Nov. 28, 2007
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -
Complete Release in PDF Format
Live Tournament Updates/Brackets on Sunday!
The sixth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) will take part in the 2007 Nittany Lion Open on Sunday, Dec. 2. Action is set for 8:30 a.m. and will run all day. Head coach Troy Sunderland will send most of his wrestlers into action in the event, including most of its starting line-up to date.
Head coach Troy Sunderland and his staff plan on wrestling nearly all of its roster in the event, some attached and some unattached. Only regulars Tim Haas (Camp Hills, Pa.) at 133 (out), No. 7 Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.) at 125 (doubtful, coaches decision), No. 2 Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.) at 197 (doubtful, coaches decision) and Stefan Tighe (Erie, Pa.) at HWT (doubtful, coaches decision) are unlikely to wrestle.
Four ranked Penn Staters are set to take to the mats, including No. 2 Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) at 141, No. 5 Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) at 149, No. 11 Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) at 157 and No. 18 Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.) at 184 will wrestle in the event. Fans will also get the chance to see the rest of the Penn State starting line-up, including Dave Rella (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) at 165, Mark Friend (Libertyville, Ill.) and David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) at 174. Penn State's talented younger wrestlers, many of whom are redshirting this season, will also take to the mats.
Many of the nation's top programs will be sending representatives to Rec Hall for the event. Army, Bloomsburg, Buffalo, Cornell, Edinboro, Kent State, Lehigh, Lock Haven, Maryland, Michigan State, Navy, North Carolina, Ohio State, Old Dominion, Rider, Rutgers, Virginia, and Virginia Tech are among the host of teams with entrants in the Open. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. and will run all day. Fans can get live internet updates via the link at GoPSUsports.com (on the wrestling page, click on schedule) or direct at http://www.gimpsoftware.com/LiveResults/2007NLO.htm .
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 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. All Penn State home duals will be webcast live at www.GoPSUsports.com. The live video feed from Rec Hall will marry the audio cast from Jeff Byers, the voice of Penn State wrestling, that airs locally on WBLF 970 AM and WKVA 920 AM. For fans wishing to receive only the audio cast, it will be available as well. Home duals will feature live scoring at gopsusports.com, too. To access all of Penn State's live wrestling feeds, home or away, go to GoPSUsports.com's wrestling home page, click on schedule and choose your live link! Tickets for all regular season duals are on sale now at the athletic department ticket office in the Bryce Jordan Center. Single-dual tickets are $5 for adults and seniors and $3 for students 18 and under. Penn State students with a proper student ID are admitted to wrestling events for free! Season tickets are $28 for adults and seniors, youth 18 and under season tickets are $21. Fans can call 814-863-1000 or 800-833-5533 to order tickets.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS - as of 11/28/07
#6 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (2-0, 0-0 BIG TEN)
Wt. Name Yr. Hometown/High School 2007-08 Record
133 Mike Eagen Fr. Wharton, N.J./Morris Knolls 1-5
141 #2 Jake Strayer Jr. South Fork, Pa./Forest Hills 2-0
149 #5 Bubba Jenkins So. Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial 2-0
157 #11 Dan Vallimont So. Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Jefferson Twp. 2-0
165 Dave Rella So. Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit 1-1
174 Mark Friend Jr. Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville 4-1
OR David Erwin So. Urbana, Ohio/St. Paris Graham 9-1
184 #18 Philip Bomberger Jr. Port Royal, Pa./Juniata 2-0
HWT Stefan Tighe (doubtful) So. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 2-0
* Most of Penn State's full line-up will compete in the Nittany Lion Open....
REGULARS OUT OR DOUBTFUL FOR THE NLO...
Wt. Name Yr. Hometown/High School 2007-08 Record
125 #7 Mark McKnight (doubtful) Sr. McDonald, Pa./South Fayette 2-0
133 Tim Haas (out) Sr. Camp Hill, Pa./Cedar Cliff 0-1
197 #2 Philip Davis (doubtful) Sr. Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg 2-0
All rankings listed are USA Today/NWCA as of 11/28/07
PENN STATE VS. THE NLO: THE SERIES The Nittany Lion Open has become one of the premier open tournaments on the East Coast. While the event has had numerous incarnations over the long history of wrestling in Happy Valley, in 1993 a tournament began called the Penn State Open, which ran through 2001. The even then became the Nittany Lion Open in 2002, had a brief stint as a sponsored tournament (The BIC Open) in 2003 and returned as the Nittany Lion Open in 2004.
