Head Coach Keith Norris announced on Friday that the Johns Hopkins Wrestling Program will add 18 new wrestlers to their roster for 2007-08. Norris completes his second season leading the Blue Jays to a third place finish in the Centennial Conference Tournament and looks forward to next year. Norris states, “This group of student-athletes will add talent to an already competitive wrestling room. These young men are ready to challenge themselves on the mat and in the classroom here at Johns Hopkins University.†Seven of the wrestlers were state placers or National Prep All-Americans during their high school careers along with being one of the top students in their schools. The Blue Jays have a lot to be excited about with the addition of these student-athletes.
The following is an alphabetical list of the wrestlers that will join the Johns Hopkins Wrestling Team:
Rocky Barilla
Hometown: Westbury, NY
Projected weight: 133/141
Rocky was the Most Valuable Wrestler at Carle Place High School. He led the team with 32-6 record as a senior. He was a 2x Nassau County DII Champion and was one match away from placing at New York States. His career record is 92-18.
Wilkes Carr
Hometown: Newport, RI
Projected weight: 174
Wilkes was captain of the wrestling team at Moses Brown School.
Matt Cole
Hometown: Cherry Hill, NJ
Projected Weight: 141
Matt led Bishop Eustace Preparatory School with a 32-6 record his senior season. He has been a member of Team New Jersey and competed at Junior Nationals in Fargo. His career record is 90-32.
Russell Harrell
Hometown: Joppatowne, MD
Projected Weight: 174
Russell was a three time state qualifier for Joppatowne High School. In 2006 he compiled a senior record of 37-5 and placed 5th in the Maryland State Wrestling Tournament. His career record is 93-34.
Storm Horine
Hometown: Riverside, CT
Projected Weight: 149
Storm is a two time Scholar-Athlete and won the Coaches’ Award while posting 28 wins as a senior at Greenwich High School. He finished his high school career with a 5th place finish at the Connecticut Class LL State Championship.
Jared Hullet
Hometown: Aberdeen, MD
Projected Weight: 125
Jared was a three time Regional Qualifier winning 22 matches his senior season for Aberdeen High School. He ends his high school career with over 65 wins.
Ben Kauffman
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Projected Weight: 133
Ben is a four year Captain of Sandra Day O’Connor High School and made it to the state finals in 2005. He returned to the podium in 2007 with a 3rd place finish in the Class 5A state championship. Ben posted a 46-5 record as a senior with 142 career wins.
Eric Levenseller
Hometown: Tabernacle, NJ
Projected Weight: 149/157
Eric was a two year captain at Seneca High School where he posted a senior record of 36-5. This three time district place winner compiled a career record of 80-27.
Jamie Mandaglio
Hometown: Annandale, NJ
Projected Weight: 125/133
Jamie led the North Hunterdon High School wrestling team his senior season with a 26-7 record. He was a three time finalist in District 17 and has a career record of 70-29.
Xavier Mohammed
Hometown: Columbia, MD
Projected Weight: 133
Xavier was a Captain who won the MVP award for the River Hill High School wrestling team. He was a Maryland State Qualifier recording 25 wins his senior season. His career record is 83-39.
Sean Murphy
Hometown: Reading, MA
Projected Weight: 184/197
Sean won the Loomis Chafee Invitational while wrestling at Noble and Greenough High Schools.
Robbie Nedbor-Gross
Hometown: Glen Cove, NY
Projected Weight: 149/157
Robbie was a three sport letter winner at Glen Cove High School where he was the wrestling team MVP in 2007 with a 29-12 record. He finished third for career wins at his school with 77 wins.
Akshay Paintal
Hometown: Lexington, MA
Projected Weight: 125
Akshay was the captain of Phillips Academy wrestling team where he was a National Prep All-American in 2006. His senior season he posted a 30-5 record increasing his career record to 89-11.
Zachary Patinkin
Hometown: Newton, MA
Projected Weight: 149
Zachary won the Coaches’ Award in wrestling at Lawrence Academy.
Chris Ruland
Hometown: Annapolis, MD
Projected Weight: 125
Chris is a two time Maryland Independent State Placer at St. Mary’s High School. During his senior season he compiled 39 wins and improved his career record to 120-55.
Patrick Stanley
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Projected Weight: 157
Patrick was voted outstanding wrestler of the State Tournament winning his second title for Bishop England High School. He is a four time state placer going undefeated his junior and senior seasons (102-0). He holds every school record for wrestling including career wins with 181.
Michael Villa
Hometown: Bethesda, MD
Projected Weight: 285
Michael is a four year varsity letter winner at Gonzaga High School. He placed 3rd in the Washington D.C. City Championship in 2005 and 2007.
Doug Witzenbocker
Hometown: Merrick, NY
Projected Weight: 157-165
Doug is an All-Academic Captain of the Chaminade High School wrestling team where he was a three time Catholic State placer and won the championship his senior season with a record of 43-9. His career record is 104-29.