Feb. 13, 2008
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Garrett Scott (Alexandria, Pa.) has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending Sunday, Feb. 10. Scott earned the honor for his 4-3 win over then No. 4 Kellen Russell of Michigan.
Scott, making his first start in a home Big Ten dual meet, thrilled over 4,000 Nittany Lion fans the critical decision over Russell. He notched a reversal and two escapes to down the fourth-ranked Wolverine and grab his first home Big Ten dual meet win. The victory helped Penn State defeat then No. 6 Michigan 20-14 as the Nittany Lions won six of 10 bouts in the victory. Scott improved to 14-3 on the year while Russell fell to 23-4.
The honor is Penn State's third this season. Both Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) and David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) have earned the honor.
Scott's win allowed him to make a superb debut in the NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll individual rankings, stepping in at No. 9 at 141. Scott is one of eight Nittany Lions ranked in the latest release, compiled and released by Intermat and viewable in full at www.intermatwrestle.com.
Head coach Troy Sunderland's team moved up to No. 9 in the national team rankings, jumping up a spot thanks to its win over Michigan last Friday night. The victory improved Penn State to 11-5 on the year, 3-3 in Big Ten duals. Iowa holds down the top spot, followed by Nebraska (2), Oklahoma State (3), Minnesota (4), Central Michigan (5), Ohio State (6), Iowa State (7), Illinois (8), Penn State (9) and Michigan (10). The Big Ten, with six teams in the top ten, has nine ranked overall as Northwestern (12), Wisconsin (13) and Indiana (21) are among the nation's top 25.
Scott is one of five Nittany Lions with a top ten individual ranking. Three-time All-American Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.) holds down the No. 3 spot at 197 with a 14-1 record while sophomore Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) is No. 3 at 157 with his 22-1 mark. Sophomore Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) checks in with a No. 5 nod at 149 and is 17-3 on the year. Scott is No. 9 at 141 and senior Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.) is No. 10 at 125. McKnight is 10-6 on the season.
Joining that group in the national rankings are sophomore David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio), junior Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.) and junior John Laboranti (Pittston, Pa.) Erwin, 21-8 on the year, is No. 16 at 174; Bomberger, 15-6 so far, is No. 14 at 184; and Laboranti, 20-6 this season, is No. 16 at HWT.
The Nittany Lions close out their home slate this weekend with two Big Ten duals. Michigan State visits Penn State on Friday, Feb. 15, in a 7 p.m. dual that will air live to a Big Ten Network national audience. Purdue then comes to Rec Hall on Sunday, Feb. 17, for a 1 p.m. match-up. 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 or season tickets. All Penn State duals will be broadcast locally on WBLF 970 AM and WKVA 920 AM and streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com. All home duals will feature a live video webcast and live scoring at www.GoPSUsports.com as well.
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