Lehigh adds nine in 2016 wrestling recruiting class
5/17/2016 4:35:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Four top 100-rated student-athletes who have won a total of six state or National Prep titles highlight the 2016 Lehigh recruiting class announced Tuesday by head coach Pat Santoro. The nine-wrestler class includes eight wrestlers from Pennsylvania and one from New Jersey.
This incoming class, which features four wrestlers that project at lower weights and five that project at upper weights, has already received national acclaim. Lehigh's class was recently ranked fourth in the nation by FloWrestling.org and fifth by InterMat.
"It's a class with good wrestlers but we were fortunate enough to also get some really good character kids," Santoro said. "This class will really fill a lot of needs. We were a little thin up top and thin below but we addressed those needs this year. I'm a big believer in iron sharpens iron. With the addition of this class every weight class will be competitive."
The highest-rated member of the incoming class is projected heavyweight Jordan Wood from Boyertown High School. Wood is the No. 10 overall recruit in the class of 2016 according to InterMat and the No. 20 overall recruit according to FloWrestling. He amassed a 149-5 career record that was highlighted by a 20-0 junior season that resulted in a state championship. A four-time district and sectional champion, Wood is a two-time southeast regional champion (and three-time finalist) and has also won titles at the Beast of the East, King of the Mountain (three titles), Escape the Rock and Super 32 (two titles). Wood went 42-1 as a senior but an injury in the regional finals denied him a shot at a second straight state title.
In addition to his folkstyle exploits, Wood is a Fargo freestyle national champion and Greco-Roman runner-up. He won a FILA freestyle cadet national championship and went on to win a Cadet World silver medal in 2014. He finished fifth at the Cadet World Championships in 2015.
The latest in a stretch of Lehigh Valley products, Luke Karam will join All-Americans Randy and Darian Cruz as Bethlehem Catholic wrestlers on the Mountain Hawks roster. A three-time state champion and four-time PIAA finalist, Karam is ranked 15th in the Class of 2016 by InterMat and 30th by FloWrestling. He is a four-time district and regional champion who owns a 43-1 career postseason record as part of his 156-10 career high school mark.
The 2016 East Penn Conference Outstanding Wrestler, Karam was a three-time Beast of the East finalist, winning a title and earning Outstanding Wrestler honors in 2014 and was a finalist at last year's Super 32 Tournament. Karam competed and won his bout at the 2016 Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic (formerly the Dapper Dan). On the freestyle circuit, Karam is a two-time state champion and two-time national All-American. He projects at 133 or 141 for the Mountain Hawks.
The No. 19 recruit in the class of 2016 according to InterMat, Chris Weiler comes to Lehigh from prep school power Wyoming Seminary. Weiler is a two-time National Prep All-American and won a National Prep title at Lehigh's Stabler Arena at 160 in 2015. The 2015 Super 32 Champion at 179, Weiler's national rankings suffered after suffering a season-ending injury in November. He finished with a 138-17 career record and won a NHSCA national title as a sophomore. Weiler projects at 174/184 and is a two-time Fargo junior freestyle All-American who posted top three finishes in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the 2015 junior Pan-Am Games.
The fourth top-100 grappler in the class is John "Jake" Jakobsen from Stroudsburg High School. A three-time state qualifier, two-time finalist and the 2016 state champion at 195, Jakobsen is ranked 80th by InterMat and 46th by FloWrestling. He is a three-time District XI champion and a three-time Northeast Regional Champion, earning Outstanding Wrestler honors at the 2016 regional tournament. A two-time Escape the Rock tournament winner, Jakobsen sported a 146-23 career high school record and set the record for most wins in both school and Monroe County history. Last month, Jakobsen was recognized with the 2016 District XI Wrestling Coaches Association AAA Scholar-Athlete Award. The projected 197-pounder also started at quarterback for Stroudsburg's football team for the last two seasons.
Kyle Gentile is another member of the incoming class who will see familiar faces in Lehigh's wrestling room. Gentile is a projected 184 pounder from Pennridge High School, the same program that produced sophomore NCAA qualifier Scott Parker. The owner of a 162-27 career record, Gentile is a three-time state qualifier, placing fifth and third in his final two seasons. He is a three-time place winner and one-time champion at both the Beast of the East and Escape the Rock tournaments. A three-time southeast regional champion, Gentile finished fifth at FloNationals in 2015 and was a Northeast regional freestyle champion in that same year.
At the lowest weights, Santoro has brought in a pair of four-time state qualifiers and three-time place winners in Aaron Burkett and Joe Lobeck.
