Wolverines Ink Stellar Quartet in Early Signing Period
11/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
- Nick Roy, 174-pounder from Wal, N.J.
- Chase Verdoorn, 184-pounder from Platt City, Mo.
- Mark Moos, 125-pounder from Lorain, Ohio
- Chase Metcalf, 133-pounder from Davison, Mich.
"We are very excited about these kids," said head coach Joe McFarland. "I think each of their styles fits into our program well. They are tough wrestlers with experience at the national level. I consider them to be the top recruiting class for the 2002-03 season."
Roy is expected to fill the 174-pound weight class next season and is coming to U-M well prepared, having had consistent success at the high school level. Roy was the 2001 New Jersey state champion and the 2000 state runner-up. He is a three-time letterwinner at Wal High School and has received three all-conference first team accolades.
Verdoorn is a 2001 Junior National All-American and was the Missouri state champion in 2000 and 1999 at 184 pounds. A three-year letterwinner and three-time all-league first team member, Verdoorn will be looking to three-peat as Missouri state champion this season at Platt County High School.
"Both of these wrestlers come from very competitive high school programs," said assistant coach Tony Robie. "They are going to fill important roles in the upper weight classes."
Moos, also a three-year letterwinner, was the 2001 Ohio state champion and the Ohio state runner-up in 2000 at 125 pounds. Moos also won the Junior Freestyle National Championship in 2001 and was the Double Cadet National champion (freestyle and Greco) in 1998. Moos will be looking for his second straight Ohio state championship while competing at St. Edward High School this season and is the fourth wrestler in five years from St. Edward to commit to the U-M program.
Metcalf, who has the most national experience of the foursome, is a three-year letterwinner from Davison High School. He won the 2001 Michigan state championship at 133 pounds as well as earning Junior National All-America honors. Metcalf was the 2000 Cadet National champion in Greco and the Cadet National runner-up in freestyle.
"Both Mark and Chase have had considerable experience on the national level," said Robie. "They are both very physical wrestlers and we are expecting a lot from them. Chase has shown his versatility and his ability to be successful in different situations, while Mark has made a name for himself as an Ohio champion as well as wrestling nationally. They are coming to U-M with tradition."
The Wolverines open their 2001-02 regular season this week at the Cliff Keen Invitational (Nov. 30-Dec. 1) in Las Vegas, Nev.
Contact: Karen Simpson (734) 763-4423
