Head coach Tim Cysewski adds one more to his recruiting class.

May 14, 2008

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach Tim Cysewski has added to an already stellar recruiting class by signing Paul Rands (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove) to a National Letter of Intent. The local product will be eligible to compete for the Wildcats beginning in 2008-09.

He joins a recruiting class featuring Jason Welch (Walnut Creek, Calif./Las Lomas), Brian Roddy (Highland Heights, Ohio/St. Edward) and Eric Galka (Hobart, Ind./Hobart). Welch was the winner of the Junior Dan Hodge Trophy awarded to the top high school wrestler in the country. He was a three-time California state champion and finished his high school career with a 194-7 record and a 142-match winning streak.

Roddy won his second-straight 171-pound title at the Ohio State championships and Galka went to the finals of the Indiana State tournament.

Rands -- who projects to be a 197/Hwt. for the Wildcats -- was a four-sport athlete at Cary-Grove High School and was a four-year letterwinner in wrestling. He posted an overall career record of 116-28 and amassed 32 pins in his junior season and 42 wins in his senior year. He finished fourth in the state his senior year to earn All-State recognition.

Rands also excelled in football where he was a two-time All-Conference and All-Area selection and also earned All-State honors.

Rands' full bio appears below:

High School: Four-year letterwinner and three-time team captain ... Two-time team MVP ... Overall record of 116-28 ... Set school pin record in junior year with 32 ... Went 42-5 during senior year ... Fourth in state championships his senior year to earn All-State recognition ... Two-time conference, regional and sectional champion ... Two-time All-Conference and All-Area selection in football ... Earned All-State honors in football ... Also lettered in baseball and track ... Member of National Honors Society ... Coached by Dan Cysewski.