Andrassy signs four wrestlers during early period

SMCC's Opfer follows footsteps of older brothers

KENT Since 1999 there has been a pipeline of wrestling talent coming from Sandusky St. Mary's Central Catholic to Kent State. Head coach Jim Andrassy has made sure that pipeline remains strong in 2008.

Announcing his four recruits from the early signing period, Andrassy is bringing the fourth member of the Opfer family to Kent State. Troy Opfer is the youngest of four brothers who, between them have collected eight OHSAA state titles. The latest Golden Flashes recruit is a three-time state placer and has been a state runner-up the past two years, losing the title match 6-5 at 112 pounds in 2006 and 3-1 this past March at the same weight. He posted a 63-1 record his junior season for the Panthers.

Opfer's older brother Jared (01-04) became Ohio's ninth four-time state champion in 1999 and was a four-year letter-winner for the Flashes and a MAC champion. His brother Drew (03-06) won three titles in high school and was a national qualifier for Kent State. He is currently on Andrassy's coaching staff as an assistant.

“The Opfer family has been very loyal to us and this program,” Andrassy said. “We're very pleased to continue what has been a very nice relationship, they are a class act and we're looking forward to having Troy in our program.”

Andrassy was also pleased to ink a pair of additional Ohio wrestlers in Chase Skonieczny (Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit) and Keith Witt (Oak Harbor). He also acquired the services of Mallie Shuster, a 2007 Pennsylvania State Championships place-winner. Shuster is ranked sixth in the country for the 2007-08 season. Skonieczny is a three-time OHSAA place-winner and a junior national All-american. Witt is also a junior national All-american and hails from the same conference (SBC) as Opfer.

“This is a very nice start to what we hope can be another top-15 recruiting class. All four guys have very accomplished high school careers and we're looking for big things from all of them in their senior years,” Andrassy added.

Following are Kent State's four early signees with credentials and rankings.

MALLIE SHUSTER Big Spring, Pa. 157

- 2007 Pennsylvania State place-winner 3^rd

- 2006 Beast of the East Tournament 3^rd

- 2006 Brute Adidas National Champion

- Ranked 1^st in state for 2007-08 season

- Ranked 6^th in the country for 2007-08 season

TROY OPFER Sandusky, Oh 125/133

- Three-time OHSAA State place-winner

- Two-time OHSAA State runner-up

- NHSCA Junior All-American 3^rd

- Ranked 8^th in the country for 2007-08 season

CHASE SKONIECZNY Cuyahoga Falls, Oh 141/149

- Three-time OHSAA State place-winner 3^rd, 5^th, 4^th

- 2006 Walsh Jesuit Ironman Tournament Runner-up

- 2007 Junior National All-American 4^th

- Ranked 8^th in the country for 2007-08 season

KEITH WITT Oak Harbor, Oh 174/184

- Two-time OHSAA State place-winner 5^th, 7^th

- 2007 Junior National All-American 4^th

- Ranked 12^th in the country for 2007-08 season

Andrassy signs four wrestlers during early period

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