Signorelli Announces 2021 Recruiting Class
Alfred State head wrestling coach Justin Signorelli, who is entering his third season leading the program, is pleased to announce his 2021 incoming recruiting class. His new class of Pioneers include 25 new faces with representatives from NY Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11 and individuals from Vermont and Virginia. As a group, this incoming class includes 14 State Championship tournament representatives, seven State Championship place winners, a State Champion and a NHSCA National Champion.
Signorelli and the Pioneers are excited to return to action this winter after COVID protocols kept the team off the competition mats during the 2020-21 season. "There is a lot of talent in this group of high character young men. This group will continue to elevate the program towards where we want to be on a national level."
Signorelli, who was hired in 2019, has revamped a roster in which he inherited five wrestlers, to now having 40+ set to hit the mats this winter. Due to not competing last year, the current roster only features seven student-athletes that have competed in college. "We will be a young team, but we have great leadership from our upperclassmen who have competed for us before. Our sophomores, despite not being able to compete last season, grew tremendously as athletes and have adapted to the college style and the expectations within our program. I expect all 15 of our returners to be veterans on and off the mats for this incoming group to look up to."
Alfred State is slated to open up the 2021-22 season at home on November 3rd at 6PM vs I-86 rival Elmira College, who will be competing in their first ever competition as a program.
2021 Recruiting Class - in alphabetical order
Evan Albrecht (Patchogue, NY) - Health Sciences major
A incoming Journeymen NYS Championship qualifier, Albrecht tallied 96 career wins despite a limited senior season. In 2020, he anchored his Patchogue-Medford Raiders teams lineup as they won the Suffolk County Dual Meet Championship and qualified to compete at the NYS Dual Meet Championships. As a junior, Albrecht earned a spot on the podium at the Section XI Suffolk County Championships, finishing 5th, and this year he spent the duration of the 2021 season as the top ranked HWT in Suffolk County.
Bobby Brotherton (Dryden, NY) - Auto Service Technician major
While competing for the Lions, Brotherton racked up 131 career wins, was a Section IV Finalist, 2X place winner and qualified to compete at the 2020 NYS Championships. A class of 2020 commit, Brotherton opted to take a gap year where he served as a member of the United States Army Reserves.
Adam Brown (Clay, NY) - Welding Technology major
During his career for Cicero-North Syracuse, Brown was a 2X Section III place winner for the Northstars. Brown also has trained under legendary coach "Mean" Gene Mills at his Pin2Win Combat Academy.
Brenden Dellinger (East Amherst, NY) - Business Administration major
A Journeymen NYS Championships qualifier, Dellinger tallied 85 career wins, despite not having a senior season. In 2020 while competing for Williamsville North HS, Dellinger was a Section VI Champion and NYS Championship qualifier for the Spartans.
Jake Gartner-Baca (Camilius, NY) - Welding Technology major
Gartner-Baca competed in Section III for the West-Genesee Wildcats, where he was a place winner at the Phoenix Round Robin Tournament.
Drew Greco (Chester, NY) - Electrical Construction & Maintenance major
Greco competed for Warwick Valley HS where he compiled 124 career victories and was a 4X Section IX place winner for the Wildcats. He was also a qualifier to compete at the Journeymen NYS Championships.
Jaden Hansen (Newburgh, NY) - Electrical Construction & Maintenance major
While competing for the Newburgh Free Academy Goldbacks as a sophomore and a junior, Hansen compiled a record of 75-17 and finished 3rd and 2nd at the Section IX Championships, to become a 2X place winner. Additionally, this spring he won 5 matches to make the blood round of the Journeymen NYS Championships. Hansen is the Great Grandson of 1904 Olympic Gold medal winner Bernoff Hansen, who won individual gold for Team USA in Freestyle Wrestling.
Jahmere Hayes (Rochester, NY) - Heavy Equipment Operations major
While competing for Eastridge HS, Hayes racked up 120 career wins and was a 2X Section V Class place winner for the Lancers. During the 2021 season, he took home gold at the Byron-Bergen Invitational. Hayes will also be playing on the football team here at Alfred State.
Troy Hayes (Binghamton, NY) - Business Administration major
As a member of the Windsor Black Knights wrestling program Hayes was a Section IV Finalist and 2X place winner. Hayes was a 2021 State Qualifier and earned All-State honors, picking up 5 wins en route to finishing 7th place at the Journeymen NYS Championships.
Justin Hoffman (Hadley, NY) - Heavy Equipment, Truck & Diesel Technician major
Hoffman racked up over 100 career wins and was a 3X Section II place winner for his Hadley-Luzerne team. Hoffman was also a 2020 NYS Championships qualifier and a 2021 Journeymen NYS Championships qualifier for the War Eagles. Additionally, Hoffman was a NHSCA Virginia Beach High School Nationals All-American in 2018 with a 6th place finish.
