Oct. 15, 2007
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, featuring a potential starting line-up comprised of perhaps five sophomores, has garnered a No. 10 team ranking from Amateur Wrestling News. The national wrestling publication has just released its preseason team and individual rankings. Senior 197-pounder Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.) leads a strong contingent of eight ranked individuals.
The Big Ten once again dominates the top ten, with Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Northwestern and Ohio State comprising the entire top five. Oklahoma State, Central Michigan, Cornell, Nebraska and Penn State round out the top ten. Penn State, as the top ranked team from Pennsylvania in the early poll, gives the conference six of the nation's top ten squads on the early list.
Iowa State (11), Wisconsin (12), Indiana (13), Illinois (14), Missouri (15), Pittsburgh (16), Hofstra (17), American (18), Navy (19) and Edinboro (20) round out the preseason poll. In all, nine of the Big Ten's 11 teams are ranked by AWN.
Davis, a three-time All-American for Penn State, heads into the season ranked No. 2 at 197, right behind defending national champion Josh Glenn of American. Davis will be looking to grab his first national crown and become the fourth four-time All-American in Penn State history.
Sophomore Dave Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) is ranked No. 9 at 174. Erwin red-shirted last year after starting as a freshman in 2005-06 at 165 pounds. All-American Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.), who placed seventh at 133 pounds last year to become an All-American, will head into his junior year ranked No. 10 at 141 pounds. Sophomore Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.), a national qualifier at 157 last year during his true freshman season, is ranked No. 11 at 149.
Senior Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.) enters his final campaign ranked No. 12 at 125. McKnight is a three-time qualifier who has advanced to the `Round of 12' twice. Sophomore Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) checks in with a No. 14 ranking at 157 pounds. Vallimont qualified as a freshman at 149 last year and finished just one win shy of becoming an All-American. Dave Rella (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), yet another sophomore, will enter the year ranked No. 14 at 165. Rella just missed out on qualifying for NCAAs last season. Senior Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.), coming off an injury red-shirt season, checks in at No. 18 at 133 pounds. Haas was a part-time starter at 125 two years ago.
Head coach Troy Sunderland's Nittany Lions, who began practice last Monday, will open up the 2007-08 campaign by hosting their annual Wrestle-Offs on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 1 p.m. in Rec Hall.