Warrensburg, Mo. (June 22, 2000) - Central Missouri State University wrestling coach Robin Ersland has announced the signing of seven high school seniors to letters of intent for next season.

Joining the Mules' squad for the 2000-01 season are Aaron Avery of Knob Noster (Mo.) High School, Nathan Goetz (pronounced GETS) of Higginsville (Mo.) High School, Kevin Grece (pronounced GRACE) of Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake, Ill., Jeremy Loethen (pronounced LAY-thin) of Jefferson City (Mo.) Helias High School, Jeremy Long of Santa Fe Trail High School in Carbondale, Kan., Andy Stemm of Shawnee Mission (Kan.) South High School and Shawn Swander of Shawnee Mission West High School in Overland Park, Kan.

Avery was a three-time state qualifier and two-time state runner-up with a 75-29 career record for Knob Noster. He is expected to wrestle in either the 149 or 157 pound weight class for the Mules.

Goetz was three-time state champion with a career record of 134-13 for Higginsville, where he wrestled for former CMSU All-American Bob Burrows. He is slated to compete at 125 for the Mules.

Grece was a two-time state qualifier, finishing second as a senior and fourth as junior for Prairie Ridge. He was 128-30 in his high school career and will wrestle at 197 at CMSU.

Loethen reached the state tournament all four years at Helias, finishing fourth this season and second as a junior and sophomore. He compiled a 144-33 career record and is scheduled to compete at 133 or 141 for the Mules.

Long was a four-time state champion at Santa Fe Trail with a career record of 143-4, including 97 pins. He will wrestle at 141 or 149 at CMSU.

Stemm was a three-time state qualifier for Shawnee Mission South, placing third this past season. He had a 90-30 career record and is expected to wrestle at 125 or 133 for the Mules.

Swander was a four-time state qualifier for Shawnee Mission West and capped his senior season with a state title. He finished with a 135-15 career record and will wrestle at 174 or 184 at CMSU.

The Mules' 1999-200 season was the best in their five years under Ersland, with 11 wrestlers producing at least 20 wins each. Among their seven NCAA Division II qualifiers, they had four All-Americans, the most ever in a single season by the Mules. They finished in 14th place at the Division II Championships, their best finish since the 1989-90 season.

In dual matches, the Mules were 12-5, including a win over major-college rival University of Missouri. The Mules placed second at the NCAA-II Midwest Regional, earning Ersland regional coach-of-the-year honors for the third time in his five seasons.