Dec. 29, 2007
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Penn State Nittany Lion junior Jack Decker (Roseland, N.J.) stormed his way to the 184-pound title at the 2007 Wilkes Open on Friday, claming the crown in action that finished Friday evening. Decker's performance led a strong contingent of unattached Penn State grapplers as four Nittany Lions placed at the event.
Decker went 5-0 on the day including two pins in his first two bouts and added two decisions and a medical forfeit to win the title. Olympic red-shirt Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) also had a strong day, going 4-1 (3-1 vs. collegiate wrestlers) with two technical falls. Pataky lost a close 4-3 decision in the finals to No. 20 Steve Mytych, unattached from Drexel.
Penn State also garnered two other place-winners. True freshman Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) had a solid 4-2 day to finish fourth, including a pin. Sophomore Mike Ward (Mayfield, Ohio) went 3-2 (2-2 vs. collegiate wrestlers) to finish fourth at 184.
Starting 133-pounder Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.) returned to action, getting his feet wet after missing the last six-plus weeks with an injury. Haas went 2-1, 1-1 vs. collegiate wrestlers, at 133. He did not wrestle in consolations as the senior looks to prepare for Penn State's bout with No. 17 Cornell on Jan. 4. His lone loss was a tough 7-5 decision to Brandon Reasy of Pitt-Johnstown in the semifinals. Reasy is ranked No. 2 in the nation at the Division II level.
Other Penn State wrestlers competing at the event, all unattached, included freshman Eric Caschera (South Williamsport, Pa.), 2-2 at 125, 1-2 vs. collegiate; sophomore Adam Lynch (Mifflinburg, Pa.), 0-2 up a weight at 149; freshman Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), 2-2, 1-2 collegiate, up a weight at 149; freshman Shane Everett (Saylorsburg, Pa.), 0-2 at 157; freshman Micah Bollinger (Mifflinburg, Pa.), 1-2, 1-1 collegiate, at 165; freshman Michael Lorenzo (Bellefonte, Pa.), 0-2 at 165; sophomore Craig Owsiany (Phoenixville, Pa.), 0-2 at 165; freshman Nathan Andrews (Spring Mills, Pa.), 2-2, 1-2 collegiate, at 184; freshman Justin Hepburn (Williamsport, Pa.), 0-2 at 197; and sophomore Brendan Herlihy (Fairfield, Conn.), 3-2 at HWT.
The Nittany Lions, 4-0 overall, are currently ranked No. 3 in the country and will next meet No. 17 Cornell on Jan. 4 in Rec Hall. The dual will start at 7 p.m. All Penn State duals can be heard locally on WBLF AM (970) and WKVA (920 AM). 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 free! Fans can call 814-863-1000 or 800-833-5533 to order single-dual tickets.