BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Second-year head coach Scott Shipman, in conjunction with the Gardner-Webb Athletics Department, has announced that seven student-athletes will join the wrestling team in the fall of 2008.

Shipman has confirmed that Antoine Brown, Justin Guthrie, Alex Medved, Ryan Medved, Travis Porter, Blake Salyer and Richie Spicel will participate for the Bulldogs next season.

"This is arguably the best class that has been signed since I've been here," Shipman said. "We have multiple student-athletes that have won state championships. This class exemplifies the type of student-athletes that we are trying to get on the Gardner-Webb campus."

Brown won 147 matches in his high school career at nearby Shelby H.S. He won the state championship his senior campaign while sporting an impressive 44-1 mark. A three-time state and regional qualifier, he was a two-time all-conference selection. Three times during his career, he was named team MVP. Brown was also a scholar athlete.

"Antoine is one of the best wrestlers in western North Carolina," Shipman said. "We add depth at 125 lbs with his arrival. He's a tremendous athlete that is explosive. We are looking good at his weight class the next few seasons."

Guthrie posted an astounding 196 victories against 41 losses at Enka H.S., in Asheville, N.C. He won three conference titles while winning the regional championships his junior and senior seasons. In his last two years, Guthrie placed third in the state. During his four-year career, Guthrie tallied 85 pins. The team's MVP his senior season, Guthrie also lettered in cross country and baseball.

"He is one of the top under the radar student-athletes in the state," Shipman said. "He lost to arguably the best wrestler in the state twice in the state semifinals. Justin is a dynamic wrestler who is also a good, smart person. We're real excited to have him."

Alex Medved, a native of Marietta, Ga., posted an impressive 189-36 record at Harrison H.S. He, like Brown, also won the state championship his senior season. A four-time state qualifier and three-time region champion, Medved was the Atlanta Journal and Marietta Daily Journal Wrestler of the Year in 2008. Medved placed at the Powerade Tournament, which is widely regarded as one of the top high school tournaments in the country. He was also the Marietta Daily Journal Wrestler of the Year in 2006.

Ryan Medved won 184 matches versus 38 losses at Harrison H.S. A four-time state qualifier, Medved won two region championships and was the Cobb County champion his senior season. During his solid senior campaign, Medved placed fourth at the state championship after finishing third his junior year. He won an astounding 62 matches during his senior campaign and was a two-time team captain. Like his brother Alex, Ryan placed at the prestigious Powerade Tournament his senior season. A member of the Atlanta Journal all-star team, Medved also earned the academic achievement award from high school. Medved was also a three-time Team Georgia member.

"Both Alex and Ryan add to what we're doing with the program," Shipman said. "Everyone thinks that they have more upside than anyone else from the state of Georgia. They are both tall and rangy and are hard working. They are committed to becoming All-Americans."

Porter, a native of Burton, Ohio, was a three-time NHSAA All-American at Berkshire H.S. He won the state championship with a 42-0 mark during his senior season at 215 lbs. Porter placed seventh his junior year and eighth during his sophomore season in the state. A two-time medal winner at AAU Nationals, Porter recorded an impressive 143-36 career. Fifty-four of his wins came via a pin. During his senior season, he won three invitational tournaments along with being the sectional and district champion.

"Travis was a huge pickup for us," Shipman said. "He, along with Richie Spicel, were undefeated state champions in Ohio. Travis, whose brother Dustin is a two-time NCAA Qualifier for us, will allow us to move Dustin to heavyweight while he fits in and will start immediately at 197."

Salyer comes to Gardner-Webb from Alexander H.S., in Taylorsville, N.C. During his four-year career, Salyer compiled a 155-34 record. Salyer was third in the state his senior season, picking up honorable mention all-state honors. All four years he won the Tar Heel Classic. A three-year all-conference selection, Salyer totaled 111 pins and 138 takedowns.

"Blake is a big, rangy student-athlete," Shipman said. "He was a place-winner his senior year and has wrestled nationally. Blake has been competitive at the state and national level. He has a strong work ethic and is a great student. Blake is a good athlete who will make an impact."

Spicel, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, competed at Brunswick H.S. He is a top-50 overall recruit nationally and was tabbed the No. 1 wrestler in the state at 140 lbs. A four-time state qualifier, he won 157 matches during his career while only losing 12. He won two state championships during his time at Brunswick H.S., including his senior season in which he went 43-0. A four-time competitor in the Junior Olympics and a three-time competitor in the Disney Duals, he was a two-time AAU Folkstyle champion. Along with shattering every Brunswick H.S. record, Spicel won the Northeast Ohio Lee Kemp award his senior season.

"Richie is one of the top 50 wrestlers in the country," Shipman said. "He is in an important weight class that we needed to fill after the 2007-08 season. He is expected to come in and start right away. Richie will make an immediate contribution to the team."