University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Wrestling signs a Top 15 Class for 2021
7/26/2021 12:01:00 PM | Wrestling
For the second time in three season's Northern Colorado Wrestling signed a top 15 recruiting class
GREELEY, Colo. – Troy Nickerson and the UNC Wrestling coaching staff put together another top 15 recruiting class in 2021 with the addition of 12 wrestlers to the 2021-22 roster. It is the second time is three season the Bears welcome a top 15 class. Northern Colorado's class came in ranked No. 15 by FloWrestling and No. 19 by Mat Scouts.
"This is the second top-15 recruiting class for our staff in three years and we were able to add some key pieces to the puzzle," Nickerson said about the new additions."The amount of talent in this class is outstanding and to say we are excited about them would be an understatement. This group is full of high-character athletes who are also great students. We really look forward to having them all in Greeley this year!"
Benji Alanis
Alanis is the No. 25 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts, and ranks No. 4 nationally at 138 lbs. He comes to the Bears from Phoenix, Ariz., where he attended Valiant College Preparatory. Alanis has an impressive high school resume that includes being two-time FloNationals All-American, two-time NHSCA All-American, UWW Junior All-American, USAW Junior All-American, and Super 32 medalist. He projects at 141 or 149 lbs.
Branson Britten
Britten is the No. 107 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts, and ranks No. 18 nationally at 182 lbs. He competed for Canyon Randall High School in Amarillo, Texas. Britten was a two-time Texas State Champion and was a three-time Texas State finalist. He is also a four-time USAW Cadet/Junior All-American. Britten amassed a 152-26 career record. He projects at 184 lbs.
Franklin Cruz
Cruz is the No. 236 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts. He will stay close to home after competing for Pomona High School. Cruz is a three-time Colorado State champion and four-time Colorado State medalist, accumulating a 122-19 career record. He projects at 197 lbs.
Xavier Doolin
Doolin is the No. 89 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts, and ranks No. 6 nationally at 220lbs. He is a Missouri State Champion and four-time State medalist for Kansas City North High School. Doolin is also an NHSCA All-American and Super 32 medalist, with a 185-16 career record. He projects at 285 lbs.
Armando Garcia
Garcia will stay close to home after competing for Denver East High School. He was a 2021 Colorado State Champion, three-time State finalist, and four-time State medalist. Garcia was also an NHSCA All-American, with a 118-23 career record. He projects at 133 lbs.
Baylor Fernandes
Fernandes is transferring from the University of Minnesota, where he compiled a 17-5 record for the Golden Gophers over the past two seasons. Prior to Minnesota, he was an Illinois State Champion for Lockport High School in Lockport, Illinois. He was also a two-time USAW Cadet/Junior All-American and a UWW Junior All-American, while being ranked No. 19 nationally at 145 lbs by The Open Mat. He projects at 157 or 165 lbs.
Dyson Kunz
Kunz hails from Central City, Neb and competed for Central City High School. He was a two-time Nebraska State Champion and four-time Nebraska State medalist, while collecting a 200-6 career record. He tied the Nebraska Class C State Record of 156 career pins. Kunz is also a USAW Cadet All-American and three-time UWW Cadet/Junior All-American. He projects at 133 or 141 lbs.
Ivan Morris
Morris will stay close to home after competing for Douglas County High School. He was a two-time Colorado State Medalist and three-time State Qualifier, with a career record of 92-34. Morris is a three-time USAW Cadet/Junior All-American. He projects at 149 lbs.
Rudy Lopez
Lopez is the No. 202 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts. He will stay close to home after competing for Erie High School. Lopez was a 2020 Colorado State champion, two-time State finalist, three-time Colorado State medalist, and 2021 NHSCA Senior National Champion. Lopez compiled a 104-24 career record. He projects at 149 or 157 lbs.
Moses Santiago
Santiago comes to the Bears from Albuquerque, NM and competed for Volcano Vista High School. He is a New Mexico State champion, two-time State finalist, and three-time State medalist. Santiago has tallied an 81-10 record over the last three seasons. He projects at 125 lbs.
Kenny Sailas
Sailas is the No. 290 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts. He will stay close to home after competing for Brighton High School. He is a three-time Colorado State Champion and four-time Colorado State medalist. Sailas is also a two-time USAW Cadet/Junior All-American and has compiled a 145-10 career record. He projects at 125 lbs.
Vinny Zerban
Zerban is the No. 105 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts, and ranks No. 15 nationally at 152 lbs. He was an Illinois State Champion in 2021 and previously placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the Missouri State Championships, while collecting a 136-13 career record. Zerban also racked up many national tournament accolades, including being an NHSCA National Champion, two-time FloNationals All-American, two-time UWW Cadet All-American, and a four-time USAW Cadet All-American. He projects at 165 or 174 lbs.
