Three more prep student-athletes will join the Cowboy Wrestling program, the University of Wyoming coaching staff announced Tuesday. The newcomers include Archibald Colgan of Westminster, Colorado, Eric Hoffman of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, and Luke Paine of Billings, Montana.

This group joins November additions Zach Beard, Finn Higgins and Kyle Pope.

Two of the newest members of the team went unbeaten in their senior season and two were All-Americans at the national high school level.

“Through the recruiting process, we really enjoyed getting to know these kids and got a good feel about how they’d fit our program,” Wyoming head coach Mark Branch said. “They bring a lot of talent with them and some very impressive credentials out of high school."

“Our recruiting has been solidified with these three and our efforts over the past few seasons will really take this program to a whole other level. I think they’ll bring a lot of enthusiasm and energy and results to our program.”

Here’s a look at each of the new signees, who will begin competition in the fall of 2013.

Who’s coming?

Archibald Colgan, Westminster, Colo. (Pomona HS) – 157/165 pounds

Colgan finished his high school career off with a Colorado state title after placing third as a sophomore and junior. He concluded his senior season at Pomona High with a 39-4 record and the state 160-pound crown.

He finished third at state as a junior at 152 pounds, and was third as a sophomore at 140 pounds. Colgan was the 2012 Junior National Folkstyle runner-up at 152 pounds and won the Colorado State Freestyle crown at 152 pounds in 2011. He placed fifth at the 2013 NHSCA Senior Nationals to become an All-American.

Eric Hoffman, Chesapeake Beach, Md. (Northern HS) – 149/157 pounds

Hoffman won the Maryland 4A 160-pound state crown as a senior with a 38-0 mark, after placing at the tournament the previous three seasons. He was the 2011 Pan-American champion and FILA Cadet freestyle and Greco-Roman champion.

Hoffman was a two-time Junior National All-American in freestyle and Greco in 2012, and finished eighth at FILA Junior Nationals in 2013.

Luke Paine, Billings, Mont. (Billings Senior HS) – 174/184 pounds

Paine, a three-time state placer, capped a perfect 47-0 senior season with the state AA title at 171 pounds this February. He was fourth as a sophomore and third as a junior.

Paine also won Class AA's quick-pin award at the state tourney and had 33 pins for the year, one short of the school’s single-season record.

This trio joins the November signees, which include:

Zach Beard, Tuttle, Okla. (Tuttle HS) - 165/174 pounds

Beard was highly decorated as a three-time Oklahoma state champion, a two-time Mid-America Nationals champion and a Fila Cadet Nationals/World Team Trials runner up. He was a USAW Asics Folkstyle and Freestyle national champion and won the title at the 2012 USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals. He ended the high school season as the top-ranked prep wrestler at 170 pounds by InterMat.

Finn Higgins, Heritage Hall, Okla. (Heritage Hall HS) - 197 pounds

Higgins has placed at the Oklahoma state championships twice. Standing at 6-feet, 3-inches, Higgins has ideal size for a 197-pounder.


Kyle Pope, Bakersfield, Calif. (Bakersfield HS) - 174/184 pounds

Pope finished second in the California state championships in 2011, and finished third at the Reno Tournament of Champions last season. Pope was a two-way starter on the Bakersfield football team that won the league title. His father, Darryl Pope, was a three-time All-America honoree for CSU Bakersfield.

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