The Gopher Wrestling program added three new, in-state recruits on Tuesday with Brent Jones, Jakob Bergeland and Alex Crowe signing their National Letters of Intent, officially committing them to wrestle at the University of Minnesota.
“When we are recruiting, the thing we’re looking to do is find the right types of people and these three are hard-working, they’re good wrestlers and they’re great students,” said head coach Brandon Eggum. “They’re also outstanding competitors. They’re also just good kids from good families. Those things are important to us.”
Jones, a three-time Minnesota state champ out of Shakopee, is currently ranked as a top-10 national recruit at 138 pounds, and on the cusp of the national top 50 for all senior wrestlers across all weight classes. His state titles have come at three different weights: 106 as a freshman, 120 as a sophomore and 126 as a junior. He is a seven-time Fargo All-American at the cadet and junior levels, including honors in both freestyle and Greco in 2016. He is also a defending Minnesota Christmas Tournament champion, having won the championship at 126 pounds last winter.
“All-around, Jones is a very good wrestler,” said Eggum. “He’s already won three state titles, so he’s had success in high school, but he seems to be really developing as a wrestler. Great scrambler, great on the mat, phenomenal on top.”
Bergeland, the defending 132-pound Minnesota state champ wrestling for Centennial High School, made a huge impression over the summer with his run to the 138-pound title bout at the prestigious Super 32 national junior tournament. Bergeland also won the 140-pound title at the Journeyman Classic. He is currently ranked among the top 100 senior wrestlers nationally across all weight classes. He is a three-time section champion in Minnesota, and a two-time finalist in Minnesota’s Christmast Tournament. At the cadet level, Bergeland was an All-American in both freestyle and Greco in 2014-15. He has also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-State recognition from The Guillotine last year.
“Bergeland came off a great tournament out at Super 32s where he wrestled well against the nation’s best,” said Eggum. “He’s got a great work ethic and great gas tank. He’s strong defense and seems like he’s making strides to be even better.”
Another Shakopee signee, Crowe is a three-time state placewinner, most recently taking third at 132 pounds last year. He had previously placed sixth and fourth, respectively, as a freshman and a sophomore wrestling at 113 pounds. He was a Fargo All-American in Greco last summer at 138 pounds, adding to multiple cadet All-American performances at junior nationals in 2013 and 2014. He is also a Minnesota Christmas Tournament champion, claiming the 132-pound title in 2015.
“Crowe is a strong mat wrestler. We see a lot of room for growth for him as an individual,” said Eggum. “We’ve very excited about what he brings to the table.”
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