OU Wrestling Signs Two Recruits

April 9, 1999

NORMAN, Okla. - Mark Worthy of Toms River, N.J. and Leonce Crump of Baton Rouge, La. have signed national letters of intent to wrestle at the University of Oklahoma, head coach Jack Spates announced today.

Worthy, a Junior National All-American, is only the 15th three-time New Jersey state champion, winning titles his freshman, junior and senior seasons while competing at Toms River High School. Worthy finished third his sophomore season (wrestling with a torn rotator cuff), only a tiebreaker away from becoming the only four-time New Jersey state champion. He also claimed four regional and district championships. Worthy compiled a 128-2 record while in high school and never lost in
dual competition. He is projected to wrestle at 157 pounds.

"Mark Worthy is one of the greatest wrestlers to ever come out of the Garden State and one of the premier wrestlers in the country," said Spates. "He is a tremendous athlete, and person, who will be a great addition to the Sooner wrestling family. Mark has national championship aspirations and in coming to OU, he is coming to a program that can help him realize his goal while helping lead the Sooners to their eighth NCAA championship."

Crump was a Louisiana state champion and runner-up for Baton Rouge Magnet High School. In his high school career, Crump recorded 115 wins and only 10 losses. Of those 115 victories, 110 were via pin. The 64, 250-pound Crump will compete at heavyweight for the Sooners.

"Leonce Crump is an outstanding young man whose best years in wrestling are still ahead," said Spates. "He has performed exceptionally with very limited resources and in the training environment offered at OU, we believe he can realize his goal of becoming an NCAA champion. Equally important, he is a good person, as well as athlete, and will fit in great with the Sooner wrestling family."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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