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With the wrestling season in full swing, many of the Top Prospects are getting noticed nationally and doing very well! A number of these have already singed a letter of Intent for college, but others are still talking to college coaches and considering their wrestling futures at the next level. In the next week the Top Prospect list will be updated and there will be some changes made. Some wrestlers will switch positions on the list and others will be added to the "Wrestlers to Watch " section. Congratulations to many of the Top Prospects on their accomplishments so far this season!
Wrestlers and fans are encouraged to send results, profiles and other information that will help with the Top Prospect rankings. This can be sent to: Ronnie Sigmon :
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Top Ten Senior Wrestlers
(1) Jon Burns - Sr, Cardinal Gibbons (145lbs) 2A (61-0) career finishes (3, DNW, 1)
Burns was a state 3rd place winner as a freshman. During his sophomore year, Burns transfered from Cary high school to Cardinal Gibbons high school. and due to the school's transfer rules he had to sit out the 2006 season. Burns was a Ohio Tournament of Champions 5th place winner in 2006 and 2005. During the 2007 season, he was undefeated and won the 140lb 2A state championship. On March 30th, Burns won the NHSCA Junior Nationals in Virginia Beach, Va. At this tournament, he defeated North Carolina 3A state champion Michael Williams (Southern Lee, NC) in the semi-finals and Tennessee three-time state place winner Ryan Konz in the finals. In June, Burns went undefeated wrestling in the state association division of the Disney Duals in Orlando, Florida. Burns could be at 141lbs or maybe 149lbs as a college freshman. Burns took the Summer and fall off to ponder his collegiate future. Once he decided upon Nebraska he returned to the mat with a vengence! He travled to Ohio to compete in the "Iron Man" tournament where he defeated some very good National Caliber wrestlers. Most prominate among these was the Number one recruit in the nation, Mario Mason in the semi-finals. After Burns won the Iron Man. He won the WRAL defeating Frank Hickman in the finals. The last few weeks Burns has shown he is now clearly the best wrestler in North Carolina and one of the best in the nation! *** Signed with the University of Nebraska ***
(2) Anthony Clinton - Sr, Mount Tabor (189lbs) 4A (36-1) career finishes (1,1)
Clinton won his first state championship as a sophomore wrestling at 189lbs. He repeated this by winning his second state championship in 2007, again at 189lbs. Clinton placed 7th at the Ohio Tournament of Champions in 2005 and he was 19olb runner-up in 2006. In the summer of 2006, Clinton injured his knee. He did not go to Fargo last summer, and he did not wrestle in the first half of last season while he recovered from ACL surgery. He is now fully recovered, and he has been wrestling at 189lbs at national events during the spring and summer of 2007. The last two years, Clinton has competed in a lot of inter-state and national tournaments (NHSCA National Opens, Disney Duals, East Coast Duals, etc...) He has been a multiple NHSCA All-American. Most recently, he was the 2007 NHSCA National Open runner-up. In this tournament, he lost to Michigan State Runner-up LJ Helbig in the finals 1-0. Clinton was also impressive in the 2007 USA East Coast Duals at Fairfax, Virginia. He was undefeated in freestyle and Greco where he defeated Virginia state runner-up Max Huntley, Maine state champion Josh Eon, and Florida state place winner Phil Uno. Clinton is strong and very athletic. Clinton won his two state championships wrestling at Mt Tabor high school for coach Jason Hooker. In October Clinton won the Super-32 where he defeated Fargo cadet champion Andrew Campolattano in the semi-finals and Max Huntley in the finals. Clinton also won the WRAL on December 15th. With the strength of both the Super-32 and WRAL championships, Clinton moves into the "Number Two" spot on this list. Clinton is projected at 197lbs for college.
(3) Jacob Earp - Sr, Watauga (135lbs/140lbs) 4A (Injured 2007) career finishes (SQ - 1 - Inj)
career finishes (SQ - 1 - Inj)
Earp was a state qualifier as a freshman. He had a great season as a sophomore where he was an undefeated state champion at 130lbs finishing the year with a (49-0) record. In 2005 he placed 5th at the Ohio Tournament of Champions. In the spring of 2006, Earp was the NHSCA Sophomore National Champion. He suffered a set back in early November of 2006 when a neck injury caused him to have to sit out the whole wrestling season. Earp rebounded from this by winning the NCUSA Tar Heel State freestyle tournament last April in his first competition since his injury. At this tournament, Earp (140lbs) defeated state place winner Chris Townsend (South Caldwell) in the semis-finals and two-time state champion Bobby Shanor (Morehead) in the finals. Earp earned USA All-American honors by placing 6th at 138lbs in the FILA Cadet tournament in Akron, Ohio on April 22nd. Earp competed in Germany with the FILA Cadet team in late June. He won All-American honors by placing 8th in freestyle at the Fargo, ND National tournament in July. Earp slides down to the Number Three spot on the Top Prospects list. He did not place at the Super-32 or the Iron Man. Earp did win the NHSCA Pre-Season Nationals in November and he has been unchallenged so far with in state competition. Earp is projected as a 141lb college wrestler. *** Signed with Appalachian State University ***
(4) Nick Gregoris - Sr, Chapel Hill (152lbs) 4A (17-3) career finishes (1,1,SQ)
Gregoris is a very accomplished and polished wrestler. He was an Independent state champion as a freshman and a 2A state champion as a sophomore for Cardinal Gibbons high school in Raleigh. He has won high school All-American honors at the National prep tournament (2005) and the Reno World Championships (2006). He also placed 3rd in the Ohio Tournament of Champions in 2005. Last fall, he transfered to 4A Chapel Hill high school and was a state qualifier. He was out most of the year during his junior season due to a shoulder injury, but he managed to start wrestling again near the end of the season. He advanced to the quarter-finals in the state tournament before losing in over time to Travis Puckett of Butler high school. Afterward, he injury defaulted from the tournament. Gregoris appears to have recovered from his injury, and he should be on track to contend for a third state championship in 2008. He competed in the NHSCA National Duals in May compiling a (6-1) record. In October Gregoris was the 152lb runner-up at the Super-32 tournament. Gregoris has won several NC tournaments and has looked impressive in doing so. Currently, he is considering offers from UNC- Chapel Hill and Virginia Tech, but as of yet nothing is confirmed and he is still open to other offers. On December 20th Gregoris was the 152lb tournament runner-up at the Reno Tournament of Champions. He defeated nationally ranked (#25) Colin Dailey of Penn. in the semi-finals and lost a decsion to (#5) Jake Salazar of Utah in the finals. Gregoris is projected as a 149/157lb prospect in college.
