University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Gavin Adds Four in Early Signing Period
11/27/2017 3:47:00 PM | Wrestling
Three Western Pa. Natives and One Ohio Native to Join 2018-19 Panthers
PITTSBURGH – University of Pittsburgh wrestling head coach Keith Gavin inked four student-athletes during the early National Letter of Intent signing period for the 2018-19 season.
The group consists of Pennsylvania natives Luke Kemerer, Louis Newall, Cole Matthews and Ohio product David Crawford.
Louis Newell / Cranberry Township, Pa. / Seneca Valley H.S.
Expected weight class: 125
115-19 career record … Back-to-back PIAA AAA runner-up in 2016 and 2017 … 2016 WPIAL champion … Three-time PIAA qualifier … 2016 Section champion … Section runner up 2015, 2017 … Placed first at Ohio Tournament of Champions … Finished sixth NHSCA Nationals in 2016… Honor roll student at nearby Seneca Valley High School.
Newell on Pitt:
"I chose Pitt because it's located in Pittsburgh, one of the best wrestling areas in the country, and because the new coaching staff is moving the program in the right direction."
Gavin on Newell:
"Louis [Newell] a great athlete and plays multiple sports. We actually went and watched one of his soccer games and he's pretty impressive on the soccer field as well. That's great to see. He's a good athlete and high-character kid with great grades. It was a no-brainer to go after him. He's a lightweight and we need those, so we are looking at him to step in and impact our program right away."
Cole Matthews / Greenville, Pa. / Reynolds H.S.
Expected weight class: 141
Career record of 130-13 … PIAA AA champion as a freshman in 2015 … PIAA AA runner-up in 2017 and placed third in 2016 … Assisted Reynolds to its 12th team crown in 2017 … Three-time WPIAL and section champion … Ranks No. 49 on the FloWrestling Class of 2018 Big Board and No. 4 at 145 pounds by InterMat … 2016 PowerAde champion … Two-time Ironman finalist.
Matthews on Pitt:
"I chose Pitt because it has a home feeling for me. I know I can succeed academically and athletically with all the support that's provided. The coaches are a great fit for my wrestling style and I can't wait to be a Panther."
Gavin on Matthews:
"Cole [Matthews] is another Western Pennsylvania kid that's had a lot of success in high school. He took first, third and second in the state with one year left, which is pretty impressive. Although we got here a bit late in the recruiting game, we were able to develop a relationship with him and it felt like a great fit all the way around. I think he will be a great addition to our team and he was a big get for us. We're looking forward to him impacting our team right away."
Luke Kemerer / Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield Area H.S.
Expected weight class: 149
Career record of 107-20 … Two-time PIAA AAA placer, including a third place finish in 2016 … 2017 WPIAL champion … Two-time section champion … 2016 WPIAL runner up … Ranks No. 75 on the FloWrestling Class of 2018 Big Board … Runner-up at Young Guns NHSCA 2016 … 2017 Disney Duals champion … Honor roll student at nearby Hempfield Area High School.
Kemerer on Pitt:
"With the program on the rise and the new coaching staff, there is no place I would rather be."
Gavin on Kemerer
"Luke [Kemerer] has had a lot of success in high school in Western Pennsylvania. He's a very physical wrestler and he also obviously puts some time into developing his skills. For a high school kid, he's mature and comes to us with a great skill set. He's well-coached and has a great club coach in Jody Strittmatter with Young Guns. It's big for us to get him. I think Cole [Matthews] will try to go at 141 and Luke [Kemerer] will go at 149, so with those guys at those weights, we feel pretty good for the next few years."
David Crawford / Canfield, Ohio / Canfield H.S.
Expected weight class: 174/184
2017 Ohio Division III 170 pound champion … 2016 state runner-up and was a placer in 2015 and 2014 … Two-time district champion … Helped Canfield to two-time team runner-up finishes in the state in 2016 and 2015 … Two-time academic All-State honoree … Member of the National Honor Society.
Crawford on Pitt:
"I love the city of Pittsburgh and the plan that the coaches have for the program in the future."
Gavin on Crawford:
"David [Crawford] is our only out-of-state guy, coming to us from Ohio, just an hour and a half away. He was state champion in Ohio last year at 170 pounds. He's another high-character kid that loves to wrestle and has good grades. He checked out all the way for us. We're excited to have him here."
