Oct. 3, 2007
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Three of Penn State's most respected wrestlers have been named team captains for the upcoming 2007-08 season, Nittany Lion head coach Troy Sunderland announced. Seniors Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.) and Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.) and junior Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) will be tri-captains during the upcoming campaign.
"This team could not have picked three better individuals to serve as captains this year. These young men have proven themselves to be tireless workers and great teammates. They will serve as outstanding role models this season," Sunderland said. "Phil and Jake have proven themselves time and again on and off the mat and Tim is one of the hardest workers who has overcome so much to get to this position. This is an honor that all three of these guys will live up to."
Davis is a three-time All-American at 197 and is trying to become only the fourth four-time All-American in Penn State's 100 years of wrestling. A contender for the national title at 197, he went 28-5 last season and placed fifth at nationals after being NCAA Runner-Up in 2006. A seventh place finisher at nationals as a freshman in 2005, Davis has a superb 90-19 career record, is 41-5 in duals, 20-3 in Big Ten duals, 22-1 in pins, 16-0 in majors and has 169 dual match points. He was also the 2006 Big Ten Champion.
Strayer earned All-America honors at 133 last season, placing seventh in Detroit and going 27-8 on the year. As a freshman, Strayer went 26-6 and finished just one win shy of earning All-America laurels in 2006. Strayer, who will wrestle at 141 this year, heads into this junior year with a 53-14 record, 32-5 in duals and with 105 dual match points. An outstanding student, Strayer is a two-time first team NWCA National All-Academic selection and a two-time Academic All-Big Ten pick.
Haas has had a star-crossed career at Penn State, suffering numerous injuries that have kept him from wrestling a complete campaign. An outstanding talent, Haas has a 22-8 career record, including a 14-7 mark two years ago at 125. But his season was cut short by an injury that kept him from competing in the post-season. Last year, Haas began the year at 133, winning the East Stroudsburg Open before suffering another injury that ended his season. Haas is healthy and ready to compete at 133 this year.
Penn State opens up its season with Wrestle-Offs on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 1 p.m. and then hosts two dual matches to begin the regular season. Maryland comes to Rec Hall on Sunday, Nov. 11, for the season opener and national power Hofstra checks in at Rec Hall for a battle on Saturday, Nov. 17. Both duals begin at 1 p.m.