To stay up to date on all things UNC Wrestling, visit UNCBears.com, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the new UNC Athletics app by clicking here.
"This is the second top-15 recruiting class for our staff in three years and we were able to add some key pieces to the puzzle," Nickerson said about the new additions."The amount of talent in this class is outstanding and to say we are excited about them would be an understatement. This group is full of high-character athletes who are also great students. We really look forward to having them all in Greeley this year!"
Benji Alanis
Alanis is the No. 25 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts, and ranks No. 4 nationally at 138 lbs. He comes to the Bears from Phoenix, Ariz., where he attended Valiant College Preparatory. Alanis has an impressive high school resume that includes being two-time FloNationals All-American, two-time NHSCA All-American, UWW Junior All-American, USAW Junior All-American, and Super 32 medalist. He projects at 141 or 149 lbs.
Branson Britten
Britten is the No. 107 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts, and ranks No. 18 nationally at 182 lbs. He competed for Canyon Randall High School in Amarillo, Texas. Britten was a two-time Texas State Champion and was a three-time Texas State finalist. He is also a four-time USAW Cadet/Junior All-American. Britten amassed a 152-26 career record. He projects at 184 lbs.
Franklin Cruz
Cruz is the No. 236 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts. He will stay close to home after competing for Pomona High School. Cruz is a three-time Colorado State champion and four-time Colorado State medalist, accumulating a 122-19 career record. He projects at 197 lbs.
Xavier Doolin
Doolin is the No. 89 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts, and ranks No. 6 nationally at 220lbs. He is a Missouri State Champion and four-time State medalist for Kansas City North High School. Doolin is also an NHSCA All-American and Super 32 medalist, with a 185-16 career record. He projects at 285 lbs.
Armando Garcia
Garcia will stay close to home after competing for Denver East High School. He was a 2021 Colorado State Champion, three-time State finalist, and four-time State medalist. Garcia was also an NHSCA All-American, with a 118-23 career record. He projects at 133 lbs.
Baylor Fernandes
Fernandes is transferring from the University of Minnesota, where he compiled a 17-5 record for the Golden Gophers over the past two seasons. Prior to Minnesota, he was an Illinois State Champion for Lockport High School in Lockport, Illinois. He was also a two-time USAW Cadet/Junior All-American and a UWW Junior All-American, while being ranked No. 19 nationally at 145 lbs by The Open Mat. He projects at 157 or 165 lbs.
Dyson Kunz
Kunz hails from Central City, Neb and competed for Central City High School. He was a two-time Nebraska State Champion and four-time Nebraska State medalist, while collecting a 200-6 career record. He tied the Nebraska Class C State Record of 156 career pins. Kunz is also a USAW Cadet All-American and three-time UWW Cadet/Junior All-American. He projects at 133 or 141 lbs.
Ivan Morris
Morris will stay close to home after competing for Douglas County High School. He was a two-time Colorado State Medalist and three-time State Qualifier, with a career record of 92-34. Morris is a three-time USAW Cadet/Junior All-American. He projects at 149 lbs.
Rudy Lopez
Lopez is the No. 202 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts. He will stay close to home after competing for Erie High School. Lopez was a 2020 Colorado State champion, two-time State finalist, three-time Colorado State medalist, and 2021 NHSCA Senior National Champion. Lopez compiled a 104-24 career record. He projects at 149 or 157 lbs.
Moses Santiago
Santiago comes to the Bears from Albuquerque, NM and competed for Volcano Vista High School. He is a New Mexico State champion, two-time State finalist, and three-time State medalist. Santiago has tallied an 81-10 record over the last three seasons. He projects at 125 lbs.
Kenny Sailas
Sailas is the No. 290 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts. He will stay close to home after competing for Brighton High School. He is a three-time Colorado State Champion and four-time Colorado State medalist. Sailas is also a two-time USAW Cadet/Junior All-American and has compiled a 145-10 career record. He projects at 125 lbs.
Vinny Zerban
Zerban is the No. 105 overall recruit in the class of 2021, according to Mat Scouts, and ranks No. 15 nationally at 152 lbs. He was an Illinois State Champion in 2021 and previously placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the Missouri State Championships, while collecting a 136-13 career record. Zerban also racked up many national tournament accolades, including being an NHSCA National Champion, two-time FloNationals All-American, two-time UWW Cadet All-American, and a four-time USAW Cadet All-American. He projects at 165 or 174 lbs.
To stay up to date on all things UNC Wrestling, visit UNCBears.com, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the new UNC Athletics app by clicking here.
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