June 25, 2009

Fullerton, Calif. --Cal State Fullerton’s incoming class of wrestling recruits has been ranked No. 24 in the nation by the Division I College Wrestling website (http://d1collegewrestling.net/Recruiting_Rankings2009.html).

Eighth-year Head Coach Dan Hicks has attracted three high school state champions and four other state place winners and has several other standouts awaiting admission for the 2009-10 academic year. Justin Danz, a fourth former state high school champion and transfer from Hofstra, figures to step into a starting role at 165 pounds.

“We had a great recruiting class and we see the program continuing to build,” said Hicks, who is in the midst of a major fund-raising campaign to assure the survival of the program, the only Div. I wrestling program south of the Tehachapi Mountains.

“The coaching staff returns intact. Risto Marttinen has done an outstanding job coordinating recruiting, George Porter works with our big guys and former two-time All-American Mark Munoz returns again. He has brought a lot of enthusiasm and great technique to the program. And two-time Pac-10 Champion Morgan Atkinson joins the club staff. He adds a lot to our middle weights.”

The three incoming state champions are 125-pounder Martin Gonzalez from Gilroy High School and 133-pounders Henry Yorba from Poway High School and Drew Erickson from Pleasant Hill High School in Oregon. Gonzalez is a two-time state champion and was ranked No. 5 in the nation.

The other incoming state place winners are: 141 - Cody Howe, Windsor HS, seventh in California; 157 - Bryce Whitehead, Sprague HS, fifth in Oregon; 174 - Dominic Borelli, Pioneer HS, seventh in California; and 149 - Jonah Cruz, Bakersfield HS, eighth in California. David Rios (157) from Liberty Union High School in Brentwood was a four-time state qualifier with a 150-40 career record. Other top newcomers are Taylor Warden (197) from Calvary Chapel HS in Santa Ana and Ethan Weisrock (197) from Irvine High School.

The Titans return seven regulars from last season’s 11-6 dual match team in Andre Gonzalez at 125, NCAA qualifier Adin Duenas at 141, Steven De La Fuente at 157, Todd Noel at 174, Tim Hawkins at 184, John Drake at 197 and Kurt Klimek at heavweight.