Sept 23- ​​​Arizona has announced their first batch of signings for the coming season, with 10 forwards joining the program for season 56 in Tucson.

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Up front, the hooker combination of Aston Gradwick-Light and Carter Hertstein join a deep group in the center of the scrum, with the former coming to the Wildcats from Northampton Saints Academy and already making an impact. “Aston is already showing some great things and most importantly he’s fitting in really well with the boys and the culture” said Director of Rugby Sean Duffy. Hertstein is a De La Salle HS (CA) product, one of five in this year’s class including 6-5 240-lb Lock Kai Moananu-Apela. Matt Grau, fresh off winning the single school national championship with Gonzaga College HS (DC) is another high-ceiling second row to keep an eye on, while Marcus Harris (Strake Jesuit) and Dominic Zapata (De La Salle) give the Wildcats two young props to develop. Harris joins the Wildcats after a standout season that culminated in selection to the USA Under-18 tour to South America this summer. 

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In the back row, a diverse group of talented athletes join the Wildcats including the first in program history from Kazakhstan in Damir Kulnazarov. Braedon Butte (Charlotte Tigers) and Sean McNulty (St. Joe’s Prep) bring versatility and championship experience, having both led their sides to runs at the Boy’s High School National Championships in May. Kaelan Meyer is another De La Salle signing, bringing versatility to cover all three spots in the back row for the Wildcats. 

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For the Wildcats, combining these signings with a returning batch of second-year forwards gives the program a glimpse into their future. “We feel we hit it out of the park with a few guys last year in that they came in and were exactly what we were hoping. Guys like Henry Langrish, Aiden Kemp, Jacob Jaffe, Tanner DeMassa...they are our future, and our supporters are going to love these guys for their dedication to the mission. We need a deep roster of hard-working forwards who know their role and want to grow and those four really set the tone last year. Now it’s on this group to follow that up and they’re well on their way to doing that” said Duffy.

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-Braedon Butte- Flanker- Charlotte Tigers

-Aston Gradwick-Light- Hooker- Northampton Saints Academy

-Matt Grau- Lock- Gonzaga College HS

-Marcus Harris- Prop- Strake Jesuit HS

-Carter Hertstein- Hooker- De La Salle HS

-Damir Kulnazarov- Flanker- Uppingham School

-Sean McNulty- Number Eight- Saint Joe's Prep

-Kaelan Meyer- Flanker- De La Salle HS

-Kai Moananu-Apela- Lock- De La Salle HS

-Dominic Zapata- Prop- De La Salle HS

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For the Wildcats full Fall schedule, click here.