UPDATE: Purdue Wrestling s Class of 2016 Five early signees amassed a record of 209-8 during senior campaigns March 29, 2016 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue wrestling s Class of 2016 put on an #AlwaysAggressive display during their final high school seasons. The five-member class compiled a 209-8 record with three taking home state titles. This elite group of future Boilermakers all appear among the nation s top 20 of their respective weight class, including a pair that are among the top three. They all had tremendous seasons, Purdue head wrestling coach Tony Ersland said. [Christian] Brunner and [Shawn] Streck went on undefeated title runs and [Griffin] Parriott had his arm raised as the champ for a third straight season. That says something about what they will bring in. WIN Magazine tabbed Ersland s Class of 2016 as No. 8 in its early season recruiting rankings (12/2/15). When we signed this group in November, we were excited to see what they would do as seniors, Ersland said. Now, after seeing what they did at their state tournaments, I m even more excited. This group has 10 state titles between them. I can t wait to get them in our wrestling room and to work one-on-one with each of them. In addition to their 10 state titles, the Class of 2016 has earned 14 All-America honors. They combined to win over 900 matches during their high school careers, with a.920 winning percentage (917-79). Click on each of the graphics below for a detailed wrestling resume, photos and videos of each signee.
Christian Brunner (East Dundee, Illinois) reached the pinnacle of his high school career in February, winning the 3A Illinois High School Association tournament title at 195 pounds with a perfect 48-0 record. Brunner pinned his way to the title, getting the fall in 3:39. He also pinned in the first round and had a technical fall in the semifinals. He finished as the Dundee-Crown record holder for career wins (165), career falls (103) and wins in a season (48). As a junior at the IHSA tournament, Brunner took third at 195 and he was the 182-pound runner-up as a sophomore. He is currently ranked among the nation s top-15 prep wrestlers at 195. Brunner s family has roots in Purdue athletics with a pair of uncles, Jeff Zgonina and Frank Kemt, playing football for the Boilermakers in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The nation s No. 19 overall recruit and a top-three wrestler at 152 pounds, Griffin Parriott will make his way to West Lafayette from New Prague, Minnesota. Parriott closed out his high school career by winning his third straight Minnesota State High School League Division AA state title. His match lasted 10 seconds and left viewers speechless. The last four matches of his career saw Griffin outscore his opponents 62-16 as he posted a 39-1 record. Griffin was selected to a pair of elite teams after the high school season. He wrestled on the USA All-Star Team at the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic, coined as the most prestigious high school all-star wrestling meet in the United States, on March 26. Earlier in the month he wrestled on Team Minnesota at the Cliff Keen Dream Team Classic. In May 2015 he took third at the UWW Junior Nationals at 66 kg, finishing behind a World Cadet gold medalist and a 2016 NCAA champion. Devin Schroder becomes the second wrestler from Grand Rapids Catholic Central to commit to Purdue during Ersland s tenure, joining former high school teammate Nate Limmex, who is a 149-pounder for the Boilermakers. Schroder, the No. 56 overall recruit, is a three-time Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 champ. In his final MHSAA tournament, the 119-pounder outscored his first three opponents 40-3 with technical falls in the first round and semifinals, using less than 4:30 to register both (1:53, 2:34). He dropped a 6-4 sudden victory heartbreaker in the title bout, closing out a 45-2 season. He has back-to-back titles at 119 pounds after winning the 2012 championship as a freshman. The Northview native is a two-time FloNationals finalist, taking top honors at 113 pounds in 2014.
Northview native is a two-time FloNationals finalist, taking top honors at 113 pounds in 2014. Indiana s own Shawn Streck, the country s second-ranked high school heavyweight and No. 21 overall recruit, will make the move an hour south to join Coach Ersland s squad. Streck is a two-time Indiana High School Athletic Association champion at 285 pounds. During his back-to-back title runs, the Merrillville native, pinned seven consecutive opponents at the State Finals. He pinned four opponents on his way to 2015 title and had three straight first-period falls on way to 2016 title. As a sophomore Streck placed third and was seventh as a freshman. The heavyweight also has a trio of top-four finishes at national tournaments. Streck joined Parriott on the USA All-Star Team at the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic in late March.
-- Amanda C. Dahl Purdue University Streck is joined by fellow Indiana product and close friend Kobe Woods. Hailing from Mishawaka, Woods is tabbed as the No. 54 overall recruit. Woods is a three-time IHSAA placewinner, winning it all at 220 pounds as a junior with a perfect 44-0 record. He took seventh at 195 as a sophomore and finished his high school career with a seventh-place showing at 220. Outside of the high school mat, Woods resume is highlighted by a finals appearance at the 2015 Cadet World Team Trials at 100 kg and in 2014 he claimed the 195-pound title at the Cliff Keen USA Wrestling Cadet Folkstyle Nationals.