Turnbull Lands Top Recruit

By Steve Stone, WVU Sports Information Department

November 21, 2007

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University Wrestling Head Coach Craig Turnbull announced today the signing of the top-ranked high school wrestler at 135 pounds in the country.

Colin Johnston, a senior at Canon-McMillan High in Canonsburg, Pa., has signed his national letter of intent to join the Mountaineers beginning in the fall 2008.

Johnston is ranked No. 1 in his respective weight class by Amateur Wrestling News and possesses the intangibles that Coach Turnbull seeks in building the WVU wrestling program.

“Colin has been in our camp and has been coached by two of our former wrestlers,” says Turnbull. “He is all the things that we look for in this program, and he has achieved at the highest level and has a great work ethic.”

Johnston has a 122-8 career record and is a three-time WPIAL champion (2005-06-07). He won the 2006 state championship and finished as the state runner-up in 2007. Johnston has flourished in various wrestling styles, being a four-time freestyle state champion as well as a three-time Greco-Roman state champion.

Turnbull believes Johnston’s aspirations and local ties to WVU will benefit him as he begins next fall.

“He’s a local kid and can bring a nice fan base to the matches with his family and friends,” says Turnbull. “Colin also has high goals and wants to be an NCAA champion someday.”


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