ERWIN AND LABORANTI CLAIM MAT-TOWN TITLES Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) and John Laboranti (Pittston, Pa.) claimed titles at the 2007 Mat-Town U.S.A. Open Saturday evening with three other Penn Staters (and Lion-to-be) placing as well. Erwin won the crown at 174 while Laboranti nabbed the heavyweight title. Erwin went 4-0 at 174, winning the title bout over Nittany Lion teammate Mark Friend (Libertyville, Ill.) by a 9-8 score. Friend had opened up an early five-point lead in the first period before Erwin battled the entire way back. Friend earned runner-up status with a 3-1 showing. Erwin improved to 9-1 on the year while Friend improved to 4-1. Laboranti posted a 4-0 mark as well, beating Cornell's Maciej Jochem 5-3 (sv) in the finals to claim the title at HWT. He downed teammate Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) with a sudden victory decision in the semifinals. Wade, wrestling unattached, went 3-2 and took home fourth place. Laboranti improved to 9-0 with the win. True freshman Micah Bollinger (Mifflinburg, Pa.), also wrestling unattached, took second at 165. He lost a 7-3 decision to Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) a high school senior who recently signed on to become a Nittany Lion next fall. Wright went a perfect 4-0 in the tournament to claim the title while Bollinger also posted a 4-0 mark (his loss to a non-collegiate wrestler does not count on his record). Other Nittany Lions competing in the event were Desmond Moore (Easton, Pa.), 0-2 at 125; Eric Caschera (South Williamsport, Pa.), 0-2 at 125; Adam Lynch (Mifflinburg, Pa.), 3-2 at 141; Mike Eagen (Wharton, N.J.), 1-2 at 141; Matt Dodds (Leola, Pa.), 1-2 at 165; and Brendan Herlihy (Fairfield, Conn.), 0-2 at HWT.
STRAYER NAMED BIG TEN WRESTLER OF THE WEEK Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending on Nov. 18. Strayer, a junior 141-pounder, shares the honor with Wisconsin's Dallas Herbst. Strayer, who entered last Saturday's dual with Hofstra ranked No. 7 nationally at 141, nearly pinned No. 2 Charles Griffin before coasting to a convincing 6-1 win over the returning national semifinalist. The win helped spur No. 10 Penn State on to a 28-11 win over No. 12 Hofstra. The three-time Academic All-Big Ten pick was an All-American for Penn State last year at 133 but has moved up to 141 and has fared well so far this year, sporting a 2-0 record. Strayer is also a co-captain on this year's Nittany Lion squad for head coach Troy Sunderland. The weekly honor is Penn State's first of the year and the first since Aaron Anspach garnered the award on Feb. 7 of last year.
NITTANY LIONS DISMANTLE #12 HOFSTRA Getting three wins in match-ups of top ten wrestlers, Penn State won seven of ten bouts on its way to a thorough 28-11 dismantling of visiting Hofstra in a key Eastern wrestling dual. No. 2 Phil Davis majored No. 6 Joe Rovelli at 197 (12-1), No. 7 Jake Strayer nearly pinned No. 2 Charles Griffin on his way to a 6-1 win and No. 10 Mark McKnight beat No. 7 Dave Tomasette 3-2. Pins from Stefan Tighe at HWT and No. 20 Phil Bomberger at 184, plus decisions from No. 7 Bubba Jenkins (149) and No. 12 Dan Vallimont (157) aided in the victory.
DAVIS HANDLES #6 ROVELLI OF HOSTRA Already in top form, three-time All-American Phil Davis posted his second straight big win over a top ranked opponent. No. 2 Davis beat No. 6 Joe Rovelli of Hofstra 12-1 on 11/17, posting a major just a week after a 17-2 tech. fall over the No. 8 ranked 197-pounder from Maryland.
STRAYER DOMINATES #2 GRIFFIN No. 7 Jake Strayer nearly pinned No. 2 Charles Griffin of Hofstra on 11/17, turning the defending national semifinalist to his back for a near fall and walking away with a convincing 6-1 win. The victory helped spur Penn State on to a 28-11 win over the visiting Pride.
