West Virginia Wrestling

WVU Adds Four Signees

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Nov. 18, 2015) – West Virginia University wrestling coach Sammie Henson announced Wednesday the addition of four student-athletes to the program. Conner Buttry (Osterburg, Pa./Chesnut Ridge HS), Dayton Garrett (Tuttle, Okla./Tuttle HS), Tucker Leavitt (Chubbock, Idaho/Highland) and Matthew Schmitt (Platte City, Mo./Platte County) have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Mountaineers for the 2016-17 season.

“We are excited to continue with another great recruiting class,” said Henson, who is in his second year at the helm of the Mountaineers. “We believe that we have a great group of men in this year to continue our tradition of recruiting some of the nation’s wrestlers. Our geographical reach, amongst our two most recent signing classes, proves that wrestlers all over the country want to be a Mountaineer.”

Buttry, a native of Osterburg, Pennsylvania, wrestles for Chestnut Ridge High as well as Renegade Force and Young Guns. He is a two-time Pennsylvania state qualifier who took third at the 2015 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament at 195 pounds. Buttry has been honored as a high school All-American on three occasions and is a three-time team captain who earned all-county and all-district accolades. A Pennsylvania Greco/Freestyle state champion, Buttry was a member of the NHSCA National Duals Team for Weaver Elite and Renegade Force. He competed at the 2014 NHSCA Sophomore Nationals and was fifth at the 2014 Powerade Tournament. Buttry is the son of Lonnie and Michelle, and has one brother, Austin, who wrestlers at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He intends to major in nursing at WVU, which he selected over Maryland, Pittsburgh, Clarion, Bucknell, Lock Haven and West Point.

“Conner Buttry has had some setbacks, but we look forward to watching him compete for a PIAA state title this year,” said Henson. “He’ll join us this summer and will be a great addition up top.”

Hailing from Tuttle, Oklahoma, Garrett competes for Tuttle High as well as Tiger Wrestling and the Oklahoma Wrestling Academy. Garrett is a three-time state qualifier who finished second as a freshman and third as a sophomore before winning an Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association 4A state title at 145 pounds as a junior. He has twice placed at the preseason national tournament and was a two-time freestyle state runner-up. Garrett is the son of David and Dava. He chose West Virginia over West Point and intends to major in nursing.

“Dayton Garrett has had some great wins in Oklahoma, a hugely competitive wrestling state,” said Henson. “His commitment continues our pipeline to Oklahoma’s wrestling elite.”

Ranked No. 10 at 165 via InterMat, Leavitt comes to Morgantown from Chubbock, Idaho, where he wrestled for Highland High and EIWA. After finishing third at the state tournament as a freshman, he went on to become at two-time state champion and two-time athlete of the year. Leavitt is a three-time district champion and a four-time National All-American who posted a 50-0 mark in his junior season. He is a two-time National runner-up as a member of the Idaho National Team. The son of Lance and Mandi, Leavitt is expected to be a pre-med major at West Virginia, which he chose over Cal Poly.

“Tucker Leavitt, like his future teammate Matthew Schmitt, has had success as a state champion,” said Henson. “He has proven to be one of the nation’s best.”

Schmitt comes to the Mountaineers ranked No. 13 at 126 pounds while wrestling for Platte County High. A native of Platte City, Missouri, Schmitt won Missouri State High Schools Activities Association Class 3 state titles in both 2014 (106 pounds) and 2015 (126 pounds) and was the 2015 MSHSAA Class 3 Wrestler of the Year. He was also the MSHSAA Class 3 District 4 Wrestler of the Year as a freshman in 2014. Schmitt, who also competed for Victory Wrestling, is a seven-time Fargo All-American. He posted runner-up at Junior Nationals at 113 pounds (freestyle) and 120 pounds (Greco) and took second at Cadet Nationals at 100 pounds (freestyle). Schmitt also registered a trio of third-place finishes at Cadet and Junior Nationals. He is a two-time Tulsa Nationals champion, a three-time youth state champion and a USJOC champion. Schmitt is the son of Annette and David, who wrestled at Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State). He selected WVU over Oklahoma, Missouri and the U.S. Naval Academy and is undecided on a major.

“Matthew Schmitt has proven to be not only the top wrestler in the state of Missouri, but on the national level as well,” said Henson. “He’s a beast both on and off the mat, and has had great success in the classroom.”

The Mountaineers travel to St. Charles, Missouri, on Saturday to compete in the Joe Parisi Open.

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