NC WR: Cherrington inks four to NLI

May 9, 2013 by FloWrestling Staff

Cherrington inks four to NLI

By HEATHER KENNEDY
UNCBears.com

GREELEY – Northern Colorado wrestling head coach Ben Cherrington announced the addition of four student-athletes to the wrestling team for the 2013-14 season.

Cherrington inked two Colorado standouts in Aaron Cisneros and Sonny Espinoza, as well as one from Idaho in Beau Roberts and his first-ever recruit from Ohio in Chase Crabtree in his fifth recruiting class with the Bears.

Aaron Cisneros, 141 pounds, 5-9, Edgewater, Colo. (Jefferson HS)
Cisneros won the Colorado state championship as a senior after finishing as the runner-up in his junior season… He was a four-time state qualifier and a three-time state placer on the mat, as well as a two-time First-Team All-State pick… Also earned three letters in golf… He is the first student-athlete from Jefferson High School to win a state championship in wrestling and he holds the school records for wins, pins, takedowns and nearfalls… He is also a two-time Academic All-State selection and a member of the National Honor Society… Posted a record of 159-26 throughout his high school career, including a 49-2 mark as a senior.

"Aaron is a great Colorado kid that we are excited to keep here in state," Cherrington said. "Aaron is a tremendous wrestler whom has steadily improved throughout his high school career, capping it off with his first state title. With great workout partners and consistency, I am confident that Aaron will continue to improve at an even faster rate. We are confident that Aaron will be a guy we can count on to step in the lineup and make an immediate impact. He's a great kid and will be a welcome addition to our UNC wrestling family."

Chase Crabtree, 125/133 pounds, 5-4, St. Paris, Ohio (St. Paris Graham HS)
Crabtree was both the conference and sectional champion as a junior before missing a portion of his senior year due to injury… Helped the Falcons win the Public School National Championships in 2013, as well as four-straight conference, district and state titles during his tenure… Earned four varsity letters as well as two Central Buckeye Conference Sportsmanship Awards… Also a member of the school's honor roll.

"Chase is a great young man and one of our first recruits from the East," Cherrington said. "Having wrestled for one of the most storied high school programs in the country and one of the best high school coaches in the country, we are confident Chase will come in very well prepared for the next step in his career. Through the recruiting process it was very evident that Chase is motivated and very disciplined in all aspects of his life. He will be a tremendous addition to our team here at UNC."

Sonny Espinoza, 149 pounds, 5-9, Pueblo, Colo. (Pueblo Central HS)
Espinoza placed second as a senior and third as a junior at the Colorado state championships… He earned a total of six letters for the Wildcats, four in wrestling and two in football… Was also an eight-time Freestyle state champion… Won 163 matches in his high school career, a Pueblo record for victories… Named to the honor roll five semesters and tied the Pueblo Central record for pins in a season with 29 in 2011.

"Sonny, along with Aaron is a local kid whom has chosen to stay in Colorado and represent our great state," Cherrington said. "Sonny is a very talented wrestler and a great kid as well. We are expecting Sonny, like we do all of our recruits, to come in and challenge for a starting spot immediately. He didn't finish his high school career the way he would have liked to, but is very excited and motivated to put it behind him and make an impact at this level."

Beau Roberts, 149 pounds, Meridian, Idaho (Clackamas CC/Mountain View HS)
Roberts finished second at the NJCAA Championships at 149 pounds, losing the title bout 7-6… In high school, was a three-time state finalist and a four-time medalist for Mountain View High School… Helped Clackamas to a third-place finish as a sophomore at the National Championship… Was ranked as high as No. 3 nationally as a freshman.

"Beau joins us after a great junior college career in which he earned All-American honors twice," Cherrington said. "Beau is the type of wrestler that could make some noise immediately at this level. He will add tremendous strength to our line-up and will some bring some experience to it as well. He's an aggressive wrestler who likes to score points and he will fit into our program well."