Nov. 7, 2007
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -
Complete Release in PDF Format
TODAY'S ACTION
STATE COLLEGE, Pa.; Nov. 7, 2007 -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 11 nationally, will open the 2007-08 season by hosting the Maryland Terrapins at Rec Hall. Action on Nov. 11 is set to begin at 1 p.m. The dual will serve as the season opener for Penn State, which is coming off a 14-5 season a year ago that saw it place 11th at nationals. Maryland opened the season with a 2-1 performance at the Edinboro duals.
The Nittany Lions staged yet another successful Wrestle-Offs last Sunday, with around 1,800 fans cheering 25 Penn State grapplers through the double-elimination tournament. While top-ten ranked wrestlers Phil Davis and Jake Strayer did not compete, the rest of the Lion veterans got to shake off the ghosts of the off-season and test their mettle against Penn State's outstanding young wrestlers.
Maryland went 2-1 at the Edinboro duals last Saturday, beating Army (26-13) and Mercyhurst (30-15) before falling to No. 16 Edinboro (19-15). Terrapins Steve Bell (133), Mike Letts (174) and Hudson Taylor (197) all went 3-0 at the `Boro.
The projected starting line-ups, as always subject to change, hint at two potential match-ups featuring ranked wrestlers form each team. At 141, Penn State's Strayer, ranked No. 7, could meet Maryland senior Charlie Pinto, ranked No. 20. The most anticipated bout could occur at 197, where three-time All-American Davis, ranked No. 2, will meet Maryland's Taylor, ranked No. 8.
Penn State will continue the 2007-08 campaign by hosting No. 13 Hofstra on Saturday, Nov. 17, in a 1 p.m. dual. 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. All Penn State duals will be streamed live at gopsusports.com and over the air on WBLF 970 AM and WKVA 920 AM. Home duals will feature live scoring at gopsusports.com as well.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS - as of 11/6/07
#11 Penn State Nittany Lions (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Wt. Name Yr. Hometown/High School 2007-08 Record
125 #11 Mark McKnight Sr. McDonald, Pa./South Fayette 0-0
133 Tim Haas Sr. Camp Hill, Pa./Cedar Cliff 0-0
141 #7 Jake Strayer Jr. South Fork, Pa./Forest Hills 0-0
149 #7 Bubba Jenkins So. Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial 0-0
157 #12 Dan Vallimont So. Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Jefferson Twp. 0-0
165 #16 Dave Rella So. Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit 0-0
174 Mark Friend Jr. Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville 0-0
184 Philip Bomberger Jr. Port Royal, Pa./Juniata 0-0
197 #2 Philip Davis Sr. Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg 0-0
HWT Stefan Tighe So. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 0-0
Maryland Terrapins (2-1, 0-0 ACC)
Wt. Name Yr. Hometown/High School 2007-08 Record
125 Brendan Byrne So. Cape May, N.J./Blair Academy 0-2
133 Steve Bell So. Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville 3-0
141 #20 Charlie Pinto Sr. Stockholm, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional 2-0
149 Eric Medina Fr. Millville, N.J./Blair Academy 2-1
157 Brian Letters Fr. Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel 2-1
165 Mike McGill So. Hagerstown, Pa./Williamsport 2-0
174 #7 Mike Letts So. Parkesburg, Pa./Octarara 3-0
184 Bradley Nielson Fr. Frederick, Md./Walkersville 0-2
197 #8 Hudson Taylor So. Pennington, N.J./Blair Academy 3-0
HWT Pat Gilmore Fr. Richboro, Pa./Council Rock South 0-2
All rankings listed are USA Today/NWCA as of 10/27/07
PENN STATE VS. MARYLAND: THE SERIES Penn State and Maryland have met 41 times on the mat, with the Nittany Lions holding a commanding 37-2-2 edge in the all-time series. Penn State has met only six teams more than the Terrapins in dual match action (Lehigh, 95; Navy, 86; Cornell, 67; Pittsburgh, 64; Syracuse, 58; and Michigan, 44). The two teams have not met, however, since the 1991-92 season (Penn State's last before starting Big Ten action). The Nittany Lions shut out Maryland 45-0 on Jan. 18, 1992, in Rec Hall in the last dual between the two schools. Maryland's last win was a 15-9 decision on Feb. 6, 1965.
2007-08 AUTOGRAPHED POSTER UP FOR GRABS IN GOPSUSPORTS.COM'S ONLINE AUCTION! An autographed copy of the official 2007-08 Nittany Lion Wrestling Poster, featuring All-Americans Phil Davis and Jake Strayer, is up for grabs until Nov. 19 in GoPSUsports.com's official online auction site. The poster, which is autographed by the entire 2007-08 squad and coaching staff, can be bid upon by going to www.GoPSUsports.com and clicking on the auction button in the top navigational bar.
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 SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN 2007 NWCA ALL-STAR CLASSIC Penn State Nittany Lion Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.) has been selected to participate in the 2007 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic. Ranked No. 2 at 197 pounds, the Nittany Lion senior will face No. 3 Mike Tamillow of Northwestern on Monday, Nov. 19 The 42nd edition of the NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps heads to the Pacific Northwest for the first time in 17 years as Eugene, Ore., will host the annual wrestling spectacle. This year's lineup features six top-ranked wrestlers in Division I, one top-ranked wrestler in Division II, eight second-ranked wrestlers from Division I along with four #3's and one #4. In all, 14 different schools will be represented and will comprise athletes from the Big Ten, Big 12, Colonial, EIWA, EWL, Pac 10 and Division II. Davis was selected to wrestle in the event last year along with teammate James Yonushonis (Philipsburg, Pa.), but did not make weight. Yonushonis won his bout at 174. Davis is a three-time All-American with a 90-19 career record. He has placed seventh, second and fifth at nationals and was the 2006 Big Ten Champion. Davis downed Tamillow 8-2 in his only meeting against him last year. Tamillow, however, went on to win the Big Ten title.
