MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota wrestling has added another piece to its 2023 recruiting class as Tyler Wells has signed a National Letter of Intent, head coach Brandon Eggum announced Friday.
Wells becomes the fifth member of a class that includes previously announced Rhett Koenig, Max McEnelly, Gavin Nelson, and Ethan Riddle. A Princeton, Minn., native, Wells joins McEnelly (Waconia) and Nelson (Inver Grove Heights) as in-state products.
“We are excited to add Tyler to an already great recruiting class,” Eggum said. “Tyler is a four-time Minnesota state champion and holds the best career winning percentage for the state of Minnesota. It’s always our goal to keep the best in-state kids home and are excited for the opportunity for Tyler to compete for his home state.”
Wells is one of the top prep wrestlers in state history. According to the Star Tribune, he is one of 31 wrestlers all-time with at least four individual state titles, while his career record of 162-1 gives him a winning percentage of .944, the best in state annals. He was undefeated as a freshman, junior, and senior.
In addition, he ranks sixth all-time with 976 takedowns in his career.
Projected to compete at either 133 or 141 pounds for the Gophers, Wells won his last two state titles at 132 pounds, while as a sophomore, he captured the 113-pound crown after winning at 106 pounds as a freshman.
At the national level, Wells won the 2019 United World Wrestling Championships U15 freestyle title at 41 kg, and he came in third at the 2021 USA Wrestling Nationals 16U freestyle at 120 pounds.
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