WHITE WORLD TEAM ALTERNATE

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (June 3, 2002) - West Virginia University wrestler Greg White has been named an alternate to the University World Freestyle team after his second-place finish at the University National Championships in Evanston, Ill., in May.

White, a junior from Mannington, W.Va., wrestled at 50 kilograms (110 pounds) and defeated Skyler Wright 11-8 for the right to compete for the alternate spot. In that match, White won by forfeit over Tom Morris to finish second and as the true alternate for the team. The world championships will be held in Edmonton, Ontario, June 21-26.


WRESTLING SIGNS EIGHT

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (June 3, 2002) - West Virginia wrestling coach Craig Turnbull announced today the signing of eight recruits for the 2002-03 season. Giving the coach signatures were Jeff Courtney of Fairmont, W.Va., Troy Forte of Pittsford, N.Y., Nathan Pickens of Parkersburg, W.Va., Chris Collins of Wilmington, Del., Douglas Studenic of Marietta, Ga., Steven and Eric Colpo of Midlothian, Va., and T.R. Chinn of Canandaigua, N.Y. Courtney was a two-time West Virginia state champion, including an undefeated senior year, at Fairmont Senior High. He finished fourth in the high school national tournament and was recently named an Asics All-American. Courtney is ranked by Intermatwrestle.com as one of the top recruits in the state of West Virginia and will likely be a 197-pounder at WVU.

Forte, a transfer from Buffalo, will provide depth at 125 for the Mountaineers. He redshirted the 2001-02 season at Buffalo and will have four years of eligibility at WVU. As a senior at Pittsford High, he posted a 42-0 record and won the 2001 New York state championship. He finished his high school career with 236 wins, the most in state history. Forte was ranked as the seventh elite wrestler out of the state of New York by Intermatwrestle.com in 2001. Pickens, of Parkersburgh South High, went 28-4 and won the 2002 state championship at 160 pounds after finishing third as a junior and second as a sophomore. He finished sixth at the Eastern National tournament, is a two-time high school All-American and compiled an 85-10 record in three years at PSHS. Pickens is also rated as the third-best prospect from the state of West Virginia by Intermatwrestle.com. Collins, of St. Mark's High, won the 2002 Delaware state championship at 135 pounds over three-time state champion Jordan Sianni. He also finished fourth as asophomore at 130 pounds. Collins is ranked as the fifth-best senior in Delaware by Intermatwrestle.com and is projected to wrestle at 133 or 141 pounds for WVU.

Studenic compiled a 145-28 record while at Pope High and finished second at the Georgia state championships in 1999 and 2001. He holds the school record for points, takedowns and escapes in a season. He also ranks among the school's leaders in season winning percentage and reversals in a season and as a junior was ranked by Intermatwrestle.com as one of the top wrestlers in his state's class. He will provide depth at 157 pounds for the Mountaineers. Steven Colpo of Clover Hill High, finished fifth at the Virginia state championships at112 pounds in 2001. His twin brother, Eric, was sixth at 125 pounds at the state championships in 2001. Eric also finished fourth at the 2001 Virginia Junior Cadet state championships at 143 pounds. Steven was ranked as the top 119-pound wrestler for the Central Virginia Region and Eric was ranked as the top 130-pound wrestler according to CentralRegionWrestling.com. Steven is projected to be a 125-pounder while Eric will be a 141-pounder for WVU.

Chinn was a New York state qualifier as a sophomore and compiled a 172-43 record while at Canandaigua Academy. He was also a three-time New York state freestyle place-winner, a six-time all-league selection and a four-time all-section honoree. He is projected to wrestle at 149 pounds at WVU.

"Overall, I'm pleased with the quality of this class," Turnbull says. "I think the people coming into the program in this class are consistent with the kind of hard-working, goal-oriented people that we already have in our wrestling room."


Name Weight Class Hometown/High School/Last School
T.R. Chinn 149 Canandaigua, N.Y./ Canandaigua
Chris Collins 133/141 Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's
Eric Colpo 141 Midlothian, Va./Clover Hill
Steven Colpo 125 Midlothian, Va./Clover Hill
Jeff Courtney 197 Firmont, W.Va./Fairmont Senior
Troy Forte 125/133 Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford/Buffalo
Nathan Pickens 165 Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South
Douglas Studenic 157 Marietta, Ga./Pope


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