Bulldogs Sign Star-Studded Class
May 16, 2007 | Wrestling
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb wrestling team, along with the athletics department, would like to announce the addition of seven student-athletes to the squad, as they will enroll in the school during the Fall 2007 term.
The Bulldogs have either signed the seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent (NLI) or have received letters of acceptance by the incoming freshmen.
Kyle Baird, Tommy Bennett, Nick Garber, Phillip Goodwin, Nick Horne, Austin Reece and Kurt Wentink will be with the program next year.
Baird, a native of Braselton, Ga., attended Jefferson High School. There, he was a four-time state champion. Baird posted a 56-2 record during his senior year and wrestled on Team Georgia at the national duals during his junior season. He will wrestle at either the 141 or 149 lb. weight class.
Bennett, who hails from Jupiter, Fla., attended Jupiter Christian High School. He was a three-time state place-winner, including his senior campaign where he won the state championship. A Wendy's H.S. Heisman finalist, Bennett is a Presidential Scholarship recipient. He also competed at the 2006 USA Wrestling Junior National Championships, where he took fourth place. He will wrestle at the 125 lb. division at GWU.
Garber, a native of Waynesburg, Pa., competed at Waynesburg Central High School. A three-time state qualifier, he compiled a 124-31 record during his career. Garber earned a sixth-place finish his senior campaign and was a three-time state qualifier. He will compete at 141 or 149 next fall.
Goodwin, who hails from nearby Belmont, N.C., attended South Point High School. A two-time state champion, Goodwin placed at the state championship meet all four seasons. During his senior season, he was named the 2007 North Carolina State Championships Outstanding Wrestler. Goodwin is also a two-time freestyle and Greco state champion, in addition to being the 2006 USA Wrestling Southeast Regional and Central Region champion. He will wrestle at either the 125 or 133 lb. division this fall.
Horne, a native of Anderson, S.C., competed at Crescent High School. This past season, he earned a second-place finish at the state championships. A three-time state qualifier, he compiled a mark of 133-44 during his career and was a two-time region champion. Horne helped his school win the state championship his junior year. He will compete at either the 149 or 157 lb. weight class at GWU.
Reece, a native of Asheville, N.C., attended North Buncombe High School. During his senior campaign, he was the state runner-up. A two-time state place-winner, Reece compiled 148 wins over his four seasons. During his junior season, he won the freestyle state championship. Reece will compete at 149 or 157 this fall.
Wentink, who hails from Lodi, Ohio, attended Cloverleaf High School. During his career, Wentink won 119 matches. During his senior season, he took seventh at the state championships. He also posted four tournament championships during his senior year, including the Medina Invitational, the Pat Vance Nitro Invitational and the Waterloo Invitational. A three-time district qualifier, Wentink competed on the Ohio Junior National Greco Team his junior season. He will wrestle in the 133 lb. weight class at GWU.
With the abundance of talent that is committed to the Bulldogs
next season, in addition to the student-athletes that are
returning, head coach Richard Wince and his staff are eager for
the season to begin in hopes of having more of his talented
wrestlers competing at the NCAA Championships.
