ASU signs seven recruits
From staff reports

Appalachian State’s wrestling program signed seven new wrestlers, including five that have won state championships.

Included in the class of 2009 are Ken Altarac, John Blakely, Brett Boston, Brock Durfee, Paul Glover, Tony Gravely and Robbie Wannenburg.

Altarac, who wrestled at Lasalle Institute in Johnsonville, N.Y., was a two-time New York state champion and is ranked No. 2 in the nation at heavyweight. Glover, a New York state champion in the 215-pound division, is ranked in the top 15 by Win magazine. The Rochester, N.Y. native joins prep teammate Chris Collura at Appalachian State.

Wannenburg, a 165-pound wrestler from West Forsyth, won three prep championships and the state 4-A state championship his senior year. Durfee won a state championship at Bandys and will compete in the heavyweight division.

Boston, who attended Freedom High, was a three-time North Carolina state participant and finished second in 2009 at 125 pounds. Another 125-pound recruit, Gravely, was a four-time state participant in Virginia and a two-time state champion. He also was a runner-up twice.

Blakely was an Alabama state champion and will wrestle at 174 pounds.

“I am very excited about the potential of this recruiting class,” first-year Mountaineers coach JohnMark Bentley said. This class should help solidify several of the weight classes that we needed.”

Appalachian State, which finished third in the Southern Conference last year, returns 10 starters, including NCAA qualifier Frank Celorrio, to the 2010 team.