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 #11 IN USA TODAY/NWCA POLL; DAVIS #2 AT 197 TO LEAD SEVEN INDIVIDUALS Even with a starting line-up featuring five returning starters at different weight classes, the Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team will head into the 2007-08 campaign with a No. 11 team ranking courtesy of the USA Today/NWCA Preseason Coaches Poll. The poll is compiled and published by Intermat, the NWCA's official website at www.intermatwrestle.com. Head coach Troy Sunderland's team is one of nine Big Ten schools ranked among the nation's top 17 teams. Defending conference and national champion Minnesota heads the list with all 12 first place votes. Oklahoma State, which will host Penn State on Dec. 9, is No. 2, and Iowa State checks in at No. 3. Big Ten foes Iowa, Michigan and Northwestern follow with Missouri checking in at No. 7. Ohio State, Cornell and Central Michigan round out the top ten.
Penn State sits ant No. 11, just nine poll points out of ninth place and three out of tenth. The Nittany Lions are the highest ranked Pennsylvania school heading into the new year. Wisconsin, Hofstra, Nebraska and Indiana comprise the rest of the top 15. Edinboro, Illinois, Navy, Oklahoma and Pittsburgh hold the 16th through 20th spots while UT-Chattanooga, Harvard, Penn, American and Oregon State round out the top 25. Penn State will face eight of the top 25 teams in regularly scheduled duals and will certainly meet more at the 2008 National Duals on Jan.12-13 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Nittany Lions will also take on Lehigh, which was the top team in the `receiving votes' category.
Senior Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.), a three-time All-American at 197, heads a list of seven ranked Penn State individuals. Davis is ranked No. 2 at 197 pounds. Senior Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.) returns as 125 and heads into the year ranked No. 11 by Intermat. Sophomore Dave Rella (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) returns at 165 pounds and heads into the season ranked No. 16. Junior All-American Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.), who placed seventh at NCAAs in the 133-pound weight class last season, is wrestling up a weight at 141 this year and is ranked No. 7 nationally. Sophomore Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) qualified for nationals as a true freshman at 157 and moves down to his more natural 149 pounds this season. Sophomore Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) finished just one win shy of becoming an All-American at 149 last season, going 22-12 as a red-shirt freshman and 3-2 at nationals. Vallimont will make the move up to 157 this year and heads into the campaign ranked No. 11. Fellow sophomore Dave Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) is coming off a red-shirt season in 2006-07. The Ohio-native will move up to 174 pounds and heads into the season ranked No. 11.
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. 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.
LIONS RANKED #12 IN W.I.N. MAGAZINE PRE-SEASON POLL; DAVIS #2 AT 197 W.I.N. Magazine released its pre-season poll in early October and the Nittany Lions checked in at No. 12 on the national publication's season-starting poll. Phil Davis is ranked No. 2 at 197 to lead seven ranked individual: Mark McKnight is No. 12 at 125; Jake Strayer was No. 3 at 133 but will move to 141; Bubba Jenkins is No. 12 at 149; Dan Vallimont is No. 11 at 157; Dave Rella is No. 15 at 165; and Dave Erwin is No. 15 at 174
NITTANY LIONS ONCE AGAIN INK TOP THREE RECRUITING CLASS Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling coach Troy Sunderland and his coaching staff have once again notched the No. 3 ranked recruiting class in the country according to Intermat, the National Wrestling Coaches Association's official website. The 2007 class follows last year's No. 3 ranking as well, giving the Nittany Lion staff two straight top-three classes. Led by five high school All-Americans, Penn State is ranked just behind No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Missouri, making the Lions the second-ranked Big Ten school on the list and the only Pennsylvania program in the top 12. Virginia Tech and defending national champion Minnesota round out the top five. Oklahoma State follows at No. 6 with Michigan stepping in at No. 7 as one of four Big Ten schools in the top ten. Virginia (8), Northern Iowa (9) and Kent State (10) round out the top ten. The remainder of the top 20 is as follows: Oklahoma (11), Oregon State (12), Lehigh (13), Edinboro (14), Cornell (15), Old Dominion (16), Lock Haven (17), Nebraska (18), Hofstra (19) and Harvard (20). Intermat ranks the top 30 recruiting classes, with the last ten as follows: Penn (21), Michigan State (22), Eastern Michigan (23), Columbia (24), Indiana (25), Iowa State (26), Iowa (27), Bucknell (28), George Mason (29) and Northwestern (30).
DAVIS MOVING UP CAREER LISTS! Senior Phil Davis heads into his senior campaign with a 90-19 career record. Not only is he just ten wins from becoming the 24th member of Penn State's 100-win club, but he will tie -- and then pass -- 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' 41 dual wins is just six 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 109 career matches, giving him a shot at reaching Glenn Pritzlaff's career total of 135, which would be 20th all-time in PSU history.