Oct. 20, 2008
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Six members of the Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team are ranked among the nation's top 20 at their individual weight classes by InterMat and the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Junior All-American Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) leads the charge with a No. 2 ranking at 149 pounds.
Jenkins, who placed second last year at the NCAA Championships, went 26-6 last season on his way to his first All-America honor. Jenkins is ranked only behind defending national champion Bret Metcalf of Iowa. Jenkins enters his junior year with a 49-18 overall record.
Classmate Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) enters the season ranked No. 3 at 157. Vallimont also earned his first All-America honor last year with a third place finish at 157 pounds. The New Jersey native went 32-3 overall and enters his third season as a starter at Penn State with a 54-15 overall record.
Senior Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) is ranked No. 7 at 133 pounds. Strayer was an All-American in 2007 with a seventh place finish at 133 and missed out on a trip to nationals last year at 141. Strayer heads into his final season at Penn State with a 64-19 overall record.
Classmate Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.) is ranked No. 15 at 184 pounds. Bomberger is coming off a break-out season in 2007-08 that saw him ranked among the top 20 most of the season and earned his first trip to the NCAA Championships. Bomberger was 19-10 last year and is 35-30 heading into his final campaign.
Junior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) will enter his third season in the Penn State line-up ranked No. 20 at 174. Erwin went 23-10 last year and will be looking to earn his first trip to the NCAA Championships. The Ohio-native carries a 46-18 career mark into the 2008-09 season.
Sophomore Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) enters 2008-09 ranked No. 20 at 125. Pataky, coming off two red-shirt seasons (one regular and one Olympic) was 15-8 as a true freshman in 2005-06 and will be looking for his initial trip to nationals.
Penn State will open up its 2008-09 season by hosting Wrestle-Offs on Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. in Rec Hall. Admission to wrestle-offs is free. The home season opens on Sunday, Nov. 16, with a 1 p.m. dual against Hofstra in Rec Hall. Fans can purchase season tickets by calling 814-863-1000 or 800-NITTANY. Season tickets are $32 for adults and $24 for youth. Single event tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youth. Penn State students get in FREE with a Penn State ID.