Badgers welcomes new wrestlers for 2021

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin wrestling head coach Chris Bono announced this past week that six new wrestlers have signed a national letter of intent to attend the University of Wisconsin. The talented recruits will join the Badger wrestling roster beginning with the 2021-22 season.

"I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am about all these young men in this class," said Bono. "Most of last year's class opted to defer enrollment to next fall, which gives us two recruiting classes this year.

"All of these young men are exceptional wrestlers, students and citizens. These guys are the future of Badger Wrestling and I could not be more excited to get these guys on campus."

Braxton Amos

Mineral Wells, W.V. / Parkersburg South High School
Coach: Shaun Smith
197 pounds

Bono on Amos: "He's the No. 1 kid in the country! Braxton is unbelievable young man on and off the mat. He is very talented in all areas of wrestling. He is a going to be a fan favorite and will do some very special things here at UW."

First up! And we can't wait to see Braxton Amos step on the mat for the #Badgers

📍Mineral Wells, W.V.
🏢Parkersburg South High School#JumpAround | #OnWisconsin
🖊️ #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/ywatvn9cQ8
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) November 11, 2020

Signed with Badgers Nov. 2019, deferred enrollment for one year
Finished 3rd at 2020 USA Wrestling Senior Nationals (Greco-Roman)
2020 Dave Schultz Award Winner
Ranked No. 1 at 220 pounds by FloWrestling, Intermat, The Open Mat, Win Magazine, USA Today
Ranked as the No. 3 overall wrestler of the 2020 class
Wrestling USA High School Wrestler of the Year
Intermat, WIN Magazine, Mat Scouts, Wrestler of the Year
No. 1 p4p wrestler in the country in 2019-2020 (FloWrestling)
2019 Junior National Freestyle champion
2019 Pan American Junior Championships silver medalist in Greco-Roman
Has a 142-0 high school record, giving up zero offensive points during three years of high school
Led Parkersburg South High School to top-25 national rankings in 2018 and 2019
Two-time West Virginia AAA state champion; 2019 AAA Most Outstanding Wrestler
Three-time champion at Super 32 Challenge; named 2019 Most Outstanding Wrestler
Eight-time Junior Greco National Team member
Five-time Fargo Champion, six-time finalist
First-Team All-State in Football, lettered as a Senior in Football in 2019
Three-time Academic All-State for Wrestling

Joseph Zargo

South River, N.J. / Bergen Catholic High School
Coach: Dave Bell
145 pounds

Bono on Zargo: "Joe comes from one of the best high schools in the country, Bergen Catholic. He is very technical and has an unmatched work ethic. He loves to compete which is a huge trait in our recruiting process. This guy loves wrestling. He is an unbelievable young man off the mat as well."

We're juiced to welcome Joseph Zargo to our #Badgers family!

📍 South River, New Jersey
🏢 Bergen Catholic High School#JumpAround | #OnWisconsin
🖊️ #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/WUUMQ2RK7J
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) November 11, 2020

Signed with Badgers Nov. 2019, deferred enrollment for one year
Ranked No. 6 overall by WIN Magazine
Ranked No. 11 overall by FloWrestling
Ranked No. 1 overall in New Jersey by FloWrestling
Two-time Fargo All-American
Cadet World Team Trial All-American
2018 FloNationals Champions
Two-time attendee of the Olympic Training Center
Earned High Academic Honors

Graham Calhoun

Plymouth, Ind. / Plymouth High School
Coach: Bob ReadAlso trains at Midwest Regional Training Center (Coach Chris Fleeger)
174 pounds

Bono on Calhoun: "Graham comes from a well-respected club in Indiana run by Chris Fleeger. He is battle tested and a grinder. Along with this whole class, Graham is world class off the mat. He is a coach's dream."

Thrilled to welcome Graham Calhoun to our program!

📍 Plymouth, Ind.
🏢 Plymouth High School #JumpAround | #OnWisconsin
🖊️ #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/xAJx7qLrc4
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) November 11, 2020

Signed with Badgers Nov. 2019, deferred enrollment for one year
Three-time Indiana state wrestling place-winner, including 3rd in 2020 (5th 2019, 7th 2017)
Four-time Indiana state wrestling qualifier
Two-time Semi-State Champion
Three-time Regional Champion
Four-time Sectional Champion
Four-time Conference Champion
175-10 overall high school record, including 46-1 as a senior
2020 Kizer award winner (Best male athlete) for PHS

Dean Hamiti

Joliet, Ill. / Joliet Catholic Academy
Coach: Ryan Cumbee
170 pounds

Bono on Hamiti: "Dean is from Joliet Catholic High School coached by Ryan Cumbee. Dean is another guy in this class that loves to compete and just flat out loves wrestling. He has a little unorthodox style of wrestling that will make our fans get out of their seats! Dean just won the prestigious super 32 tournament and was named outstanding wrestler! He will be a fan favorite for sure."

Signed! 🙌 Dean Hamiti is joining the #Badgers family!

📍 Joliet, Ill.
🏢 Joliet Catholic Academy#JumpAround | #OnWisconsin
🖊️ #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/weKywMcDO8
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) November 12, 2020

2020 Illinois state champion
2020 Super 32 champion
2019 Fargo national champion
2019 Illinois state champion
2018 Illinois state champion

Cole Carroll

Randolph, N.J. / Seton Hall Preparatory School
Coach: Jack Decker
150 pounds

Bono on Carroll: "We are excited to add Cole Carroll to this exceptional class. Cole is a fantastic young man that has high goals both on the mat and in the classroom. Equally as impressive is Cole's character, he embraces the Hustle-Effort- Attitude mentality!"

This class is 🔥🔥🔥
Cole Carroll is going to light up the UW Field House!

📍 Randolph, N.J.
🏢 Seton Hall Preparatory School#JumpAround | #OnWisconsin
🖊️ #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/liU8LCx0nZ
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) November 11, 2020

2019, 2020 New Jersey State Qualifier
2019, 2020 4th in region
2020 1st Essex County Tournament
2020 5th Sam Cali Invitational
2020 2nd in district
2019 1st in district
2019 2nd Essex County Tournament
2018 3rd in district
Played baseball as a freshman and sophomore
Earned second academic honors multiple semesters as sophomore and junior

Hayden Copass

Georgetown, Ill. / Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School
Coach: Kirk Edwards
285 pounds

Bono on Copass: "Copass is a mountain of a man. We love big heavyweights. Hayden wrestles like a lightweight and has great technique. He is a very hardworking big man who is a great person on and off the mat. He also just won the prestigious Super 32 tournament and is the No. 1 ranked wrestler at heavyweight in the country. He is from Germantown, Illinois coached by Darrin Chambliss."

Adding firepower to our Heavyweight roster. Excited to add Hayden Copass to the #Badgers!

📍 Georgetown, Ill.
🏢 Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School#JumpAround | #OnWisconsin
🖊️ #NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/qxSwTQ0Zzf
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) November 13, 2020

Two-time Fargo freestyle national champion
Three-time Fargo finalist
2020 Super 32 Champion
2020 Illinois state champion (26-0 record)
2019 Illinois state runner-up (38-4 record)
Three-time Illinois state qualifier (Jr., So., Fr.)
105-11 overall record in high school
Honorable-mention All-County Football

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