Monarchs Land IL Stud For First ’12 Recruit

Willie Saylor, Editor

Old Dominion Head Coach Steve Martin is known for many things: as the architect of the Granby Camp system, as a legendary high school coach at Great Bridge, and as an All-American in his own wrestling days as an Iowa Hawkeye.

But he’s also creating a legacy as one of the hardest-working recruiters in the college wrestling circuit. In both 2009 and 2011, Coach Martin brought in recruiting classes that were ranked #7 nationally. And he’s off to a good start for 2012.

Late Thursday evening, Old Dominion received their first verbal commitment for the Class of ’12 in the form of Jack Dechow, a two-time state finalist from Richmond-Burton, Illinois.

Dechow is currently ranked 6th at 182 and as the #6 184lb prospect by TheOpenMat. He was the Fila Cadet Freestyle Runner-Up this spring, and placed 6th at Fargo in the summer. It was his second career Fargo medal.