Oregon State Wrestling Inks Two To NLIs For 2011-12 Season

www.osubeavers.com

(Corvallis, Oregon) - Oregon State wrestling head coach Jim Zalesky announced Monday that Roseburg High School student-athletes Seth Thomas and Drew Van Anrooy have signed National Letters Of Intent to join the Beavers for the 2011-12 season.

“They come from a good program,” Zalesky said of the two. “Roseburg is one of the best programs in the state right now, and it’s coached by a former Beaver in Steve Lander, so it’s good to get kids with that kind of connection into our program. We think that Steve runs a great program, similar to ours, as far as hard work and work ethic. They’re both great students and we feel that they fit into our future plans and what we want to accomplish here.”

Thomas has been classified as the most-talented wrestler in the state of Oregon by theopenmat.com. He is the reigning state champion in the 145-pound class – repeating his freshman-year accomplishment - and has won several national medals, including three at Fila Cadets and four total Fargo medals, and placed sixth at juniors.

Theopenmat.com has Thomas as the nation’s No. 9 recruit at the 165-pound weight class.

“Seth has done well on the national level,” Zalesky said. He’s a two-time state champion going for his third title this year. You look for kids who do well in your state but also do well nationally.”

Van Anrooy narrowly missed the state title in the 125-pound class last season, losing it only after an attempted takedown was ruled to have occurred after the clock expired. Van Anrooy had won each of his three previous bouts at the championships by at least 11 points, and was defeated by just one point in the championship round.

“We feel like Drew is one of those kids who just keeps coming on,” Zalesky said. “He had a good year last year and we feel like he hasn’t reached his peak yet. He’s one of those kids who keeps getting better each year.”

Both Thomas and Van Anrooy helped guide Roseburg to a 6A state championship last season, the school’s third in the past four years. They were teammates with current Oregon State wrestler Jay Tovey, who is in his freshman year with the Beavers.