Edinboro Wrestling Team Inks Five Recruits
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Joshua Hughes (Edinboro Sports Information)
05/10/2001
EDINBORO, PA - The Edinboro University wrestling team took the next step in continuing its surge to the top of the Division I ranks with a strong recruiting class to compliment next season's solid returnees. Head coach Tim Flynn will add three former state champions from three different states to his Fighting Scot quad that finished in 12th place at the NCAA National Championships, led by National Champion Josh Koscheck (Waynesburg, PA/ Waynesburg) at 174 pounds and All-American 197-pounder Dave Shunamon (Tewksbury, MA/Tewksbury). Edinboro captured its fourth straight Eastern Wrestling League Tournament crown while compiling a 6-0-1 conference record, finishing undefeated in the league for the third straight season. In fact, Edinboro has not lost to a conference foe in its last 22 dual matches, claiming the last three regular season dual meet championships. The Fighting Scots were 11-3-1 with a sixth place finish at the prestigious Las Vegas Invitational. "This is as good a class as we've had here at Edinboro," surmised Flynn. "We are very excited about this group of guys. It insures the stability and success of the future of Edinboro wrestling." Florida heavyweight Joe Hennis (Titusville, FL/Astronaut) will continue his career at Edinboro after capturing the Florida state championship the past three seasons. Ranked tenth at heavyweight on InterMat's National Top-12 Seniors list, Hennis finished his senior season with a perfect 40-0 record, tallying 38 pins and not allowing an offensive point. Hennis was 75-2 over his final two seasons, earning him a second place ranking at 285 pounds by Amateur Wrestling News. He was also featured in the NHSCA weekly rankings, finishing in fourth in the final edition. Hennis also finished in third place at the Junior National Free-style Championships and in fourth at the Junior National Greco-Roman Championships. Connellsville, PA native Ron Doppleheuer, Jr. (Connellsville, PA/Connellsville) will compete for a spot at 141 pounds for the Fighting Scots next season. Doppleheuer is a two-time Pennsylvania state champion, capturing the title at 140 pounds in 2001 and at 125 pounds in 2000. He also finished in seventh at 119 lbs. in 1999. Doppleheuer finished 42-2 as a senior with 23 pins, following a 40-3 season as a junior in 2000. He holds the school record for career victories with a 144-20 career mark, becoming the first grappler in school history to win back-to-back state titles while pinning 76 opponents over his four years. The runner-up at the 2001 Beast of the East Tournament, Doppleheuer was also a three-time section and Tool City Tournament champion. He is ranked 21st on InterMat's list of elite wrestlers in PA, while earning Honorable Mention on its list of National Top-12 Seniors. Two-time Kansas state champion Shawn Bunch (Leavenworth, KS/Leavenworth) will make the long trip to Edinboro to continue his wrestling career. Bunch leaves Kansas as the state's top-ranked grappler by InterMat, following two state championship and two state runner-up performances. He posted a perfect 43-0 record as a senior, following a 40-1 performance his junior season. At 150-10, Bunch is Leavenworth High School's all-time leader in wins, holding the top two season win totals (43 and 40) in school history as well. The Kansas Wrestler of the Year holds school records in career falls (60), career takedowns (437), and career technical falls (37). In fact, Bunch won 112 of his 150 victories with bonus points. He was also a three-year letterwinner for the Pioneer football team, captaining the team as a senior. He is the third-ranked senior at 125 pounds by AWN and ranked fifth by InterMat. Bunch earned high school All-America honors by finishing in sixth place at the NHSCA Senior Nationals. He also finished as the runner-up at 114.5 lbs. in the Junior National Free-style Championships and in fourth at the Junior National Greco-Roman Championships. Also joining the Edinboro program next season will be former Saegertown High School standout Glenn Sample (Saegertown, PA/Saegertown). Sample was the PIAA runner-up at 112 pounds in 2000, finishing in fifth place at 119 pounds in 2001. He finished 33-5 with 18 pins as a senior, increasing his career mark to 128-21. The PIAA runner-up as a junior, Sample posted a 35-1 record that season. He is the only two-time regional champ in school history. Ohio state placewinner Michael Ashby (Mentor, OH/Mentor) will be a Fighting Scot after finishing in fifth place at 145 pounds at the Ohio state tournament as a senior. Ashby was 38-8 as a senior, winning his sectional and district championships. His 38 wins were the third most in Mentor High School history for a season, and he finished in fourth place on the career wins list with 82 (82-30). He also holds sixth place all-time for takedowns with 194. Flynn has high hopes for this group of incoming freshman. "These are some real quality kids that have the talent to make a run at All-American honors and even add another national championship to our program." Edinboro opens the 2001-2002 season in McComb Fieldhouse on November 11 hosting EWL rival Virginia Tech.