The Maryland wrestling team announced its 12-man 2018 recruiting class on Friday, including seven state champions from five states.
“We are really excited about the incoming class,” coach Kerry McCoy said in a press release. “They work hard and are dedicated to being the best they can be. They’re committed to helping our program get better. They will be great additions to our family.”
Jarod Kosman (Fitch High School, Connecticut) highlights the class. Wrestler ranking website Intermat ranked Kosman No. 20 in the 113-pound weight class. He was the National High School Coaching Association Senior National Champion in his weight class, and Connecticut state champion last season. He was also named a Cadet Freestyle All-American and a NHSCA Junior All-American in 2017.
Kosman is the fifth four-time champion in Eastern Connecticut Conference history and boasted a 53-0 record his senior season. Kosman was also a Connecticut Dave Schultz Excellence Award recipient.
133-pounder Orion Anderson (Schuylerville High School, New York) and 157-pounder Lucas Cordio (Nashoba Regional High School, Massachusetts) are two other out-of-state standouts.
Anderson boasted a 185-8 record in high school and was named the New York Most Outstanding Wrestler twice, as well as a 2018 NHSCA Junior National Finalist. He is a three-time state champion.
Cordio is a three-time NHSCA All-American, three-time state champion and three-time New England top-three finisher. He was also named a Massachusetts Dave Schultz Excellence Award recipient.
125-pounder King Sandoval (Ryken High School) tops the list of in-state recruits. Sandoval is a four-time National Prep All-American and three-time state champion, as well as the 2018 National Prep Most Falls/Least Time award winner.
Sandoval had many top five finishes at national tournaments throughout his high school career, including second place at the 2018 UWW Cadet Greco Nationals. He finished high school with a 233-29 record and 144 pins.
Three other Maryland state champions — Jake Nielson (Urbana), Parker Robinson (McDonogh) and Paul Evan Purkey (Damascus) — will also join McCoy’s squad.
All three are two-time state champions.
Also joining the Terps from in-state are John Luke Iglesias (Whitman), Cody Swigart (Urbana) and Decklan Fisher (Snow Hill).
Jordan Wallace (New Rochelle High School, New York) and transfer Tahron Sheffield (Keystone College) round out the class.
With a strong incoming class and the returns of All-American Youssif Hemida and NCAA tournament qualifiers Alfred Bannister and Ryan Diehl, Maryland looks to improve on last season’s 5-12 record.
