Wrestling | 8/27/2014 1:14:00 PM

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – West Liberty University wrestling coach Brian Davis has landed a bumper recruiting crop for the 2014-15 season and the veteran head man can't wait to see the newest Hilltoppers hit the mats.
    Davis will be welcoming nine new faces to the West Liberty program this fall, five of them transferring from other institutions of higher learning and four coming directly from high school.
    "Not only are these young men quality wrestlers," Davis said, "they're quality individuals, as well. Several of them have the ability to be immediate impact performers and as a group, they'll raise the level of competition for the entire program. I'm really looking forward to seeing them in action."
    Here's a look at the Hilltoppers' 2014-15 wrestling recruits:
TRANSFERS
    Anthony Craig, Steubenville (OH) HS/Notre Dame (OH) College (133): 2013 graduate of Steubenville HS where he compiled a 125-31 record; 3-time Ohio Division II state tournament qualifier, placed 6^th in 2011; 2013 OVAC champion; 4-time OVAC placer; redshirted at NCAA Division II national champion Notre Dame (OH) last season
    Ember Gaitan, Manassas Park (VA) HS/Northern Virginia CC (133): 2012 graduate of Manassas Park HS; 2-time Virginia state tournament placer; Virginia Class A state runner-up as a junior and 4^th-place finisher as a senior; Won 87 high school matches; Spent the past two years at Northern Virginia CC, which does not sponsor a varsity wrestling program
    Brandon Eldridge (Bluefield (WV) HS/St. Andrew's (SC) University (165): 2013 graduate of Bluefield HS where he compiled a 147-16 record; 2013 West Virginia Class A-AA state champion also placed in state tournament as a junior; posted a 13-9 record as 157-pound starter at St. Andrew's University last season; placed 6^th at NAIA East Regional championships
    Joel Paolo, Oak Glen (WV) HS/University of Pitt-Johnstown (149): 2010 graduate of Oak Glen HS; 4-year letterman posted 134-25 record; 2010 West Virginia Class A-AA state champion and 2010 OVAC champion at 140; State runner-up in 2009 and 4-time placer in both tournaments; 2-year starter for perennial NCAA Division II Atlantic Region power Pitt-Johnstown has one year of eligibility remaining
    Eric VandenBossche, Brandon (MI) HS/Oakland (MI) CC (165): 2012 graduate of Brandon HS in Ortonville, Mich.; won 117 high school matches and went 46-6 as a senior; spent last two years at Oakland CC, which does not sponsor a varsity wrestling program
INCOMING FRESHMEN
    Matt Dixon, Parkersburg South (WV) HS (184): Compiled a 130-63 record at Parkersburg South; 3-time West Virginia Class AAA state tournament qualifier; 6^th-place finish in 2013; 2-time placer in OVAC Tournament
    Noah Phillips, East Knox (OH) HS (141): Posted 75 career wins for East Knox; made history as school's first-ever state tournament qualifier as a senior; competed in Ohio Division III state tournament at 138 pounds
    Gilbert Rodriguez, Manassas Park (VA) HS (125): Compiled a 98-20 career record in four years at Manassas Park; Placed all four years in Virginia state tournament; Virginia Class A state runner-up as a junior and 6^th-place finisher in Virginia Class AAA as a senior; 3^rd-place in Class A in 2011 and 2012
    Enrique Torres, Manassas Park (VA) HS (285): Went 78-23 during his high school career at Manassas Park; 2-time Virginia state tournament placer; 3^rd-place in Virginia Class AAA as a senior; 6^th-place in Virginia Class A tournament as a junior