I was reading the wrestling boards today and found some updates on #16 ranked 2017 Jarod Verkleeren (Hempstead Area, PA and #1 at 145 lbs.). Jarod has finished taking his Official Visits (MN, MO, NC State, PSU and tOSU) after decommitting from ISU. Yesterday Jarod tweeted:
So, Verkleeren is now in the process of making his college decision.
I retweeted Jarod's tweet:
and added to my own tweet:
Then I saw something interesting from a knowledgeable wrestling poster:
"Verkleeren had a great visit at the U of MN. The only reason he hasn't signed with the Gophers was the offer. While very good was not as much as some other offers...ISU, Missouri and NC State. The Gophers are bringing in some great recruits and have to spread the money around. Not an easy job to do. We are doing our part to help persuade him and his parents that He will do well and feel at home here in Minnesota. He is at tOSU this weekend. He had a short visit at PSU this last Monday. PSU is 2 hours from home and tOSU is 3 hours. Big factors related to parents seeing him wrestle as opposed to flying here."
So, it looks like JV would like to go Minny, but between our offer being lower than some others and the distance factor - his parents would have to fly to MN to see him wrestle, this makes the decision tougher. But then again, Verkleeren was committed to ISU earlier and that's just as far from Western PA as we are.
It's hard to say which way he will go. We could certainly use him to fill the hole at 149, left by Fredy Stroker's transfer. Unless the family is really strapped for money, I think JV still goes Minny.
But we shall see! We should know soon.
So, Verkleeren is now in the process of making his college decision.
I retweeted Jarod's tweet:
and added to my own tweet:
Then I saw something interesting from a knowledgeable wrestling poster:
"Verkleeren had a great visit at the U of MN. The only reason he hasn't signed with the Gophers was the offer. While very good was not as much as some other offers...ISU, Missouri and NC State. The Gophers are bringing in some great recruits and have to spread the money around. Not an easy job to do. We are doing our part to help persuade him and his parents that He will do well and feel at home here in Minnesota. He is at tOSU this weekend. He had a short visit at PSU this last Monday. PSU is 2 hours from home and tOSU is 3 hours. Big factors related to parents seeing him wrestle as opposed to flying here."
So, it looks like JV would like to go Minny, but between our offer being lower than some others and the distance factor - his parents would have to fly to MN to see him wrestle, this makes the decision tougher. But then again, Verkleeren was committed to ISU earlier and that's just as far from Western PA as we are.
It's hard to say which way he will go. We could certainly use him to fill the hole at 149, left by Fredy Stroker's transfer. Unless the family is really strapped for money, I think JV still goes Minny.
But we shall see! We should know soon.
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