McKNIGHT TAKES DOWN #7 TOMASETTE Senior Mark McKnight was sound in his 3-2 win over No. 7 Dave Tomasette of Hofstra on 11/17. The Lion 125-pounder, ranked No. 10 heading into the bout, scored the match-ups only takedown and did not allow Tomasette any openings. McKnight's win helped spur Penn State on to a 28-11 win.
DAVIS HANDLES TAMILLOW AT NWCA ALL-STAR CLASSIC EXHIBITION Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 in the nation at 197 pounds, posted a 6-2 decision over No. 3 Mike Tamillow of Northwestern in the 2007 NWCA All-Star Classic, held at the University of Oregon. Davis and head coach Troy Sunderland attended the exhibition event in Eugene, Ore. Davis found himself on the defensive early as Tamillow nearly scored on three different occasions in the first period. But Davis' maneuverability on top allowed him to escape each Tamillow scoring threat and keep the bout scoreless after one period. Davis chooses down to begin the second period and quickly turns his choice into not a one point escape, but a two point reversal. The three-time Nittany Lion All-American built up some solid riding time before Tamillow managed to scramble out for an escape. Still, Davis led 2-1 with 1:00 left in the middle stanza. Tamillow once again got in on Davis' ankle after the restart halfway through the second, but Davis keeps Tamillow at a distance and his other leg free to avoid giving up any points and taking the 2-1 lead into the third. The Wildcat 197-pounder chooses down to begin the third period and begins to work into Davis' riding time edge. But Davis, always dangerous on top, locks Tamillow into a cradle. Davis gets three near fall points with the move and clinches the riding time point. The Lion senior would maintain control of Tamillow until the Wildcat grappler escaped to a 5-2 deficit with just :20 left. Davis tacked on the riding time bonus point at the end to post a convincing 6-2 victory over third-ranked Tamillow. The victory, being in an exhibition, does not count towards Davis' season record. However, in the span of nine days, Davis has begun his 2007-08 season with wins over the eighth, sixth and third ranked wrestlers in the country by a combined score of 35-5. Davis is 2-0 on the year with wins over No. 8 Hudson Taylor of Maryland (a 17-2 tech. fall) and No. 6 Joe Rovelli of Hofstra (a 12-1 major).
MOLINARO CLAIMS ESU OPEN TITLE AT 141 Penn State freshman Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) made his debut at the collegiate level count, claiming the 141-pound title at the 2007 East Stroudsburg Open on Saturday. Wrestling unattached, Molinaro blazed to a 6-0 record with two pins. Freshman Garrett Scott (Alexandria, Pa.), junior Mike Ward (Mayfield, Ohio) and sophomore Brendan Herlihy (Fairfield, Conn.) were all solid as well, advancing to the quarterfinals at their respective weights. Molinaro opened up the tournament with two straight pins, the first in 1:38 and the second in just :40. He then faced Maryland's Alex Krom and downed the Terrapin 7-2. Molinaro followed that up with an 11-6 dismantling of Edinboro's Joel Webster in the quarterfinals. The Penn State rookie then handled Harvard's Corey Jantzen 7-2 in the semifinals before defeating Pitt's Tyler Nauman 5-1 in the title bout. With consolations being cancelled early on in the day, Molinaro ended the tournament as Penn State's only placer. But three other Penn State wrestlers had fine outings as well. Freshman Scott made his collegiate debut at 149 pounds and went 3-1 with two pins and advanced to the quarterfinals. His quarterfinal loss may have been his best outing however, nearly downing No. 3 J.P. O'Connor of Harvard before falling 3-2 in a tightly contested match. Scott's two pins were in 1:35 and 0:30. Ward went 2-1 at 184 to advance to the quarterfinals. He dropped a tough 4-1 decision to Virginia Tech's Matt Ryan in his last effort. Herlihy posted a 3-1 record at HWT, including two pins, before falling 5-1 to eventual champion Cody Gardner of Virginia Tech in the quarterfinals.
PENN STATE HOME DUALS TO FEATURE LIVE VIDEO WEBCASTS AT GOPSUSPORTS.COM! Marrying the audio from Jeff Byers' outstanding radio broadcasts with a live video feed from center mat in Rec Hall will allow Penn State fans all over the world to watch each and every home dual meet live at www.GoPSUsports.com. Every Penn State home dual will feature the live webcast and is free to the public. Just go to GoPSUsports.com's wrestling home page, click on schedule and follow the live links!
