Wrestling Receives Three Signees

MSU wrestling has received three National Letters of Intent for the 2014-2015 season. The three future student-athletes are from the Michigan area and include a pair of talented twins. Following is a preview of the incoming wrestlers.

1. Matthew Okaiye | 197 pounds | Waterford, Michigan | Kettering High School

Matthew placed third at 215 pounds at the 2013 Michigan state championships. He defeated Adam Myers of Clarkston by a major decision to the score of 15-3 in the third-place match. Matthew finished the season with a 49-4 record. Matthew was also named one of the top wrestlers in the Class of 2014 by Michigangrappler.com. Matthew is expected to wrestle at 197 pounds for the Spartans.

Head coach Tom Minkel on Matt: “Matt may be the sleeper big guy in the state of Michigan.  He’s tough, athletic and highly motivated.  He’ll bring a lot to our team.”

2. Shane Shadaia | 174 lbs | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Rochester High School

Shadaia placed seventh at 171 pounds at the 2013 Michigan state championships as a junior. Shane finished his senior season with an outstanding 36-9 record. He also won a district title at 171 pounds and was named one of the top wrestlers in the state by MichiganGrappler.com. Shane helped lead Rochester to the Division 1 state semifinals in the team tournament.

Head coach Minkel on Shane Shadaia: “Shane is an all-state wrestler who works extremely hard and is incredibly tough. I think Shane and his twin brother Shwan will really enhance our upper weights in the future.”

3. Shwan Shadaia | 184 pounds | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Rochester High School

Shwan won the 2013 Michigan Division 1 state title at 189 pounds as a junior and finished the season with a 54-1 record. This remarkable season allowed Shwan to become just the second wrestler from Rochester High School to accomplish this feat and the first since 1989 to win a state title. Shwan was given the honor of being named to the 2013 MichiganGrappler.com Dream Team on the third team. Shwan’s only loss of the season was when he wrestled up a weight class against 215-pound state champion Brandon Sunday of Temperance Bedford. Shwan helped lead Rochester to the Division 1 state semifinals in the team tournament. Shwan enters his senior season ranked No. 18 nationally in his weight class by Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine. This puts a bit of a target on his back. Shwan also placed seventh as a sophomore at the Michigan state championships at 189 pounds. Finally, he finished the season with a 46-12 record.

Head coach Tom Minkel on Shwan Shadaia: “Shwan Shadaia is a state champion who will solidify the lineup in the upper weights.  He’s a remarkably tough, hard-nose wrestler with nearly unlimited potential.”

 

Nick Carver is a multimedia journalist for Impact Sports.

Photo: UDJ Wrestling