Oregon State Signs Four High School Wrestlers

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State has signed four high school wrestlers to letters of intent, OSU head coach Joe Wells announced Thursday. Signing with the Beavers are Ben Richards of Salem, Ore.; Don Kersey of Oregon City, Ore.; Nathan Navarro of Ontario, Ore.; and Jason Cooley of Anchorage, Alaska.

"It's a really good group," Wells said. "It gives us some help at the lower weights, and we've got a number of other athletes who will be joining our program (as walk-ons)."

Richards, a 119-pounder at South Salem High last winter, is a four-time state placer. He was the Oregon Class 4A champion as a senior after placing second as a junior and sophomore and third as a freshman. He is interested in studying business.

Kersey, a 143-pounder at Oregon City High last winter, placed second in the Oregon Class 4A meet and was second in the state freestyle meet. OSU's program in graphic design is one of the things that drew him to the school.

Navarro is a three-time Oregon Class 3A champion at 112 pounds for Ontario High and he placed second at last summer's Junior National Championships. He'll compete on the United States National Team this summer. He is interested in studying accounting.

Cooley, who wrestled at 215 pounds for Robert Service High, was a multi-year Alaska state champion and he finished third in the High School Junior National Championships this spring. He is interested in construction engineering management.


[OSU Wrestling 1997]
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