Burkett comes to Lehigh from Chestnut Ridge High School in New Paris, Pa., where he amassed a career record of 152-27. He placed at the state tournament in each of his final three seasons, taking sixth and second at 106 in 2014 and 2015 before finishing third at 133 in his senior campaign. A three-time Beford County All-Star, Burkett won district and regional titles as a senior and was runner-up at the Powerade Tournament. He was selected to compete at the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic where he defeated Indiana's Geoffrey Davis 2-0 while representing the WPIAL. He projects at 125.
Lobeck posted a 174-23 career record for Lancaster Catholic High School where he was a two-time Lancaster-Lebanon League AA Wrestler of the Year. He finished fourth, second and third in his last three trips to the state tournament, competing at 120 as a senior. Lobeck posted an 85-6 record in his final two seasons. The Lancaster-Lebanon League co-wins leader, Lobeck is also a PAWF state runner-up in freestyle. Lobeck projects at 125 or 133 at Lehigh.
The lone non-Pennsylvanian in the incoming class is Nick Farro, who attended the Delbarton School in New Jersey. Farro is a four-time district and regional champion who qualified for four state tournaments and was a three-time state place winner, taking sixth, sixth and third in his final three seasons. He went 39-5 as a senior competing at 132 and finished with a 135-25 career mark. Farro finished second at the Beast of the East and fifth at the Powerade Tournament his senior season. He is a member of the New Jersey national freestyle team and is a Fargo All-American, placing sixth last summer. Farro projects at 133 pounds.
Adding depth at 174 or 184 will be Dylan Ammerman from Sullivan County High School in Dushore, Pa. Ammerman went 36-9 as a senior to finish at 96-41 for his career. A two-time district and regional place-winner, Ammerman finished top 12 at the state tournament, tying the school record for the furthest advancement in state competition. Ammerman is a two-time team captain in both soccer and wrestling and was twice named MVP of his high school team.
"We like to recruit nationally but we understand that most of our kids are going to be regional," Santoro explained. "Lehigh is very well known. We're excited about the future; where we are and where we're going. I'm looking forward to getting this class on campus and getting started."
The Mountain Hawks finished 14th at the NCAA Championships, crowning three All-Americans for the third straight year. While Lehigh loses eight seniors to graduation, including three All-Americans, the Mountain Hawks return eight previous NCAA qualifiers and three All-Americans for the 2016-17 season.
Lehigh Wrestling 2016 Recruiting Class
This incoming class, which features four wrestlers that project at lower weights and five that project at upper weights, has already received national acclaim. Lehigh's class was recently ranked fourth in the nation by FloWrestling.org and fifth by InterMat.
"It's a class with good wrestlers but we were fortunate enough to also get some really good character kids," Santoro said. "This class will really fill a lot of needs. We were a little thin up top and thin below but we addressed those needs this year. I'm a big believer in iron sharpens iron. With the addition of this class every weight class will be competitive."
The highest-rated member of the incoming class is projected heavyweight Jordan Wood from Boyertown High School. Wood is the No. 10 overall recruit in the class of 2016 according to InterMat and the No. 20 overall recruit according to FloWrestling. He amassed a 149-5 career record that was highlighted by a 20-0 junior season that resulted in a state championship. A four-time district and sectional champion, Wood is a two-time southeast regional champion (and three-time finalist) and has also won titles at the Beast of the East, King of the Mountain (three titles), Escape the Rock and Super 32 (two titles). Wood went 42-1 as a senior but an injury in the regional finals denied him a shot at a second straight state title.
In addition to his folkstyle exploits, Wood is a Fargo freestyle national champion and Greco-Roman runner-up. He won a FILA freestyle cadet national championship and went on to win a Cadet World silver medal in 2014. He finished fifth at the Cadet World Championships in 2015.
The latest in a stretch of Lehigh Valley products, Luke Karam will join All-Americans Randy and Darian Cruz as Bethlehem Catholic wrestlers on the Mountain Hawks roster. A three-time state champion and four-time PIAA finalist, Karam is ranked 15th in the Class of 2016 by InterMat and 30th by FloWrestling. He is a four-time district and regional champion who owns a 43-1 career postseason record as part of his 156-10 career high school mark.
The 2016 East Penn Conference Outstanding Wrestler, Karam was a three-time Beast of the East finalist, winning a title and earning Outstanding Wrestler honors in 2014 and was a finalist at last year's Super 32 Tournament. Karam competed and won his bout at the 2016 Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic (formerly the Dapper Dan). On the freestyle circuit, Karam is a two-time state champion and two-time national All-American. He projects at 133 or 141 for the Mountain Hawks.
The No. 19 recruit in the class of 2016 according to InterMat, Chris Weiler comes to Lehigh from prep school power Wyoming Seminary. Weiler is a two-time National Prep All-American and won a National Prep title at Lehigh's Stabler Arena at 160 in 2015. The 2015 Super 32 Champion at 179, Weiler's national rankings suffered after suffering a season-ending injury in November. He finished with a 138-17 career record and won a NHSCA national title as a sophomore. Weiler projects at 174/184 and is a two-time Fargo junior freestyle All-American who posted top three finishes in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the 2015 junior Pan-Am Games.
