June 10, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - For the second straight year, the University of Maryland's recruiting class has been recognized as one of the best in the nation as head coach Pat Santoro's incoming class was ranked 20th in the nation by Intermatwrestle.com. The Terps hauled in the second best recruiting class in the ACC, second only to Virginia Tech.

"We're excited about this incoming class," Santoro said. "We filled our needs and added depth with student-athletes that have high goals. Our staff is anxious to add this talent with our returning guys."

The incoming freshman are: Steven Bell, Brendan Byrne, James Knox, Alex Krom, Eric Grida, Mike McGill, Stephen Mineo, Bryan Reiss, Hudson Taylor and Stanton White.

Bell, Mineo, Reiss and Taylor were all listed on the Intermatwrestle.com website as top recruits.

Below are bios for the incoming class for 2005-06.

Steven Bell
125/133
Connellsville HS
Connellsville, Pa.
Bell, who won a state title at Connellsville High in Pennsylvania, is ranked as the 10th-best recruit at 125 pounds by Intermatwrestle.com. Bell also finished fourth during his junior season and placed eighth at the national freestyle championships. He also helped Connellsville to a runner-up finish at the 2004 state dual championships. Bell wrapped up his high school career with a record of 128-36.

Brendan Byrne
133
Blair Academy
Cape May, N.J. Byrne comes to Maryland after spending a year at Blair Academy after a stellar high school career at Cape May Regional High. He was Cape May's all-time winningest wrestler with a record of 98-25 in addition to capturing a district championship during his senior season. He was the team's MVP for three seasons and captain for two. He was a two-time state qualifier and placed three-times at the regional championships. Last season at Blair Academy, he posted a record of 25-11.

James Knox
125
Dulaney High
Knox was a four-time place-winner at the state tournament, capturing the title and earning all-state recognition in 2004. A two-time Baltimore Sun All-Met second team honoree, he finished third at the state tournament as a senior. Knox piled up a 157-14 career record at Dulaney High.

Alex Krom
141/149
Easton HS
Easton, Pa.
Krom, a four-time high school All-American, posted a career record of 161-23 at Easton High, becoming District 11's all-time winningest wrestler (surpassing the mark set by current Terp Josh Haines). A three-time District 11 champion, he placed twice at the Pennsylvania state tournament. During his senior season, Krom amassed 44 victories and won the Reno Tournament of Champions. He also earned Outstanding Wrestler honors twice at the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) Final Four Dual Meet Championships.

Eric Grida
149/157
Saucon Valley HS
Hellertown, Pa.
Grida, the Morning Call Wrestler of the Year for 2004-05, posted a 36-2 record on his way to a third place finish at the state tournament in his final season with Saucon Valley High. A two-time district and region champ, Grida finished fourth at the state tournament as a junior and won the freestyle state championship. He was twice named to the Colonial League first team and finished his career with a 114-25 record. Grida also excelled in football where he was a Colonial League honorable mention wide receiver.

Mike McGill
157
Williamsport HS
Williamsport, Md.
A two-time state champion at Williamsport High, McGill posted a career record of 114-9 during his stellar career. After placing at the state tournament his freshman and sophomore seasons, McGill won back-to-back state titles during his final two seasons, including a 33-1 mark as a senior. Eighty six of his 114 wins came by fall, including 26 of his 33 as a senior. A two-time team captain, he was a four-time region and county champion. McGill was also twice named to the state's all-academic team, and was his area's wrestler of the year twice.

Stephen Mineo
133/141
Scotch Plains Fanwood HS
Scotch Plains, N.J.
A high school All-American, Mineo was the most dominant wrestler in the history of his high school, compiling an unmatched 119-17 record. He was a four-time District 11 champion and placed as high as fourth in the New Jersey state tournament. He was a six-time Team New Jersey member, and six-time Freestyle State Champion. He placed third and fifth in two trips to the Beast of the East Tournament. His team's captain for two years, Mineo was a four-time all-conference and first team All-Union County selection.

Bryan Reiss
HWT
Emmaus HS
Emmaus, Pa.
Reiss comes to Maryland after winning the 2005 Pennsylvania state championship, the first male state champion in his high school's history. The year before, he placed fifth. He was a place-winner in District 11 in each of his four years of high school (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th), and placed three times in the Northeast Regional (1st, 2nd, and 4th). He was also a two-time member of the All-Lehigh Valley Conference. Reiss finished his high school career with a 140-26 record and 96 pins, the latter setting a school record. He is ranked among the top 300 recruits in the country according to Intermatwrestle.com.

Hudson Taylor
197
Blair Academy
Pennington, N.J.
Taylor, a five-star recruit out of powerful Blair Academy, is a three-time prep national champion. Rated as the 17th-best recruit in the country, he is a three-time placer at the Beast of the East Tournament, including a third place finish in 2003 and runner-up in 2004. Taylor was a Cadet Freestyle All-American in 2002, and was a Cadet Freestyle national champion in 2003. He compiled a 128-19 career record, recording 79 falls.

Stanton White
184/197
Myers Park HS
Charlotte, NC
White won 120 matches during his high school career for head coach Marty Stoddard at Myers Park High. Selected as his school's male athlete of the year as a senior, he finished third in the state tournament that year. White was a three-time all-conference selection, and during his junior season was named the conference's wrestler of the year. That season, he finished fourth in the state and won the freestyle state championship as well as being a member of the Jr. National Team. White also earned accolades as a quarterback, earning all-conference honors as the team's captain.