LIONS WIN NINE OF TEN TO TAKE DOWN TALENTED TERRAPINS Penn State won nine of ten bouts to take down a young and talented Maryland Terrapin team. Senior Phil Davis got a technical fall at 197, junior All-American Jake Strayer and sophomore Dan Vallimont got majors at 141 and 157 while sophomore Bubba Jenkins thrilled the crowd with a pin at 149. Mark McKnight (125), Dave Rella (165), Mark Friend (174), Phil Bomberger (184) and Stefan Tighe (HWT) all grabbed major decisions in the victory.
DAVIS HAMMERS #8 TAYLOR FOR ROUSING SEASON OPENING WIN No. 2 Phil Davis met No. 8 Hudson Taylor of Maryland in his first action of the year on 11/11. What many expected to be a battle of titans turned into a short-lived bout as Davis piled on back-points and more back points on his way to a 17-2 technical fall over the talented Terrapin sophomore in only 4:12.
STRAYER MAJOR'S #20 PINTO No. 7 Jake Strayer, an All-American at 133 last year and making his collegiate debut at 141, gave notice to the nation with a resounding 14-0 major decision over No. 20 Charlie Pinto in Penn State's season-opening dual match win over Maryland.
ERWIN AND LABORANTI WIN MSU OPEN TITLES Not letting defeat in Wrestle-Offs last weekend dampen their aspirations at national glory this season, two Penn State sophomores traveled to East Lansing, Mich., this past weekend and came away with titles at the MSU Open. Sophomores David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) and John Laboranti (Scranton, Pa.) won titles at 174 and heavyweight, respectively. Erwin, ranked No. 11 nationally at his new weight of 174, posted a 5-0 record with two major decisions, giving notice that the Lion sophomore is still a factor on the national scene. Erwin was to face No. 8 Nick Hayes in the finals, but Hayes bowed out with an injury forfeit. Laboranti went 4-0 at HWT with a major as well. Laboranti downed Edinboro's Terry Tate in the finals, 9-4. True freshman Cameron Wade (Mayfield, Ohio), wrestling unattached, advanced to the semifinals at HWT before falling 3-1 to Tate. Wade went 2-3 and placed sixth in his first collegiate event.
FORMER LIONS CUMMINS AND SMITH COMPETE AT INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Former Penn State wrestling stand-outs Pat Cummins and Adam Smith competed in the Hargobind International Wrestling Championships held in Surrey, British Columbia, no Nov. 2-3. Former HWT All-American Pat Cummins brought home a Bronze Medal at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Former Lion stand-out and Director of Operations Adam Smith took placed fifth at 55 kg/121 lbs.
NEARLY 1,800 CHEER WRESTLE-OFFS Nearly 1,800 fans filled Rec Hall as the 2007-08 wrestling season had its table set with Penn State's annual Wrestle-Offs. Twenty five Nittany Lion grapplers took to the mats to stake their claims on the Penn State depth chart this season. Head coach Troy Sunderland's two returning All-Americans, Phil Davis at 197 and Jake Strayer at 141, did not wrestle in the event. Davis, ranked No. 2 nationally at 197, was the only wrestler entered at his weight while Strayer, ranked No. 7 at 141, did not compete due to a slight injury. Still nine of ten weight classes featured exciting action. Junior Mark Friend (at 174), junior Phil Bomberger (184) and sophomore Stefan Tighe (HWT) won the three most competitive weight classes in the exhibition.
DAVIS, HAAS AND STRAYER NAMED 2007-08 TEAM CAPTAINS 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. 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. Strayer earned All-America honors at 133 last season, placing seventh in Detroit and going 27-8 on the year. An outstanding talent, Haas has a 22-8 career record, including a 14-7 mark two years ago at 125.
