WVU Signs Two Recruits
By Ira Green
WVU Sports Information Office
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (December 1, 2009) – West Virginia University wrestling coach Craig Turnbull has announced the signing of two wrestlers – Mike Morales and George “Brutus” Scheffel – to national letters of intent for the 2010-11 academic year.
Morales is in his senior year at Brick Memorial High in Brick Town, N.J. Currently, he owns a 111-11 overall record. He won his first state title last year under the guidance of coach Dan O’Cone, competing at the 140-pound weight class. That year, Morales also was the regional champion, where he earned outstanding wrestler honors, and took second at districts. Currently, he is ranked sixth at his weight class (135) by WRESTLING USA Magazine, No. 11 in his weight class by InterMat and is the 96th-best overall recruit, according to InterMat.
“With Mike Morales, what we saw was a really fierce competitor,” Turnbull says. “He's very oriented to succeed. He competes really hard. He's very complete and wrestles well in all different areas. He'll come in at the 141/149-weight class area. We need to bring in someone of Mike's caliber, and I think he is someone who will contribute immediately to our program. We're very excited to have Mike and his family involved in our program.”
A 5-foot-7-inch wrestler, Morales won district titles as a freshman (130 pounds) and as a sophomore (135). He has been named all-Shore Conference and all-state. Outside of high school, Morales competes for Shore Thing Wrestling Club, which is coached by Vinny Santaniello.
Scheffel, an Oakland, Md., resident, attends Southern Garrett High. He has won three state titles under the guidance of coach Dave Taylor. Scheffel captured his first title as a freshman at 103 pounds, second a year later at 125 pounds and his most recent last year at 140 pounds. To date, he holds a 114-7 record and will wrestle at 152 pounds this season.
“Brutus is very important from a few different dimensions,” Turnbull adds. “He's been successful at the highest levels within Maryland. He's pursuing his fourth state title. He is a proven winner. He's a very intense wrestler. Geographically, he fits very well. He's from Garrett County, so his family and friends can stay involved, follow his career and become involved in our program. He comes in at 149/157 pounds, and those were very targeted areas in our early recruiting, so we feel very good about the addition of Brutus.”
A three-time conference and regional champion, he was the captain of last year’s squad, which won the team state championship. Scheffel, a multiple Cliff Keen Tulsa Nationals place-winner, was the school male-athlete of the year in 2008 and 2009 and also was the team MVP the past two seasons. In addition to wrestling, he plays varsity football and tennis.
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