Jan. 8, 2008
By Becky Murdy, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
It has been said that the love of a family can withstand any distance and challenge.
Penn State wrestler, Dan Vallimont realized the validity of this statement during his first starting season as a Nittany Lion last year. After red-shirting during the 2005-2006 season, the New Jersey native settled in at 149 pounds and seemed poised for promising possibilities in the upcoming year.
As the season progressed, his performances lead him to the Big Ten Tournament with a bid to the NCAA Championships on the line. His wrestling potential, honed over the course of a red-shirt season and a year as a starter, was realized as Vallimont earned a spot in the national tournament and the chance ton wrestle among the nation's elite.
With his father, Lynn; mother, Abbie; and two sisters, Gina and Christine (as well as extended family from Las Vegas to Florida), at every home match and all major tournaments, outstanding support for Vallimont was never in question.
All that changed just prior to Dan's first venture to the Big Ten Tournament. About one week before Dan would compete at Big Tens for the first time in his career, he had to say goodbye to one of his biggest fans who sadly, would not be attending the biggest tournament of his career thus far.
In February of 2007, Vallimont found out that his father, Lynn, was to be deployed oversees. Lynn served for four months with the Air National Guard where he was stationed in Qatar, Iraq, and Kuwait, forcing him to miss his son compete at both Big Tens and nationals.
"Balancing school work, wrestling, along with worrying about my dad's safety made for some stressful days, but when match time came along my focus shifted to wrestling," said Dan. "Not to say that I wasn't worried about my dad, but I am pretty sure my dad would not want his absence to affect my wrestling performance."
According to Dan's father, he couldn't have been more right.
"I wasn't at all concerned with Daniel's performance," said his father. "I was disappointed that I wouldn't be able to see him wrestle, but I knew he would wrestle his best as he always does."
Dan Vallimont is a sophomore for the Nittany Lion wrestling program |
During the tournaments and matches that occurred while Lynn was oversees, he found it somewhat difficult to keep up in real time due to the eight hour difference and limited internet access. With occasional ten-minute phone calls and scattered e-mails he was able to keep track of Dan's performance and the well being of the rest of his family.
"I actually got to talk to him before Big Tens and NCAAs," said Dan. "He told me the same thing he would tell me before any other match or tournament in my life. He wished me good luck, told me he knew I was capable of accomplishing great things, and that he loved me."
Though Dan's father was not able to attend either tournament, his mother, sister, and uncle were present at both.
"It was such a great experience and the people on the trip really rallied around my daughter and me," said Abbie, his mother. "They were also there for Daniel with words of encouragement, which meant so much. Some of the men stepped up with advice and encouragement that I know his dad would have given. When the trips were over, it was like I had another family. I could never thank these people enough for all they did and said."
Though it was hard for Dan not having his father at the matches, he knew he was there in spirit. Dan also felt the support from the stands, which made him feel like he wasn't in Michigan but that he was back home in Rec Hall. Dan's mother did not treat these tournaments any different than Dan's matches in second or third grade.
"My mom is just as into wrestling as my dad is," says Dan. "I am pretty sure if I tried to listen for her during my matches I would be able to hear her yelling for me over the thousands of people. Even after 14 years of watching me, she still gets into every match."
With wrestling in his blood it was easy for Dan to get into wrestling, but he was never pressured to follow in any of his family member's footsteps.
"We didn't push Daniel to get involved with wrestling," said Lynn. "But from the time he first started in second grade, it was easy to se that he had amazing natural ability."
Dan's father and uncle both wrestled for Bald Eagle Area High School, then Dan's father went on to wrestle for the intramural teams at Penn State. Dan's mother grew up as a member of a rather large wrestling family. Abbie Vallimont's father, brother, and cousins all wrestled throughout their lives, and Abbie was a wrestling cheerleader for Bald Eagle Area, where she cheered on her future spouse.
Spending just a few minutes with the Vallimonts, it becomes apparent that the shared love of wrestling is nothing compared to the love they share for each other. Dan accredited this love with helping his family to stay strong while his father was in Iraq.
A Penn State flag hangs in the mess hall where Lynn Vallimont serves. |
"I would have loved to be there for Daniel, but there are some things in life that are bigger than the latest wrestling tournament, and serving is one of them".
In mid-May of this year, Lynn Vallimont returned safely stateside where he is glad to be back with his family and back into another wrestling season.
This season is proving to be a big year for Dan, with many changes following his many successes. Though the sport is changing for Dan as he moves up to the 157 pound weight class, for his parents the feeling has continues to remain the same.
"Every time we see him run onto that mat, we get chills and our eyes fill up. We are so proud of him," Abbie says. "He's living his dream."
As the 2007- 2008 season enters its second half, Vallimont is already having success at his new weight and feeling stronger then ever. "This year at 157, I feel I am much stronger and I think it will benefit my wrestling greatly," Dan said.
Dan has gone 11-0 to start the year and is ranked No. 11 nationally. There are still many important matches to come. He is glad that his entire family can again attend the matches this year, even though he knows that if they are not there in person, they are supporting him in spirit.
"My family has always been behind my 100 percent, I am just glad I can make them proud by doing something I love as best I can."