WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Head coach Brian Davis is looking to build on West Liberty University’s long tradition of wrestling excellence with another talented recruiting class.
Davis, whose Hilltoppers have been fixtures in the NCAA Division II Top 20 poll during his tenure, has announced his first batch of recruits for the 2010-11 season and the seven-member class should fit right in with West Liberty’s winning tradition on the mat.
The seven newest Hilltoppers combined for more than 800 wins at the high school level and come to West Liberty with numerous conference, sectional, district, regional and state championships under their belts.
“We’re very happy with this group of incoming freshmen,” said Davis, who has produced multiple NCAA Division II All-Americans in each of the past three seasons. “Not only do they come to West Liberty with outstanding wrestling credentials, they also excelled in the classroom and are possessed of outstanding character.”
Following are brief capsules on the newest members of the Hilltopper mat squad:
Preston Foster – Projected to compete at 125 pounds, Foster compiled a 134-29 (.822) record during a stellar career at East Liverpool (Ohio) High School. Foster was the 2010 Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC) champion at 119 pounds and also qualified for the Ohio Division II state tournament.
Art Hobley – Projected to compete at 141 pounds, Hobley posted an 84-31 (.730) career record during his time at Steubenville (Ohio) High School. Hobley won the 135-pound title at the 2010 OVAC Wrestling Championships and was also an Ohio Division II state qualifier.
Troy Huffmaster – Projected to compete at 125 pounds, Huffmaster went 97-36 (.729) during his varsity career at Huntington (W.Va.) High School. He was runner-up at 125 pounds in the 2010 West Virginia Class AAA state championship meet.
Nate Hupp – Projected to compete at 149 pounds, Hupp was 97-26 (.789) on the mat for Marietta (Ohio) High School. Hupp was an Ohio Division II state tournament qualifier.
Domenic Testa – Projected to compete at 149 pounds, Testa put together an 89-37 (.706) record for Hempfield Area (Pa.) High School. He was a WPIAL Class AAA sectional tournament runner-up and a district qualifier at 140 pounds.
Evan Thompson – Projected to compete at 157 pounds, Thompson compiled a dazzling 175-22 (.888) record during a record-setting career at Cabell Midland (W.Va.) High School. A four-year state tournament qualifier, Thompson was a combined 85-3 (.966) in his junior and senior seasons, capping both years with West Virginia Class AAA state championships.
Joe Wagstaff – Projected to compete at 125 pounds, Wagstaff assembled a 125-33 (.791) record for Hagerty High School in Oviedo, Fla. The 2009 Seminole Athletic Conference champion at 103 pounds, Hagerty also was a two-time District champion and Florida state tournament qualifier.