The fourth top-100 grappler in the class is John "Jake" Jakobsen from Stroudsburg High School. A three-time state qualifier, two-time finalist and the 2016 state champion at 195, Jakobsen is ranked 80th by InterMat and 46th by FloWrestling. He is a three-time District XI champion and a three-time Northeast Regional Champion, earning Outstanding Wrestler honors at the 2016 regional tournament. A two-time Escape the Rock tournament winner, Jakobsen sported a 146-23 career high school record and set the record for most wins in both school and Monroe County history. Last month, Jakobsen was recognized with the 2016 District XI Wrestling Coaches Association AAA Scholar-Athlete Award. The projected 197-pounder also started at quarterback for Stroudsburg's football team for the last two seasons.
Kyle Gentile is another member of the incoming class who will see familiar faces in Lehigh's wrestling room. Gentile is a projected 184 pounder from Pennridge High School, the same program that produced sophomore NCAA qualifier Scott Parker. The owner of a 162-27 career record, Gentile is a three-time state qualifier, placing fifth and third in his final two seasons. He is a three-time place winner and one-time champion at both the Beast of the East and Escape the Rock tournaments. A three-time southeast regional champion, Gentile finished fifth at FloNationals in 2015 and was a Northeast regional freestyle champion in that same year.
At the lowest weights, Santoro has brought in a pair of four-time state qualifiers and three-time place winners in Aaron Burkett and Joe Lobeck.
Burkett comes to Lehigh from Chestnut Ridge High School in New Paris, Pa., where he amassed a career record of 152-27. He placed at the state tournament in each of his final three seasons, taking sixth and second at 106 in 2014 and 2015 before finishing third at 133 in his senior campaign. A three-time Beford County All-Star, Burkett won district and regional titles as a senior and was runner-up at the Powerade Tournament. He was selected to compete at the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic where he defeated Indiana's Geoffrey Davis 2-0 while representing the WPIAL. He projects at 125.
Lobeck posted a 174-23 career record for Lancaster Catholic High School where he was a two-time Lancaster-Lebanon League AA Wrestler of the Year. He finished fourth, second and third in his last three trips to the state tournament, competing at 120 as a senior. Lobeck posted an 85-6 record in his final two seasons. The Lancaster-Lebanon League co-wins leader, Lobeck is also a PAWF state runner-up in freestyle. Lobeck projects at 125 or 133 at Lehigh.
The lone non-Pennsylvanian in the incoming class is Nick Farro, who attended the Delbarton School in New Jersey. Farro is a four-time district and regional champion who qualified for four state tournaments and was a three-time state place winner, taking sixth, sixth and third in his final three seasons. He went 39-5 as a senior competing at 132 and finished with a 135-25 career mark. Farro finished second at the Beast of the East and fifth at the Powerade Tournament his senior season. He is a member of the New Jersey national freestyle team and is a Fargo All-American, placing sixth last summer. Farro projects at 133 pounds.
Adding depth at 174 or 184 will be Dylan Ammerman from Sullivan County High School in Dushore, Pa. Ammerman went 36-9 as a senior to finish at 96-41 for his career. A two-time district and regional place-winner, Ammerman finished top 12 at the state tournament, tying the school record for the furthest advancement in state competition. Ammerman is a two-time team captain in both soccer and wrestling and was twice named MVP of his high school team.
"We like to recruit nationally but we understand that most of our kids are going to be regional," Santoro explained. "Lehigh is very well known. We're excited about the future; where we are and where we're going. I'm looking forward to getting this class on campus and getting started."
The Mountain Hawks finished 14th at the NCAA Championships, crowning three All-Americans for the third straight year. While Lehigh loses eight seniors to graduation, including three All-Americans, the Mountain Hawks return eight previous NCAA qualifiers and three All-Americans for the 2016-17 season.
Lehigh Wrestling 2016 Recruiting Class
| Name | Proj. Wt. | Hometown/High School |
| Dylan Ammerman | 174/184 | Dushore, Pa./Sullivan County |
| Aaron Burkett | 125 | New Paris, Pa./Chestnut Ridge |
| Kyle Gentile | 184 | Sellersville, Pa./Pennridge |
| Nick Farro | 133 | Morristown, N.J./Delbarton |
| Jake Jakobsen | 197 | Sciota, Pa./Stroudsburg |
| Luke Karam | 133/141 | Bath, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic |
| Joe Lobeck | 125/133 | Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic |
| Chris Weiler | 174/184 | Biglerville, Pa./Wyoming Seminary |
| Jordan Wood | 285 | Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown |
Players Mentioned
125
/ Men's Wrestling
125/133
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