Wrestling

Jan. 15, 2013

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State wrestling head coach Tom Minkel announced on Tuesday the signing of Christian Pagdilao (Corona, Calif./Corona Santiago) to a National Letter of Intent, bringing the 2013-14 recruiting class to four student-athletes. Pagdilao will be joined by Javier Gasca (Kingsburg, Calif./Kingsburg), Josh Pennell (St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns), and Mitch Rogaliner (Temperance, Mich./Temperance Bedford) who each signed a NLI in November.

"This is an outstanding group of young men," Minkel said. "Not only are they exceptional athletes but they are all very good students. They are men of great character and were exactly what we were looking for as we head into the future."

Christian Pagdilao - 149/157 pounds - Corona, Calif./ Corona Santiago
Currently ranked No. 1 in California at 145 pounds ... Also ranked No. 20 in the nation by FLO Wrestling and No. 13 by Amateur Wrestling News ... Went 61-4 as a junior and placed fifth in the state meet ... Inland CIF champion in 2012 and was a SS Masters finalist ... 2012 Las Vegas Freak Show Champion at 141 pounds ... Competed in the 2012 Zinkin Tournament ... Attended Corona Centennial High School before transferring to Corona Santiago for his senior campaign ... Finished 56-6 as a sophomore and was the Inland CIF champion yet again, qualifying for the state meet ... Competed at 103 pounds as a freshman and went 47-9, placing seventh at the NHSCA ... Son of Benjamin and Heather Pagdilao ... Born April 1, 1995 ... Plans to major in Pre-Med.

Minkel on Pagdilao: "Christian has had a lot of success in high school because he is fundamentally very sound. He is a great athlete and has exceptional wrestling skills and a great work ethic. We are excited about him joining our program."

A look back at the three other signees:

Javier Gasca - 133 pounds - Kingsburg, Calif./Kingsburg
Ranked the No. 57 recruit in the nation according to InterMat ... Is currently ranked 14th nationally at 138 pounds according to FLO Wrestling ... Earned all-state honors in 2012 by placing third in the California State Championships at 132 pounds ... Is a 2012 Five Counties Champion, 2012 Doc Buchanan Champion, placed second at the 2012 FLO Nationals, second at the 2012 SW Kickoff Classic, and eighth at 2012 Super 32 ... Is projected to wrestle at 133 for the Spartans.

Josh Pennell - 141 pounds - St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns
Ranked the No. 5 recruit in the state by MichiganGrappler.com ... Division 2 state runner-up in 2011 and 2009 ... Placed third in the state as a sophomore ... Placed third at the 2011 Junior Greco All-American Tournament ... Was runner-up at the 2011 FILA Cadet Freestyle Nationals ... Finished fourth at the 2010 Cadet Freestyle All-American Tournament ... Was the runner-up at the 2010 Cadet Greco Nationals ... Is projected to wrestle at 141/149 for the Spartans.

Mitch Rogaliner - 125 pounds - Temperance, Mich./Temperance Bedford
Ranked the No. 6 recruit in the state by MichiganGrappler.com ... Four-year letterwinner for head coach Kevin Vogel at Temperance Bedford High School ... Won the state title at 103 pounds as a freshman ... Finished runner-up as a sophomore and won the state title at 112 pounds as a junior ... Is projected to wrestle for the Spartans at 125/133.

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