WRESTLING TEAM SIGNS TWO
Old Dominion wrestling head coach Steve Martin has announced the signing of Christian Staylor, a 125-pound transfer from Arizona State University, and Shannon Slack, a Fresno State University transfer, who wrestled at both the 133 and 141 weight classes last season.
Staylor was selected as a wild card for the NCAA Tournament last year as a red shirt freshman after compiling a 26-14 overall record and registering four falls, four technical falls and seven major decisions. He also had a 14-5 duals record.
Staylor had an impressive high school career at Great Bridge High School, where he wrestled under Coach Martin. While in high school, he was a three-time Virginia High School League State Champion (2000-02), Cadet national freestyle champion (2000), two-time Junior Freestyle All-American (2001-02), a three-time member of the Virginia National Freestyle Team and a three-time team captain and Outstanding Wrestler at Great Bridge.
During his senior year in 2002, Staylor placed third in the High School Nationals and was named to the Wrestling USA High School All-American Team, racking up a 45-1 record and earning a #1 ranking in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News. Staylor was named a Wrestling USA High School All-American, WIN Magazine High School All-American and Intermat High School All-American. He was also a Team USA Member in the Dapper Dan Classic, competing against Pennsylvania. Staylor was named a top two recruit in the nation, while compiling a career 163-13 record.
During his time with the Sun Devils, Staylor was ranked in the top eight by Amateur Wrestling News and made the Amateur Wrestling News Freshman Third Team All-American.
Staylor's older brother, Jody, is a former Monarch wrestling standout and a two-time CAA Tournament champion (126-pounds), two-time NCAA Tournament qualifier and being named the 1994 CAA Wrestler of the Year.
Slack was 7-12, recording a pin and a major decision last season with Fresno State, wrestling in both the 133 and 141 weight classes. He placed 3rd in the NCAA West Regional in the 141-weight class.
Prior to Fresno State, Slack had a stellar junior college career at Cerritos College, in Norwalk, Calif., where he was ranked no. 1 in the 133, 141 and 149 divisions, while compiling an impressive 37-1 record en route to the National Junior College Championship. Slack was also the 141-pound champion in the California State Championships in 2002.
At Hermitage High School in Richmond, Slack lettered in three years in wrestling, was a champion and three-time finalist in the Southeast Regional. Slack was a member of the Virginia Cadet National Freestyle and Greco Team and was a state freestyle champion. In addition, he was a Greco-Roman state champion. During his senior year, he was the district champion, regional champion, state runner-up and placed 5th at nationals. Slack was also named a high school All-American and compiled a 105-17 career record.