Alexander Lockwood (Hornell, NY) - Liberal Arts & Science major
In his career for the Red Raiders, Lockwood amassed the 100 win mark, was a 3X Section V Class place winner and as a junior was a place winner at the Section V State Qualifier Super Sectional Championships.
Sean Malenfant (Averill Park, NY) - Construction Building Trades major
Malenfant compiled a career record of 159 wins and only 27 losses, including going 48-2 over the past 2 years for the Warriors. While competing in Section II, he was a 4X top 3 place winner, 2X Champion and twice qualified to represent them at the State Championships. As a junior, Malenfant finished 5th at 152 lbs at the NYS D1 Championships.
Elijah Moshenek (Ringgold, VA) -Welding Technology major
Moshenek competed for Dan River HS where he eclipsed the 100 win mark and won two Regional Championships. Despite not having a senior season, Moshenek was a 3X VA State Championships place winner for the Wildcats and was a 2020 Virginia State Champion. Moshenek was also a member of the Cross Country team, FCA, FBLA and the Book Club.
Ryan Nugent (Appleton, NY) - Electrical Construction & Maintenance major
While competing for the Newfane Panthers, Nugent racked up 167 career wins, was a 5X place winner, 4X Finalist and the 2020 Section VI Champion. Nugent was a Journeymen NYS Qualifier, 2X NYS Qualifier and as a junior he earned All-State honors, finishing 8th at the NYS Championships.
Keaton Renfrew (Phoenix, NY) - Electrical Construction & Maintenance major
Renfrew wrestled for Phoenix High School where he was coached by 2X NCAA DI Champion and 4X All-American "Mean" Gene Mills. As a junior, Renfrew was a Section III Class C Finalist for the Firebirds.
Tyler Rice (Norwich, NY) - Heavy Equipment Operations major
Rice collected 136 career wins and was a 5X Section IV place winner, including being a 2X Section Champ, for his Purple Tornado squad. During his HS career Rice earned bronze with a 3rd place finish at the Eastern States Classic and was 2X All-State at the NYS Championships finishing in 5th & 4th. Additionally, Rice was a NHSCA Virginia Beach High School Nationals National Champion in 2019 with a 1st place finish at HWT.
Gavin Richter (Kingston, NY) - Criminal Justice major
While competing for the Kingston HS, Richter was a 2X place winner at the Section IX Championships. Richter was also a Varsity Football player for the Tigers. This spring, Richter qualified to compete at the Journeymen NYS Championships.
Danny Riorden (Henrietta, NY) - Undecided major
Riorden competed for Rush-Henrietta HS alongside fellow incomer Brendan Tanner. As a Royal Comet, Riorden was a 3X Class place winner and as a junior earned a spot on the podium at the Section V State Qualifier Super Sectional Championships with a 5th place finish.
Shane Slowe (Canandaigua, NY) - Auto Service Technician major
Slowe was a 3X Class place winner and 2021 Class Finalist for the Braves. As a junior he was a place winner at the Section V State Qualifier Super Sectional Championships, finishing in 5th. Slowe was also a member of the 2X Section V Champion Canandaigua Braves Football team.
Brandon Tanner (Rush, NY) - Electrical Construction & Maintenance major
Tanner competed for the Rush-Henrietta Royal Comets program in Section V where he racked up 89 career wins, despite a limited senior season. As a junior, Tanner was a finalist at the Section V State Qualifier Super Sectional Championships. He has also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
Elijah Timbrouck (Kingston, NY) - Welding Technology major
Timbrouck competed for Kingston High School alongside fellow incomer Gavin Richter. As a member of the Tigers program Timbrouck placed in many events, including going 5-0 and taking home MOW honors at the Lewis Johnson Duals.
Ben Trautwein (East Amherst, NY) - Electrical Construction & Maintenance major
Trautwein represented the Spartans, competing for Williamsville North High School alongside fellow incomer Brenden Dellinger where he was a finalist at the 2021 Section VI Championships.
Ryan Yaeger (Akron, NY) - Heavy Equipment Operations major
As a junior, Yaeger took home individual titles at the Akron Holiday Tournament & the Niagara-Orleans All-League Championships. He was also a Section VI Class C/D place winner for the Tigers.
Dawsen Yates (Boliva, NY) - Graphic & Media Design major
Yates competed for Bolivar-Richburg HS where he put together a 131-19 career record, including going 56-5 as a junior en route to becoming a Section V Champion and NYS Championship qualifier for the Wolverines. This spring, Yates qualified to compete at the Journeymen NYS Championships and earned All-State honors with his 4th place finish.
Gus Zevon (Peacham, VT) - Construction Building Trades major
Zevon comes to us from the Green Mountain State of Vermont where he competed for St. Johnsbury Academy. During his junior season competing for the Hilltoppers, Zevon earned All-State honors finishing 6th at the VT State Championships.
