The University of Minnesota wrestling 2009 recruiting class has garnered another top billing as the best class in the nation.  D1CollegeWrestling.net released their third annual recruiting class rankings today (June 23), and at the head of the class were the Golden Gophers.

Minnesota beat out a trio of Big XII schools for the top spot as Oklahoma State came in second, ahead of Oklahoma in third and Nebraska at fourth.  Big Ten rival Iowa rounded out the top five in the rankings. 

Other Big Ten squads ranked among top recruiting classes include Penn State at number eight and Ohio State, Michigan and Purdue at 11, 12 and 13 respectively.  Finally Wisconsin rounded out the Big Ten representation as the last team in the rankings at number 20.  

The Minnesota recruiting class is headlined by top-ranked recruits Tony Nelson (Cambridge, Minn.) and Alec Ortiz (Newberg, Ore.),  All-Americans Bart Reiter (Gilbertville, Iowa), Kevin Steinhaus (Kerkhoven, Minn.) Pat Smith (Chaska, Minn.) and David Thorn (St. Michael, Minn.), national champion Daniel Zilverberg (Wayzata, Minn.) and Olympian Jake Deitchler (Anoka, Minn.). 

In May, the 2009 Golden Gopher recruiting class also earned the distinction as the best in the country from Wrestling Insider News (W.I.N.) Magazine.  This marks the second consecutive year that head coach J Robinson has brought in the Nation’s best recruiting class. 

D1CollegeWrestling.net 2009 Recruiting Class Rankings
­­­1. Minnesota
2. Oklahoma State
3. Oklahoma
4. Nebraska
5. Iowa
6. Virginia
7. Old Dominion
8. Penn State
9. Virginia Tech
10. Cornell
11. Ohio State
12. Michigan
13. Purdue
14. Missouri
15. Stanford
16. Wyoming
17. NC State
18. Boise State
19. Lehigh
20. Wisconsin