(5) Justin Koren - Sr, Cary (140lbs) 4A (59-2) career finishes (SQ-3-1)
Koren is another very technical wrestler. He has helped Cary high school win the 4A state tournament championship the last three years. Koren was a 119lb state qualifier as a freshman and a 125lb state 3rd place winner as a sophomore. Koren won his first state championship in 2007 wrestling at 135lbs where he finished the season with a 59-2 record. His brother Nick won two state championships at Cary high school, in 2005 and 2006. In October Koren placed 7th in the Super-32. Koren is projected as a 149lb wrestler for college. *** Signed with Lehigh University ***
(6) Bobby Shanor - Sr, Morehead (135lbs/140lbs) 3A (65-3) career finishes (1,1)
Shanor is a very skilled wrestling technician. Shanor was a Pennsylvania district champion as a freshman. He moved to North Carolina, and he won his first state championship his sophomore season wrestling at 119lbs. In 2007, he won his second state championship finishing the season with a 65-3 record wrestling at 135lbs. Shanor was a NC freestyle state champion in 2006. He was the state freestyle runner-up in 2007 at 140lbs losing in the finals to Jacob Earp. Shanor placed 5th at the 2007 Ohio Tournament of Champions. In May, Shanor competed in the NHSCA National Duals where he compiled a (5-2) record for the tournament. Shanor is projected as a 141lb prospect for college. *** Signed with the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill ***
(7) Michael Williams - Sr, Southern Lee (145lbs) 3A (47-0) career finishes (1)
Williams wrestled in New Jersey until his junior season when he moved to North Carolina. He finished his junior season undefeated with a 47-0 record. In doing so, he defeated senior returning 3A state champion Bruce Mann in the semi-finals of the state tournament. He competed in the NHSCA Junior Nationals in March where he advanced to the semi-finals before falling to National Champion Jon Burns. Williams ended up making All-American placing 6th at this tournament. Williams is a very quick and skilled wrestler. Williams won the WRAL at 152lbs on December 15th. He is working on getting down to 145lbs by the first of the year. On December 22nd Williams was the 152lb champion at the 27-team North Davidson "King of the Mat" tournament where he defeated Alex Winn 8-2 in the finals. He is projected as a 149lb college prospect.
(8) Travis Puckett - Sr, Butler (171lbs) 4A (43-3) career finishes (SQ-INJ-3)
Puckett was a state qualifier as a freshman, but he did not wrestle in 2006 due to an ACL injury. He placed 3rd in 2007 finishing with a 43-3 record where two of his losses were to undefeated senior and four-time state champion Justin Sparrow. The other was in the state semi-finals to UNCG bound senior Michael McKee. Puckett's two older brothers (Jake and Pete) were both high school state champions that went on to compete in DI college wrestling. Puckett was a member of Team North Carolina at the Disney Duals in June. Puckett defeated Gainy in a match in early December. He is projected as a 174lb college wrestler.
(9) Greg Gainey - Sr, Parkland (160lbs) 3A (68-4) career finishes ( 2-2)
Gainey is a two-time state runner-up for defending 3A state champion Parkland high school. He defeated two-time Virginia state champion Andrew Clement during the spring Morehead tournament. Gainey has steadily improved due to his off season competitions. Gainey was the WRAL champion at 160lbs. Gainey defeated Victor Cresenzo (5-2) for the championship of the "King of the Mat" tournament.. He is projected as a 165lb college prospect.
(10) Marcus Blue - Sr, HP Andrews (152lbs) 3A (61-3) career finishes (SQ-SQ-1)
Blue is a two-time state qualifier and a 2007 state champion at 145lbs in 2007. Blue was the Eden Morehead tournament champion and MOW on December 8th. At this tournament Blue pinned North Carolina state runner-up Sean Callahan in the finals. Blue is a 157lb college prospect.
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