Ersland Secures Another Top-25 ClassErsland Secures Another Top-25 Class

Ersland Secures Another Top-25 Class

May 29, 2018

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For the third time in as many years, Purdue head wrestling coach Tony Ersland has secured a nationally ranked recruiting class. FloWrestling ranks the Boilermakers' incoming class 18th and The Open Mat has the class at No. 25. A pair of top-100 recruits and three that closed out their high school careers nationally ranked at their weight class highlight the seven-member class.

"Since we only graduated two off our roster in Jacob Morrissey and Luke Welch, our needs for this signing class were focused," Ersland said. "Looking at the roster from a distance and seeing how it has taken shape the past four years, it really has come together the way we envisioned. Our program is on the verge of accomplishing great things and this class is going to play a part in taking Purdue wrestling to new heights."

CLASS OF 2018
NAMEHOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL2017-18 WEIGHT 2017-18 RECORDPROJECTED WEIGHT
Kendall ColemanSouth Holland, Illinois/Mt. Carmel14541-6149/57
Nate CummingsDowners Grove, Illinois/Downers Grove North11339-7125
Terrin MachartSterling Heights, Michigan/Utica Ford II11950-2125/33
Zach MellohIndianapolis, Indiana/Cathedral13844-4141
Thomas PenolaZionsville, Indiana/Zionsville17046-4184
Ethan SmileyBeech Grove, Indiana/Beech Grove12533-5125/33
Emil SoehnlenCanton, Ohio/Massillon Perry17038-3165/74
2017-18 COMBINED RECORD291-31

FloWrestling tabbed Coleman and Soehnlen as the Nos. 36 and 55 overall recruits, respectively, while InterMat listed them at Nos. 81 and 43. With resumes filled with placements at national and state tournaments, it is no surprise Coleman and Soehnlen were scattered around and near the top-10 at their weight throughout the final high school rankings.

COLEMAN NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Listed as the No. 36 overall recruit by FloWrestling (5/6)
• Listed as the No. 81 overall recruit by InterMat (4/24)
• Listed as the No. 9 prospect at 157 by FloWrestling (3/20)
• Ranked No. 7 at 145 by FloWrestling (4/10)
• Ranked No. 12 at 145 by InterMat (4/16)
• Ranked No. 11 at 145 by The Open Mat (5/17)
• Ranked No. 9 at 145 by WIN Magazine (April)

SOEHNLEN NATIONAL RANKINGS
• Listed as the No. 55 overall recruit by FloWrestling (5/6)
• Listed as the No. 43 overall recruit by InterMat (4/24)
• Listed as the No. 12 prospect at 174 by FloWrestling (4/4)
• Ranked No. 9 at 170 by FloWrestling (4/10)
• Ranked No. 6 at 170 by InterMat (4/16)
• Ranked No. 10 at 170 by The Open Mat at 170 (5/17)
• Ranked No. 6 at 170 by WIN Magazine (April)

Penola is the third incoming freshman to garner national ranking, with WIN Magazine having the two-time All-American at No. 19 at 195 pounds.

Over the past three years, Ersland's recruiting classes have been nationally ranked by at least two outlets. It is the third time in as many years that his recruiting class has been ranked in the top 20 nationally by FloWrestling. In the seven years prior to Ersland taking the helm in 2014, FloWrestling had twice ranked Purdue's recruiting class: No. 17 in 2011 and No. 13 in 2009.

Coleman and Soehnlen push the number of top-100 recruits on the Boilermakers' 2018-19 roster to nine, joining Nate Limmex, Christian Brunner, Griffin Parriott, Devin Schroder, Shawn Streck, Parker Filius and Max Lyon.

TOP-100 RECRUITS ON PURDUE'S 2018-19 ROSTER
CLASS OF 2015
INTERMAT
NameRank
Nate Limmex31
CLASS OF 2016
FLOWRESTLINGINTERMAT
NameRankNameRank
Christian Brunner90Griffin Parriott24
Griffin Parriott7Devin Schroder78
Devin Schroder99Shawn Streck29
Shawn Streck29
CLASS OF 2017
FLOWRESTLINGINTERMAT
NameRankNameRank
Parker Filius47Parker Filius57
Max Lyon66Max Lyon54
CLASS OF 2018
FLOWRESTLINGINTERMAT
NameRankNameRank
Kendall Coleman36Kendall Coleman81
Emil Soehnlen55Emil Soehnlen43