LIONS RANKED #6 IN USA TODAY/NWCA POLL; DAVIS AND STRAYER ARE #2 TO LEAD SIX RANKED INDIVIDUALS The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team moved to No.6 in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll as published by Intermat (at www.intermatwrestle.com ). Head coach Troy Sunderland also has six individuals ranked among the top 20. Penn State sits in tenth place on the Nov. 13 version of the poll, one of five Big Ten teams dominating the top of the rankings. Minnesota is tops on the list and received all 12 first place votes. Iowa State follows in second with Oklahoma State sitting in third. Big Ten entrants Iowa (4), Northwestern (5) and Penn State (6) follow before Missouri (T7), Central Michigan (T7), Wisconsin (9) and Michigan (10) round out the top ten. Three other Big Ten teams are ranked, giving the conference six in the top ten and nine overall. Ohio State is No. 16, Indiana is No. 17 and Illinois is No. 18. Penn State is the top Pennsylvania and Eastern school on this list once again. Senior All-American Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.) leads Penn State's six ranked individuals with his No. 2 tag at 197. Junior All-American Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) is also No. 2 141 while sophomore Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) is No. 5 at 149. Senior Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.) is No. 7 at 125 while sophomore Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) is No. 11 at 157. Junior Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.) rounds out Penn State's ranked individuals with a No. 18 nod at 184.
LIONS RANKED #10 IN AWN PRE-SEASON POLL; DAVIS #2 AT 197 TO LEAD EIGHT INDIVIDUALS 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. Dave Erwin is No. 9 at 174, Jake Strayer is No. 10 at 141, Bubba Jenkins is No. 11 at 149, Mark McKnight is No. 12 at 125, Dan Vallimont is No. 14 at 157, Dave Rella is No. 14 at 165 and Tim Haas is No. 18 at 133.
LIONS RANKED #8 IN LATEST W.I.N. MAGAZINE POLL; DAVIS #2 AT 197 Penn State is ranked No. 8 in the latest W.I.N. Magazine national poll with seven Nittany Lions earning individual mention in the weight-by-weight top 20 lists as well. Three-time All-American Phil Davis leads the charge with a No. 2 nod at 197 with All-American Jake Strayer is No. 4 at 141. Mark McKnight is No. 6 at 125 and Bubba Jenkins is No. 5 at 149 to give Penn State four ranked in the top ten. Dan Vallimont is No. 12 at 157, David Erwin is No. 15 at 174 and Dave Rella is No. 17 at 165.
DAVIS MOVING UP CAREER LISTS! Senior Phil Davis heads is nearing the 100 win mark. Entering his senior year with 90 wins, Davis is now 92-19 overall. He is just eight wins shy from becoming the 24th member of Penn State's 100-win club. When he reaches 100 wins he will tie current Nittany Lion head coach Troy Sunderland on that illustrious list of all-time win leaders in Penn State history (Sunderland has 100 career wins).
Davis' 43 dual wins is just five shy of moving into a tie for 14th place all-time, equalling the mark of 47 held by both Dan Mayo and Andy Voit. The Harrisburg native's 22 pins (Davis is 22-1 in matches decided by a fall) is currently 16h all-time at Penn State. The Nittany Lion has competed in 111 career matches, giving him a shot at reaching Glenn Pritzlaff's career total of 135, which would be 20th all-time in PSU history.
TOP RECRUIT QUENTIN WRIGHT SIGNS NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT Penn State Nittany Lion head wrestling coach Troy Sunderland got some outstanding news on day one of the National Letter of Intent early signing period with the signed letter from Bald Eagle Area product Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.). Wright, who is defending his 2007 PIAA state championship this year, projects at 184 for the Nittany Lions and is the first wrestler to sign with Penn State during the early signing period. "Quentin will be an outstanding addition to this team and the entire Penn State community," said Sunderland. "His skills on the mat are equaled only by his work ethic in the wrestling room and his commitment to family and community make him a perfect fit for this program. Quentin's character, judgment and integrity exemplify what we look for in a recruit. He will represent Penn State University and our wrestling program with dignity and class. Furthermore, he will carry on our tradition and make our former alumni Penn State proud." A five-star recruit according to Intermat, the national wrestling source has Wright tabbed as the No. 12 overall recruit (regardless of weight) in the entire nation and top three at either 160 or 171. His high school accolades are outstanding. As stated, he claimed the PIAA AAA state title last year and completed his junior campaign with a perfect 41-0 record. A year before, he was a PIAA Runner-Up. Wright also claimed the 2006 Beast of the Championship and was a Cadet Freestyle All-American. As a high school junior, Wright competed in a number of collegiate level open tournaments, including a fifth place finish at last year's Nittany Lion Open and the title at the Millersville Invitational.