Nov. 28, 2007
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, under the direction of head coach Troy Sunderland, has moved up to No. 6 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll as compiled by Intermat. All-Americans Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.) and Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) lead the contingent of ranked individuals with No. 2 nods at 197 and 141 respectively.
Penn State is one of six Big Ten teams dominating the top ten. Defending national champion Minnesota sits atop the poll at No. 1 with Iowa State at No. 2. Oklahoma State (Penn State's Dec. 11 foe) is No. 3 with Iowa (4), Northwestern (5) and Penn State (6) following closely behind. Central Michigan and Missouri at tied for No. 7 while Big Ten squads Wisconsin (9) and Michigan (10) round out the top ten. Three more Big Ten teams are ranked among the top 25, with Ohio State (16), Indiana (17) and Illinois (18) all getting mention. Penn State's first two opponents, Hofstra (12) and Maryland (a new entry at No. 24) are also ranked.
Davis is 2-0 and sits at No. 2 at 197 behind defending national champion Josh Glenn of American. Strayer, also 2-0, vaults to his highest personal ranking with a No. 2 nod at 141. Defending national runner-up Ryan Lang of Northwestern sits at No. 1. Sophomore Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) has vaulted to No. 5 at 149 with a 2-0 mark while senior Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.) is No. 7 at 125. McKnight is also 2-0. Two other 2-0 Nittany Lions are ranked with sophomore Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) checking in at No. 11 at 157 and junior Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.) moving to No. 18 at 184.
The Nittany Lions will return to action in two weeks when it takes part in the 2007 Nittany Lion Open in Rec Hall. Action for that event begins at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2. The Nittany Lion Open is not part of Penn State's regular season ticket package. NLO tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students, $2 as part of a group package and free to Nittany Lion Wrestling Club members, Penn State students with ID and season ticket holders. Penn State will return to action on Friday and Sunday, Dec. 7 and 9, when it visits Lehigh and No. 3 Oklahoma State, respectively. Penn State's next home dual will be on Jan. 4, when Cornell visits Rec Hall for a 7 p.m. dual.