Wrestling Adds 10 to Roster
Out of State Recruits So Far


Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney head wrestling coach Marc Bauer today announced the names of 10 out-of-state wrestlers who’ll take to the mats for the Lopers in 2009.

The list includes Texans Danny Luttrell (125 lbs./Arlington), Trent Murrell (165 lbs./Houston) and Joshua Smith (133 lbs./Houston) and Stephen Weimer (133 lbs.) and Jonathen Zamora (Hwt.) of Clovis, Calif.

The other six include Ricky Fairbanks (125 lbs./Etna, Wyo.), Drew Comito (157 lbs./Spokane, Wash.), Christian Flavin (197 lbs./Sharpsburg, Ga.), Randy Holmes (184 lbs./Dorchester, Mass.) and Adam Torres (149 lbs./Phoenix, Ariz.).

Luttrell comes from Arlington High School, that same school that produced Loper legend Tervel Dlagnev. The Arlington Colts are led by Henry Harmony, a Kearney High graduate and Nebraska State Champion.

A two-time undefeated state champion and a Greco-Roman All-American to boot, Luttrell was named the 2008 Texas State Most Outstanding Wrestler.

“Danny is an all-around talented student-athlete. He has all the tools to be a great college wrestler,” Bauer said.

Murrell prepped at Westside High in Houston. He pulled a surprise at the 2008 Texas State Championships, coming from out of nowhere to place first at 152 lbs. At Cypress Ridge High School, Smith went 146-24 in his prep career.

Due to his age (20), Smith wasn’t able to compete in the state tournament this year. He did go 30-2 in 2007-08 and recently finished runner up in the Brute Adidas Nationals.

“Josh is a very talented athlete. There is no telling what he could accomplish in college. He is very quick and explosive and is always on the attack,” said Bauer. “Trent has an in-your-face style and his persistence has elevated him above the competition this past season. When the whistle blows, you’ll have your hands full with Trent.”

Holmes actually joined UNK in January 2008 and wrestled in the Chadron State dual. A graduate of Sam Houston High in Arlington, he spent one year at the University of Wyoming and then continued his career at Neosho C.C in Kansas. While at Neosho, Holmes was ranked No. 1 in the nation.

“Randy is a very talented and experienced wrestler. He is off to a great start for us and we look forward to see what he is capable of doing,” said Bauer.
For the Clovis Cougars, Zamora placed second in the state as a junior and was fourth this past winter. Getting a late start in wrestling like Dlagnev did, Zamora comes in a 6-1, 260 lbs.

Weimer also placed twice in the state tournament, finishing sixth as a sophomore and second this year. He missed the state tourney his junior year due to injury; Weimer’s only setbacks in 2008 came to the eventual state champion.

“Like Texas, California has one class for wrestling so just making it to the state tournament is an achievement. Stephen is very technically sound and is a great addition to our program,” said Bauer. “Jonathen has some big shoes to fill but he’s shown great improvement, winning over 40 matches the past two seasons."

Also from out West is Torres, who prepped at Thunderbird High in Phoenix. That is the same school that produced former Loper Tanner Linsacum, the 2006 Division II national champion at 184 lbs. Torres was not only coached by Tanner but also by his father, Steve Linsacum.

A two-time Arizona state champion, Torres will likely take a redshirt season in 2008-09. Another two-time state champ who’ll redshirt this year is Fairbanks. Competing at Star Valley High School in Wyoming, he also was a four-time state placer.

“Adams is not a flashy wrestler. He controls the pace of the match but is very explosive and powerful when he gets in on his shots,” said Bauer. “Ricky has good, solid skills. He also is a hard-nosed wrestler who won’t back down from anyone."

The final Loper from out West is Comito. Prepping at Mead High in Spokane, he is the first cousin to current UNK team member Keenan McCurdy.

The first UNK wrestler from Washington since Kurt Karjalaninen (Oak Harbor) in 2000, Comito finished fourth at the state meet as a senior.

“Drew will redshirt for us this year. He is tough on the mat and we look to fine tune his skills on his feet during his first season,” said Bauer.

A rare Loper from the South, Flavin is a highly decorated prep wrestler who competed at East Coweta High School. A 2008 Georgia State Champion, Flavin also finished fourth at the 2007 NHSCA (National High School Association) junior national high school tournament and was eighth at the 2008 NHSCA senior national tournament.

He also went undefeated for Team Georgia at the 2007 Dixie Duals.

“Not only is Christian an accomplished wrestler but he also is a leader on his team and within the community. He’ll have an immediate impact within our program and at the Division II level,” said Bauer.

UNK will announce its other recruits in the coming weeks. In 2008, the Lopers won the NCAA Division II national championship.

Congrats to Coach Bauer and the UNK staff.

One note though, Henry Harmony was never a Nebraska State Champion.

Danny Luttrell is a great pick up for UNK. Luttrell can potentially be an All-American or even National Champion contender right away. Luttrell beat Andy Pokorny twice in their younger days.

The reach of Loper recruiting is extending to far places. Its nice to see all these wrestlers recognizing the strength of the Loper program. I am pretty sure that there are not many Div II programs that can see they got recruits from the east coast, west coast, south, and midwest all in the same recruiting class!

Heck of an out of state class. It should be a very solid class when the NE boys are added.

Keep that fire burnin baby!! That furnace is pretty hot right now!!