North Carolina State University Athletics
@PackWrestle Adds Reenan and Russell to Stellar Signing Class
4/26/2016 5:01:00 PM | Wrestling
Reenan is top-10 recruit nationally, Russell was NHSCA senior national champion
RALEIGH, N.C. - Having signed the No. 2 recruiting class during the fall signing period, NC State head coach Pat Popolizio and his staff added to that impressive haul with a pair of signees this week. The Wolfpack inked Nick Reenan (Dallas, Texas), a top-10 recruit nationally in every publication, and Codi Russell (Suwanee, Ga.), a 2016 NHSCA senior national champion.
"These (two) additions, to the 10 commitments we received in the fall, makes for one of the most dynamic recruiting classes in the country," said 2016 FloWrestling and TheOpenMat.com National Coach of the Year Pat Popolizio. "This will be a very exciting group of athletes to watch compete over the next several years. Our expectations for this class is at an all time high."
Nick Reenan
165/174 pounds
Dallas, Texas • Wyoming Seminary Prep (Pa.)
Ranked No. 1 at 182 pounds and No. 4 nationally FloWrestling.org … Ranked No. 2 nationally at 195 pounds and No. 9 overall by Intermat.com … Ranked the No. 5 recruit nationally by D1collegewrestling.net … Appeared in the National Prep finals each year, winning the title in his junior season … Has won numerious tournaments: Junior Freestyle National Champion, FloNational Champion, Who's Number One Champion, National Prep Champion, Ironman Champion, Cadet Freestyle National Champion, Cadet Greco Roman National Champion, USA Wrestling Folkstyle national Champion, Texas State Champion, Cadet Pan Am Freestyle Champion, and Cadet Pan Am Greco Roman Champion … Wrestled up two weights as a senior, competing at 195 pounds, as he weight 175 … Teammate of fall signee Michael Rogers at Wyoming Seminary Prep … Wrestled his freshman year at Highland Park High School in Dallas.
"Nick is clearly one of the best guys in the country regardless of age, weigh or style," said Popolizio. "He has shown he can win nationally and internationally. He will provide an immediate impact to our team. Nick's style of wrestling is relentless, as he is very offensive and high scoring athlete from any position. He is one of the most well-rounded wrestlers in the country. Â
"Nick is coming from one of the best high school programs and coaches, so we are confident he will be ready to make a statement right away. We expect Nick to not only make an impact for us at the NCAA tournament, but also for our Wolfpack Regional Training Center, as he has aspirations to become an Olympic Champion."
Codi Russell
125 pounds
Suwanee, Ga. • Collins Hill HS
Posted a career record of 220-15 in high school … Was a NHSCA 120-pound senior national champion … Placed third at the NHSCA junior nationals … Finished fourth or higher at the state championships each year of high school … Was the Georgia state champion as a senior, runner-up as a junior, third as a sophomore and fourth as a freshman.
"Codi is a great addition to our program, and we expect him to be right in the mix of things for us next year at 125 pounds," said Popolizio. "He has a very athletic style of wrestling and can score from all positions. Codi joins us from the same club as the Bullard brothers and Chris Diaz, out of Georgia. He is fresh off of winning a national title this past month.
"Codi has shown tremendous improvement over the past 12 months, and we are excited to see him grow here in our program?. We expect his development to be fast paced, as he transitioned from a multi-sport athlete to focusing on wrestling year round."
During the fall signing period, WIN Magainzine tabbed the Pack's first 10 committments as the No. 2 recruiting class nationally. Popolizio and staff signed 10 in November, with eight ranked in the top-14 in their wieght classes, five of those in the top eight. In all, six of the 10 have been ranked as a top-100 recruit nationally, regardless of weight class.
To read about the Pack's 10 fall signees, click here.
All 12 future NC State freshmen will be added to the mix for the 2016-17 season. NC State is losing two starters, All-Americans Tommy Gantt (157 pounds) and Nick Gwiazdowski (285) from the 2015-16 squad that finished 11th at the NCAA Championships, won the 2016 ACC Championship, and finished No. 2 in the final NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll after going 23-1 in duals.
