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.