrestling a ton of matches at Junior duals in both classifications, Brandon was a place winner at UIL state in an incredibly loaded weight class. Heading into that meet last year, Brandon had pounded more than 50 victims into submission. During junior duals this past summer, Brandon won nine out of ten matches in both classes wrestling up a weight, beating wrestlers from across America, including another Fargo All-American.

Why he’s a top recruit: Brandon can go 125 for his entire college career and as we have said here often, this is the toughest weight for college coaches to fill. He’ll need to build up and bulk up because right now he is a little on the small side even for 125, but with his competitive spirit and drive he’ll overcome that quite handily.
Where he’s looking: TBD

Third Tier
The following individuals narrowly missed the top ten. They are every bit as good and anyone of them can move up if anyone above decides not to compete in college or becomes a dreadful person. Listed in no certain order, they are:

Jordan Couch
Keller H.S. Keller

Mike Murray
Cy-Fair H.S. Houston

Thanks to all the wrestling parents, coaches and observers who contributed to the article and helped with factorial research. I couldn’t have done it without you! Special thanks to WG, LS, BS, KC, DC, BR, KA, BM, JP and many others.