EMU Wrestling Recruiting Class Cracks Top 25

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Eastern Michigan head wrestling coach Derek DelPorto will head into his second season with a little added confidence; having a nationally ranked recruiting class. InterMat Wrestling has released its annual recruiting class rankings with EMU filling the 23rd spot. DelPorto, who led the 2007 Eagles to their best regular season mark in more than a decade, will look to continue the improvement with a class peppered with state champions. Ohio State took top honors in the recruiting rankings, followed by Missouri and Penn State.

The ranking is the best in EMU history and includes state champions from Michigan, Ohio and Missouri. The 2007 EMU recruits are listed below.

Adam Draves (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Northview) followed a 2006 junior season in which he was named AAU All-American and placed seventh at the state tournament with an eighth-place finish his senior year. He concluded his high school wrestling career with a 162-31 record as well as serving as team captain in both his junior and senior year.

Derek Foore (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth), a three year captain, was a state runner-up three times, each in a different weight class (135, 145, 160). Foore set the school and county win record, totaling 170 wins in his career, including 92 pins. He was a two-time Ohio National team member, AAU National Champion, state Greco Roman and Freestyle champion and also earned a Gold Disney AAU ranking. A three-time Akron Beacon Journal All-Star, Foore won 16 high school tournaments in his career and was the Sun Newspaper Wrestler of the Year.

High School teammates Alex Gorton (Rockford, Mich.-Rockford) and J.J. Johnson (Rockford, Mich.-Rockford) hail from Rockford High School. Gorton, a two-time state champion was also a 2007 Senior National All-American. Johnson, also a 2007 Senior National All-American, was a team captain who garnered all-state honors all four years in high school. A four-time conference champion and MHSAA state place winner, Johnson also set the school pin record and was selected Academic All-State.

Justin Joseph (Lapeer, Mich.-Lapeer East) boasts a career 188-41 record, including school records for wins and takedowns (449). Joseph followed up a sophomore campaign in which he was a regional champion with a state title in his junior year, becoming the first individual state champion in any sport from Lapeer East High School. He was a two-time league champion, one-time district champion, two-time regional champion and a three-time state qualifier. He finished his senior year placing third in the state tournament.

Cordell Longstreath (St. Paris, Ohio-St. Paris Graham) is a two-time Ohio place-winner as well as the 2007 state champion in the 119 weight class.

Jordan Mcguire (Miamisburg, Ohio-Miamisburg) is a school record holder in wins, tallying 128 over his career that includes a pair of fourth place finishes in 2006 and 2007 at the state tournament. McGuire is a four-time league champion, a 2007 district champion and a three-time league Wrestler of the Year winner. He was voted the G.M.V.W.A. Division one Wrestler of the Year.

Mike MaGuire (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) is a three-time Michigan place winner and 2007 State Champion in the 119 lbs. weight class.

Andrew Novak (New Boston, Mich.-Huron) tallied a 222-13 overall record en route to two MHSAA State Championships during his career. He is also a four-time MHSAA place winner.

Matt Pettigrew (St. John’s, Mich.-St. John’s) was a two-time state place winner, including one runner-up finish in the heavyweight class.

Corey Phillips (Canton, Mich.-Canton) ranks 30th all-time in the state of Michigan in wins, posting 212 during his four-year career that also included 138 pins, which is ranked 16th all-time in the state of Michigan. Phillips is a four-time state placer, finishing seventh his freshman year (130 lbs.), fifth as a sophomore (130 lbs.), third as a junior (130 lbs.) and a state champion as a senior in the 140 lbs. weight class. He was a three-time Michigan Greco Roman and Freestyle State Champion, a two-time team captain and was a member of three Academic All-State teams. Phillips was a four-time All-Observerland selection, a three-time league and regional champion and a two-time district champion. He capped off his state championship senior year with a perfect 56-0 record garnering the Ann Arbor News Wrestler of the Year award as well as The Detroit News Wrestler of the Year honor.

Wes Schroeder (Manitou Beach, Mich.-Addison) was a member of a Division Four state title team and the National Honor Society. He carded a 55-9 record with 31 pins in his junior year in which he was the state runner-up in the heavyweight class. He improved his record and state place finish his senior year, going 58-5 with 41 pins and was the heavyweight state champion. Schroeder’s 41 pins during his final campaign was third highest in school history.

Tommy St. Louis (Neosho, Missouri-Neosho) was a four-year varsity letterman and concluded his career with a 158-24 mark. A three-time state qualifier, St. Louis finished sixth his sophomore year, fourth his junior year and was a state champion his senior year. St. Louis was a first team All-Conference, Joplin Globe All-Area and Southwest Missouri winner during his junior and senior seasons.

Darin Tims (Brownstown, Mich.-Woodhaven) was a three-time MHSAA place winner.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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