Jan. 9, 2008
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) has been named the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending Jan. 6. Erwin, Penn State's 174-pounder, is the second Nittany Lion to earn the Big Ten's weekly nod this season (Jake Strayer earned the honor on Nov. 21).
Erwin posted a thrilling 6-4 win over then No. 8 Steve Anceravage of Cornell, helping spark No. 1 Penn State to a 35-10 win over then No. 17 Cornell. Penn State won seven of ten bouts in the dual and improved to 5-0 on the year, earning the No. 1 ranking and top seed at this weekend's National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Erwin scored six points in the final 10 seconds of the second period to earn an upset victory. This is Erwin's first career weekly honor.
The talented Ohio native leads Penn State in wins this year with a 17-2 overall record and has five majors to date, second on the squad. Erwin, who red-shirted last year, started at 165 as a true freshman and went 23-8.
Penn State has received top seed at the tournament, which seeds eight squads. The Nittany Lions will face 16th-ranked UT-Chattanooga in the first round on Saturday at 9 a.m. If the Nittany Lions defeat the Mocs, then Penn State would face the winner of No. 9 Northwestern (the #8 seed) and No. 10 Nebraska. The other first round match ups in Penn State's half of the bracket are No. 6 Minnesota (the #5 seed) against West Virginia and No. 5 Central Michigan (the #4 seed) facing No. 11 Ohio State. The two-day, sixteen team, dual meet tournament features a stunning field comprised of nine of the nation's top ten ranked teams. Thirteen of the nation's top 16 teams are in the field. Fifteen of the 16 squads are ranked in the top 25 with the 16th receiving votes.
Action gets under way in Cedar Falls, Iowa; on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Penn State's next home dual will be on Sunday, Jan. 27, when the Nittany Lions host No. 15 Indiana at 1 p.m. in Rec Hall. 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.