The recruiting season started off with a bang for Cornell, as the Big Red secured verbal commitments from two highly-ranked wrestlers earlier this week, Joey Galasso and Andrew Garcia.

Galasso, a 2013 Pennsylvania state champion from Father Judge High, projects at 141 or 149 pounds.  Both FloWrestling and Intermat have him ranked as one of the top 20 recruits nationally – at #14 and #17, respectively.  In addition to taking first place in PA this March, he was fifth as a sophomore at the same event and fourth at the National Prep championships as a freshman.  He also has excelled in other events, grabbing third at the Powerade, eighth at the Super 32 and a runner up showing at FloNationals in 2012.  Flo currently has him pegged as the #4 grappler in the country at 145 pounds.

Garcia, a two-time Michigan state champion from Detroit Catholic Central, is also a highly-regarded prospect, ranked as the #72 recruit in the nation according to Flo and #73 by Intermat.  Before taking the Michigan crown at 171 pounds the past two seasons, he was a runner up at 152 as a ninth grader. He also has starred in offseason events, placing in both Freestyle and Greco at Fargo and winning the USA Wrestling folkstyle national championship in 2011.  Garcia, Flo’s #6 170-pounder in the latest rankings, will likely take the mat at 174 pounds for the Big Red.