College Signings
Joey Cruz Gives Verbal to Oklahoma
Joey Cruz – Bullard HS
The number #1 wrestler in the nation at 120lbs., Joey Cruz, has given his verbal commitment to wrestle at the University of Oklahoma. The Bullard HS wrestler has an amazing prep career so far and still has one year left in high school. Cruz has twice placed in the state tournament in his first two years in high school. He finished third as a freshman and a runner-up in 2020 at 113 lbs. Due to Covid, California did not have a state championship during the 2020-21 school year. Cruz will join Justin Thomas and Anthony and Troy Mantanona on the Sooner’s squad who are all from California.
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Last week was a big success for Oregon State’s recruiting, with Chris Pendleton’s team securing three verbal commitments, two from the Class of 2026 and one from the senior class, all Big Board members and two in the top 100. On Tuesday, Nathan Carrillo from St. John Bosco, CA, ranked #46 in the Class of 2026, also committed, making Oregon State one of two schools with three recruits from that class. Carrillo, a two-time California state qualifier and 2024 state finalist at 120 lbs, holds national-level accolades, including third-place finishes at the UWW U17 Trials and Fargo. He’s currently ranked seventh at 120 lbs and is expected to compete at 125/133 lbs in college. Despite already having young talent in those weight classes, Oregon State’s roster will benefit from Carrillo’s potential.
The Cornell recruiting Class of 2026 is off to a strong start with the verbal commitment of #9 overall Joseph Toscano from Buchanan, CA, making him the highest-ranked recruit from the class and the first top-ten recruit to commit so far. Toscano, a two-time state runner-up, reached the finals as a freshman at 126 lbs and again in 2024 at 144 lbs. He also advanced to the finals of the Doc Buchanan Invitational during his first two years, winning the title and the traditional cowboy hat as a freshman. Currently ranked sixth in the nation, Toscano is set to compete in the stacked 144 lb bracket at the Super 32, which will feature the top eight wrestlers in that weight class.
At the next level, Toscano is projected to wrestle at 157 lbs, which aligns with the graduation of current Cornell All-American Meyer Shapiro, setting Toscano up to join the Big Red in the fall of 2026. This commitment bolsters what is already considered one of the best recruiting classes in the current cycle.
On Friday morning the Oklahoma State Cowboy’s secured their first commitment from that class with #44 Rocklin Zinkin, a two-time state finalist from Buchanan, California. Zinkin, who was a state runner-up as a freshman at 106 lbs. and a state champion at 113 lbs. as a sophomore, also excelled at the Doc Buchanan Invitational and went 7-0 at the 16U National Duals in freestyle over the summer.
Expected to compete at 133 lbs. in college, Zinkin’s commitment marks the third straight year Oklahoma State has landed an elite California recruit, following #2 Coby Merrill in 2024 and #27 Ronnie Ramirez in 2025. Zinkin chose the Cowboys after visiting Michigan, NC State, and Virginia Tech, solidifying his decision after a visit to Oklahoma State.
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State Rankings2 weeks agoCalGrappler California High School Wrestling Team Rankings
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State Rankings2 weeks agoCalGrappler California High School Wrestling Rankings – 106 lbs.
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State Rankings2 weeks agoCalGrappler California High School Wrestling Rankings – 126 lbs.
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State Rankings2 weeks agoCalGrappler California High School Wrestling Rankings – 120 lbs.
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State Rankings2 weeks agoCalGrappler California High School Wrestling Rankings – 113 lbs.
