MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State University head wrestling coach Jesse Nelson announced on Monday that five high school standouts have signed letters of intent to continue their academic and wrestling careers at SMSU.
Joining the SMSU program for the 2014-15 season include Lucas Damm from Atwater, Minn., Justin Haneke from Beresford, S.D., Kurtis Loftis from Kuna, Idaho, Kyle Nixon from Luther, Mich., and Landyn VanOverbeke from Minneota, Minn.
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Damm, a projected 285-pounder, collected 101 wins and 50 pins for head coach Mike Amsden at Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City High School. During his prep career, Damm was an all-conference selection, earned a section championship, was a two-time state participant, named to the all-state academic team and took home a state title. Damm was also a standout in football as he garnered all-conference and all area awards for the Falcons.
Haneke, a projected 133-pounder, was a two-time state place winner and a three-time state participant. At the South Dakota State wrestling tournament, Haneke took second-place at 106 pounds as a sophomore and third-place at 120 pounds as a junior. During his sophomore and junior seasons, he was ranked as high as second in the state of South Dakota class “B” division. Haneke was a four-year letterwinner for head coach Tyler Sorenson at Beresford High School.
Loftis, a projected 141 or 149-pounder, has recorded a career record of 106-30 through his junior season. He is currently ranked the No. 1 wrestling in the state of Idaho in the “4A” division at 145 pounds. He is a three-time state place-winner, including Runner Up as a junior. As a freshman and sophomore, the Kuna, Idaho, native took back-to-back third-place finishes at the Idaho State tournament. He is a three-time member of the USA Team Idaho wrestling team and was named to the USA Wrestling Honorable Mention team in 2013. Loftis has also competed as member of the Idaho All-Star Nuway Dual Team. He is a four-year letterwinner for head coach Patrick Owens at Kuna High School.
Nixon, a projected 149 or 157-pounder, has recorded a career record of 138-22 for head coaches Tim Jones & Terry Martin at Pine River High School. He is a three-year letterwinner, a two-time state participant, and a two-time state place-winner. Nixon went 53-4 and placed fourth at the Michigan State tournament at 140 pounds as a junior and placed seventh at 125 pounds as a sophomore with a record of 47-6.
VanOverbeke, a projected 133 or 141-pounder, has recorded 74 career wins for head coach Joel Skillings at Minneota High School. He holds the school record for fastest pin at 106 pounds. He was a member of the Minneota High School wrestling team that took back-to-back third-place team finishes at the Minnesota State tournament. He qualified for the state tournament as a junior.
“These individuals have the character and skill-set that we are looking for to continue to build the national success of SMSU wrestling,” Nelson said. We think these early signees will complement our returning roster members and make a large impact on the program in future years. We look forward to working with this group and expect big things from them both in the classroom and on the mat.”
SMSU, located in Marshall, Minn., is a member of NCAA Division II and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.