Mankato, Minn. – The Minnesota State wrestling team announced the signing of four recruits Monday as Drew Lexvold, Thomas Allen, Brandon Pederson and Cody Quinn are set to join the Mavericks wrestling squad for the 2011-12 season.
“We have a solid nucleus currently in place and we feel that we are doing a good job building around these guys to give us the best chance to improve on last season’s performance and become an elite program once again,” head coach Jim Makovsky said.
Lexvold, a transfer from the University of Minnesota, will compete in the 133-pound weight class after earning championships at the St. Cloud State Open, University of Northern Iowa Open and the Dubuque Open. A 2010 graduate of Kenyon-Wanamingo High School, Lexvold was a two-time Minnesota state champion earning first-place honors in both his junior and senior years.
“Drew is one of those kids who wrestles hard and is involved in the sport for the right reason,” Makovsky said. “Lexvold will bring positive energy to the wrestling team both on and off the mat and that’s what we look for when recruiting young wrestlers.”
Allen, projected at 141-pounds, will join the Mavericks fresh off his first-place finish at the 2011 Wisconsin state championship. Allen recorded a 145-29 career high school record at Menasha, Wisconsin.
“The good thing about Allen is that he just won his first high school state championship and is just starting to hit his stride,” Makovsky said. “Allen is an extremely hard worker who loves wrestling which is evident by the amount of out-of-season tournaments he participates in. Allen reminds me a lot of a young Jason Rhoten or Brady Wilson in that they all came to MSU with a bright future and a lot of room to grow.”
Pederson, a Waseca, Minnesota native, finished his high school career with a 187-31 record including 92 wins by fall. A 165- or 174-pound projected wrestler, Pederson was a 2011 Minnesota state runner-up and a third-place finisher in 2009.
“Pederson is a pin-artist,” Makovsky said. “After being seriously injured in a car accident this past fall, he was able to fight back and be a state runner-up which shows great strength and hunger which this team needs. I love Pederson’s aggressive and physical nature, and if we can work on developing his technique and wrestling tactics we can reach a very high potential with Brandon.”
Quinn, a Covington, Washington native, projects as a 157- or 165-pound wrestler for the Mavericks. Quinn accumulated second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-place finishes throughout his career in Washington state championships. Quinn began his collegiate wrestling career at a junior college in Northern Idaho before transferring to a college without a wrestling program. However, the itch to wrestle returned for Quinn who now finds himself as a member of the Mavericks wrestling squad.
“Cody appeals to me in a way not many others do,” Makovsky said. “The fact that he missed wrestling to the point where he contacted a former coach looking for someone to train with speaks volumes for how much this guy really loves the sport. Quinn is a tough and physical wrestler who we look forward to working with.”
“In order for us to improve from last season’s disappointing finish we need to backfill the team with those who are motivated and truly want to be part of something special,” Makovsky said. “I think we have done a good job so far of obtaining this goal and the future looks bright for Mavericks wrestling.”