North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Wrestling Welcomes Strong Recruiting Class
8/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Aug. 9, 2004
RALEIGH, N.C. - Carter Jordan, NC State's first-year head wrestling coach, will welcome an 11-man recruiting class to campus when school begins in mid-August. Jordan's first incoming class as head coach will include one junior college All-American, two high school All-Americans, one prep school national champion, and three state champions from North Carolina. "You never know about a recruiting class until they've been in your program for a couple of years, but I am happy with this group," said Jordan, who moved up to head coach this season after six years as an assistant coach for the Wolfpack. "Hopefully, they'll give us a chance to fill some immediate and long-term needs within our program." The first task facing Jordan for the 2004-05 season will be replacing senior stalwarts Jake Giamoni (149 pounds), Scott Garren (157 pounds), and Dustin Kawa (165 pounds). Between them, those three compiled a 231-96 won-lost record and won eight individual ACC championships. The Wolfpack's incoming class could offer immediate help, but the Wolfpack returns a strong returning nucleus that has both talent and experience. Start with sophomore 197-pounder Zach Garren, a member of the Amateur Wrestling News's All-Rookie team a year ago, and sophomore 125-pounder Jeremy Hartrum, who was ranked No. 1 in the nation following his senior year in high school in Easton, Pa. Garren finished 15-14 last season, took second place at the ACC Tournament and was an NCAA qualifier as a freshman. Hartrum went 13-10 as a freshman, and also finished second at the ACC Championships to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Redshirt-junior Kevin Gabrielson returns after sitting out last season. Although star-crossed at times by injuries in his three years at NC State, Gabrielson is a gifted wrestler who was a three-time state champion and two-time national prep champion at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md. In addition to injuries, he also has grown since coming to NC State as a 157-pounder in 2001-02. He has filled out in the ensuing three years, and will wrestle at 174 this coming season. Gabrielson has a 15-17 record and six pins to his credit. In addition, the Wolfpack has sophomore 133-pounder Jeff Breese, a former state champion from Pennsylvania; sophomore Dave Iobst, a heralded 197-pounder and heavyweight and former state runner-up from Pennsylvania; sophomore 125- and 133-pounder Garrett Cummings, a former all-state performer from Pennsylvania; redshirt-freshman 165-pounder Allan Herrera, a three-time state champion from Florida, and sophomore heavyweight Jainor Palma, a state runner-up while at nearby Cary High School. "We knew we were going to lose three outstanding seniors in Garren, Giamoni and Kawa," Jordan said. "Those three guys were tremendous wrestlers during their time at NC State. They anchored the middle of our lineup the last two years. Believe me, they will be missed. But I really like the young wrestlers already in our program. They have a chance to be very good, but people should realize that this is going to be the youngest team we've had in my seven years at NC State." The Wolfpack's newcomers will have to battle the returnees for mat time, but the incoming wrestlers definitely give the Wolfpack added depth at several spots in the lineup. Just how many of them will start their first year will be determined in preseason practice. The headliners in this class certainly could push for immediate time on the mat: • Chris DeLuca, a transfer from Nassau (N.Y.) Community College, was a two-time national runner-up in the NJCAA Championships. He should wrestle for the Wolfpack at 141 or 149 pounds. • Jeremy Colbert, a state champion at 160 pounds from El Reno (Okla.) High School, finished seventh at the National High School Senior Championships in Cleveland, Ohio, to earn high school All-America honors in 2004. Colbert probably will move up to 174 pounds in college. • Kody Kamrah, a two-time state runner-up at Bishop Ahr High School in Middlesex, N.J., finished fifth at the 2004 National High School Championships to earn All-America honors. He ended the season ranked No. 13 nationally at 152 pounds by Wrestling USA magazine. Kamrah will compete at 157 pounds collegiately. • Chris Remsen is one of just six wrestlers ever to win four state championships in the state of Maine. After winning his fourth state title in as many years for Camden Hills High School in Rockport last spring, he went on to sweep the New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championships for his first New England championship. He should compete at 149 or 157 pounds at NC State. In addition, three in-state recruits -- Jay Coman (112 pounds) of Durham Jordan, Ty Roach (103 pounds) and Travis Varner (135 pounds) of Western Carteret -- won state championships a year ago. A fourth, Jalil Dozier (112) of Fayetteville's Jack Britt High School, finished third. Varner, who won the state championship at 130 pounds as a junior and at 135 as a senior, should wrestle at 141 for the Wolfpack. Coman, Dozier and Roach all will compete at 125 in college. Brendan Paez, a heavyweight from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, was the prep national championship a year ago. Kyle Richards of Silver Springs, Md., finished third in the state of Maryland at 130 pounds in 2004 and will compete at 133 or 141 for the Wolfpack. Cameron Reeves was a high school standout in Suwanee, Ga., two years ago, and is transfering to NC State after competing one season at 157 pounds for UT-Chattanooga a year ago. "Certainly these recruits have a chance to make a contribution to our program, but they still have a huge adjustment to make before they can compete successfully at the collegiate level," Jordan said. "I can't emphasize enough how young we're going to be, but I am excited about this team."
