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Raiders plug in 15 new recruits Wrestling program loses All-American By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN ASHLAND -- With NAIA national champion Ryan Escobar and national runner-up Matt Armstrong departing, Southern Oregon University wrestling coach Mike Ritchey says he has big holes to fill in his lineup for next season. Ritchey, entering his fifth year as coach of the Raiders, believes he's filled those holes -- and several others -- with his 1999 recruiting class. SOU will add 15 new wrestlers, and a 1998 transfer who redshirted last season, to its already strong lineup. "I feel real good about this group," says Ritchey, who announced the names of his new recruits Tuesday. "Based on these guys and the kids we have coming back, I feel real good about our lineup and our team for next year." Ritchey, who coached the Raiders to a third-place team finish at the 1999 NAIA national meet, says the 40 wrestlers he will have in the program next winter have the potential to improve on last year's top finish for a Ritchey-led program. "We've brought in some good kids, and solved our problems," says Ritchey. "I'm happy." The biggest problem Ritchey had was replacing Escobar, who has transferred to the University of Illinois after winning the NAIA national title at 125 pounds. Escobar was a two-time All-American at SOU, and was on pace to become only the second four-time All-American wrestler at the university. Ritchey accomplished the feat while at SOU from 1985-88. Leading the cast of transfers with college experience will be Devin Cole, a 285-pound junior transfer from Southwestern Oregon Community College. Cole, a two-time junior college national tournament qualifier, was recruited in 1998 and redshirted last season. "He's going to be a real asset for us," says Ritchey. "He beat Steve Santoni (of SOU) at the Oregon Classic last year in the finals. He was ahead 10-1 in the national junior college finals last year when he blew out his elbow." Cole is expected to be healthy and ready to wrestle for the Raiders this coming season. Tyko Isaacson, a former Portland State wrestler, won the 1996 Class 4A state title for North Eugene. He figures to fit into the Raiders' lineup immediately at 133 as a sophomore. The third college transfer is Ryan Schumann of Southwestern Oregon Community College. The 174-pounder from Las Vegas will be a junior. Ritchey says he will count on Colin Murphy of Oconomowoc, Wis., to step in as a freshman and help the team at 141. Murphy is a former Wisconsin state champion (1997) at 133. "His grandma and grandfather live in Medford, and we got a tough kid there," says Ritchey. "That's going to be a big plus." Ritchey says he isn't surprised that the Raiders didn't successfully recruit any Southern Oregon high school wrestlers this year. He had hoped to land Crater High senior and state champion Matt Lee, who narrowed his final decision to Oregon and Southern Oregon. Lee opted for Oregon. "It's kind of tough to keep kids in the valley," says Ritchey. "I think it's human nature for them to want to get away from their home for a while. I know I did. "If that wasn't the case," Ritchey says, "we'd all probably still be living in England." Incoming high school recruits from Oregon include: Jason Stevens, a two-time Metro League champion at 125 from Beaverton High; Jay Zachman, a fifth-place state finisher at 119 from West Linn High; Nolan Harris, a four-time Valley League champion and third-place state finisher at 119 from Sprague High; Woody Chinburg, a seventh-place state finisher at 133 from South Eugene; Brian LeBlanc, a sixth-place state finisher at 135 from Sprague High; Dennis Harada, a three-time state qualifier at 149 from Thurston High; Luke Heuberger, a Class 3A state runner-up at 141 from Stayton High; Brian Wilson, a Class 2A state champion at 171 from Dayton High; Vince Donivan, a sixth-place state finisher at 189 from La Grande High; and Matt Greiling, a 197-pounder from Gresham High. Other incoming high school recruits include: Seth Kernodle, a Class 3A Washington state champion at 174 from Mead High of Spokane; and Kyle Taylor, a top-four state placer at 285 from Reardon High of Reardon, Wash. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.