"These (two) additions, to the 10 commitments we received in the fall, makes for one of the most dynamic recruiting classes in the country," said 2016 FloWrestling and TheOpenMat.com National Coach of the Year Pat Popolizio. "This will be a very exciting group of athletes to watch compete over the next several years. Our expectations for this class is at an all time high."
Nick Reenan
165/174 pounds
Dallas, Texas • Wyoming Seminary Prep (Pa.)
Ranked No. 1 at 182 pounds and No. 4 nationally FloWrestling.org … Ranked No. 2 nationally at 195 pounds and No. 9 overall by Intermat.com … Ranked the No. 5 recruit nationally by D1collegewrestling.net … Appeared in the National Prep finals each year, winning the title in his junior season … Has won numerious tournaments: Junior Freestyle National Champion, FloNational Champion, Who's Number One Champion, National Prep Champion, Ironman Champion, Cadet Freestyle National Champion, Cadet Greco Roman National Champion, USA Wrestling Folkstyle national Champion, Texas State Champion, Cadet Pan Am Freestyle Champion, and Cadet Pan Am Greco Roman Champion … Wrestled up two weights as a senior, competing at 195 pounds, as he weight 175 … Teammate of fall signee Michael Rogers at Wyoming Seminary Prep … Wrestled his freshman year at Highland Park High School in Dallas.
"Nick is clearly one of the best guys in the country regardless of age, weigh or style," said Popolizio. "He has shown he can win nationally and internationally. He will provide an immediate impact to our team. Nick's style of wrestling is relentless, as he is very offensive and high scoring athlete from any position. He is one of the most well-rounded wrestlers in the country. Â
"Nick is coming from one of the best high school programs and coaches, so we are confident he will be ready to make a statement right away. We expect Nick to not only make an impact for us at the NCAA tournament, but also for our Wolfpack Regional Training Center, as he has aspirations to become an Olympic Champion."
Codi Russell
125 pounds
Suwanee, Ga. • Collins Hill HS
Posted a career record of 220-15 in high school … Was a NHSCA 120-pound senior national champion … Placed third at the NHSCA junior nationals … Finished fourth or higher at the state championships each year of high school … Was the Georgia state champion as a senior, runner-up as a junior, third as a sophomore and fourth as a freshman.
"Codi is a great addition to our program, and we expect him to be right in the mix of things for us next year at 125 pounds," said Popolizio. "He has a very athletic style of wrestling and can score from all positions. Codi joins us from the same club as the Bullard brothers and Chris Diaz, out of Georgia. He is fresh off of winning a national title this past month.
"Codi has shown tremendous improvement over the past 12 months, and we are excited to see him grow here in our program?. We expect his development to be fast paced, as he transitioned from a multi-sport athlete to focusing on wrestling year round."
During the fall signing period, WIN Magainzine tabbed the Pack's first 10 committments as the No. 2 recruiting class nationally. Popolizio and staff signed 10 in November, with eight ranked in the top-14 in their wieght classes, five of those in the top eight. In all, six of the 10 have been ranked as a top-100 recruit nationally, regardless of weight class.
To read about the Pack's 10 fall signees, click here.
All 12 future NC State freshmen will be added to the mix for the 2016-17 season. NC State is losing two starters, All-Americans Tommy Gantt (157 pounds) and Nick Gwiazdowski (285) from the 2015-16 squad that finished 11th at the NCAA Championships, won the 2016 ACC Championship, and finished No. 2 in the final NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll after going 23-1 in duals.
I'm excited to continue my athletic and academic career next year at NC State #WolfPack
— Nick Reenan (@nickyreenan) April 26, 2016
Proud to announce my commitment to North Carolina State University. #STATEment #WolfPack ???? @PackWrestle pic.twitter.com/POzeSLWmhi
— codi russell (@finesse_welker4) April 25, 2016
Nick Reenan makes it official. Find out where the #1 182-pounder in the country is headed. https://t.co/DkOUwtzmxx pic.twitter.com/is0XmvYKp9
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 26, 2016
GSPathlete last 5yrs CodyRussell commits to NCState Wrestling #CoachEarl #Blessed
— Earl Williams (@CoachEarl_) April 26, 2016
GSPATHLETESTRIKESAGAIN #God1st pic.twitter.com/XLypVgmSfy
Players Mentioned
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