#pinzburgh | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The group consists of Pennsylvania natives Luke Kemerer, Louis Newall, Cole Matthews and Ohio product David Crawford.
Expected weight class: 125
115-19 career record … Back-to-back PIAA AAA runner-up in 2016 and 2017 … 2016 WPIAL champion … Three-time PIAA qualifier … 2016 Section champion … Section runner up 2015, 2017 … Placed first at Ohio Tournament of Champions … Finished sixth NHSCA Nationals in 2016… Honor roll student at nearby Seneca Valley High School.
Newell on Pitt:
"I chose Pitt because it's located in Pittsburgh, one of the best wrestling areas in the country, and because the new coaching staff is moving the program in the right direction."
Gavin on Newell:
"Louis [Newell] a great athlete and plays multiple sports. We actually went and watched one of his soccer games and he's pretty impressive on the soccer field as well. That's great to see. He's a good athlete and high-character kid with great grades. It was a no-brainer to go after him. He's a lightweight and we need those, so we are looking at him to step in and impact our program right away."
Expected weight class: 141
Career record of 130-13 … PIAA AA champion as a freshman in 2015 … PIAA AA runner-up in 2017 and placed third in 2016 … Assisted Reynolds to its 12th team crown in 2017 … Three-time WPIAL and section champion … Ranks No. 49 on the FloWrestling Class of 2018 Big Board and No. 4 at 145 pounds by InterMat … 2016 PowerAde champion … Two-time Ironman finalist.
Matthews on Pitt:
"I chose Pitt because it has a home feeling for me. I know I can succeed academically and athletically with all the support that's provided. The coaches are a great fit for my wrestling style and I can't wait to be a Panther."
Gavin on Matthews:
"Cole [Matthews] is another Western Pennsylvania kid that's had a lot of success in high school. He took first, third and second in the state with one year left, which is pretty impressive. Although we got here a bit late in the recruiting game, we were able to develop a relationship with him and it felt like a great fit all the way around. I think he will be a great addition to our team and he was a big get for us. We're looking forward to him impacting our team right away."
Expected weight class: 149
Career record of 107-20 … Two-time PIAA AAA placer, including a third place finish in 2016 … 2017 WPIAL champion … Two-time section champion … 2016 WPIAL runner up … Ranks No. 75 on the FloWrestling Class of 2018 Big Board … Runner-up at Young Guns NHSCA 2016 … 2017 Disney Duals champion … Honor roll student at nearby Hempfield Area High School.
Kemerer on Pitt:
"With the program on the rise and the new coaching staff, there is no place I would rather be."
Gavin on Kemerer
"Luke [Kemerer] has had a lot of success in high school in Western Pennsylvania. He's a very physical wrestler and he also obviously puts some time into developing his skills. For a high school kid, he's mature and comes to us with a great skill set. He's well-coached and has a great club coach in Jody Strittmatter with Young Guns. It's big for us to get him. I think Cole [Matthews] will try to go at 141 and Luke [Kemerer] will go at 149, so with those guys at those weights, we feel pretty good for the next few years."
Expected weight class: 174/184
2017 Ohio Division III 170 pound champion … 2016 state runner-up and was a placer in 2015 and 2014 … Two-time district champion … Helped Canfield to two-time team runner-up finishes in the state in 2016 and 2015 … Two-time academic All-State honoree … Member of the National Honor Society.
Crawford on Pitt:
"I love the city of Pittsburgh and the plan that the coaches have for the program in the future."
Gavin on Crawford:
"David [Crawford] is our only out-of-state guy, coming to us from Ohio, just an hour and a half away. He was state champion in Ohio last year at 170 pounds. He's another high-character kid that loves to wrestle and has good grades. He checked out all the way for us. We're excited to have him here."
#pinzburgh | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Pitt Wrestling Highlights | Pitt vs. North Carolina
Saturday, March 01
Highlights | Pitt vs. North Carolina
Friday, February 07
Pitt Wrestling | No. 16 Pitt 42, Duke 0 | Highlights
Sunday, February 02
Highlights | Pitt vs. Duke
Saturday, February 01