Wrestling Inks Nine in 2026 Recruiting Class

NORMAN – Oklahoma wrestling head coach Roger Kish announced the signing of nine wrestlers in the 2026 recruiting class on Friday.

The Sooners' recruiting class is ranked No. 17 nationally by FloWrestling and includes eight incoming freshmen ranked in MatScouts' Senior Big Board which charts the top 250 recruits in the country.

Making up Kish's third full recruiting class at OU are Johnathon McGinty (Ridgewood, N.J.), Alex Taylor (Howard, Ohio), Dallas Russell (Jefferson, Ga.), Mason Ontiveros (Turlock, Calif.), Mikey Ruiz (Amarillo, Texas), Christian Jelle (Grand Rapids, Minn.), Eric Casula (Stillwater, Okla.), Carter Vannest (Modesto, Calif.) and Will Deutschlander (Edmond, Okla).

"We are excited to officially welcome our 2026 signing class to Norman," said Kish. "This group represents the future of Oklahoma wrestling and will showcase that through their talent, drive and hunger to compete at the highest level. Each of these young men embodies hard work, toughness and integrity, which are the core values of our program. We are confident they will make an immediate impact in our room and help continue building the championship culture we are striving for."

Meet the newest Sooners below.

JOHNATHON MCGINTY / SAINT JOSEPH REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL / RIDGEWOOD, N.J. / 125 POUNDS

Ranked as the No. 24 overall prospect nationally by MatScouts
No. 6 recruit at 120 pounds by FloWrestling
Two-time NJSIAA state finalist and three-time placewinner
2024 Super 32 finalist
2024 NHSCA High School Nationals finalist

ALEX TAYLOR / MOUNT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL / HOWARD, OHIO / 285 POUNDS

Ranked as the No. 27 overall prospect nationally by MatScouts
No. 7 recruit at 285 pounds by FloWrestling
2025 OHSAA state champion and three-time placewinner
2025 U17 Pan American freestyle champion
2024 Fargo Junior Nationals greco and freestyle champion

DALLAS RUSSELL / JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL / JEFFERSON, GA. / 157 POUNDS

Ranked as the No. 32 overall prospect nationally by MatScouts
No. 5 recruit at 150 pounds by FloWrestling
Three-time GHSA state champion
2025 Fargo Junior Nationals freestyle finalist
2024 NHSCA High School Nationals champion

MASON ONTIVEROS / PITMAN HIGH SCHOOL / TURLOCK, CALIF. / 184 POUNDS

Ranked as the No. 41 overall prospect nationally by MatScouts
No. 6 recruit at 175 pounds by FloWrestling
Two-time CIF state finalist
2025 Fargo Junior Nationals freestyle finalist
2024 NHSCA High School Nationals champion

MIKEY RUIZ / RANDALL HIGH SCHOOL / AMARILLO, TEXAS / 133 POUNDS

Ranked as the No. 62 overall prospect nationally by MatScouts
No. 15 recruit at 126 pounds by FloWrestling
Three-time UIL state champion
2025 Fargo Junior Nationals freestyle All-American
2024 KC Stampede champion

CHRISTIAN JELLE / GRAND RAPIDS HIGH SCHOOL / GRAND RAPIDS, MINN. / 149 POUNDS

Ranked as the No. 144 overall prospect nationally by MatScouts
Two-time MSHL state champion
2025 USAW Junior Folkstyle Nationals finalist
2024 Brian Keck Preseason Nationals champion and Outstanding Wrestler award

ERIC CASULA / STILLWATER HIGH SCHOOL / STILLWATER, OKLA. / 133 POUNDS

Ranked as the No. 222 overall prospect nationally by MatScouts
2025 OSSAA state finalist and two-time placewinner
2025 Fargo Junior Nationals freestyle All-American
Two-time Premier National League champion

CARTER VANNEST / PITMAN HIGH SCHOOL / MODESTO, CALIF. / 197 POUNDS

Ranked as the No. 247 overall prospect nationally by MatScouts
2025 CIF state placewinner
2024 NHSCA High School Nationals champion
2023 Fargo 16U Nationals freestyle All-American

WILL DEUTSCHLANDER / EDMOND NORTH HIGH SCHOOL / EDMOND, OKLA. / 157 POUNDS

2025 OSSAA state finalist
2025 Fargo Junior Nationals Greco All-American
2024-25 NWCA High School Scholar All-American

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