Nov. 5, 2008
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -
Complete Release in PDF Format
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS - as of 11/5/08
**SUBJECT TO CHANGE prior to sunday with addition or deletion of competitors**
Wrestlers competing in MSU Open alphabetically
#7 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Wt. Name Yr. Hometown/High School 2007-08 Record
125 Eric Caschera So. South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport 2-13
#20 Brad Pataky So. Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield 0-0
Adam Smetana So. Valencia, Pa./Mars 0-0
133 Adam Lynch Jr. Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg 9-8
Tyler Saltsman So. Concord, N.H./Concord 0-0
141 Frank Molinaro Fr. Barnegat, N.J./Souther Regional 17-2
149 Christian Harr So. Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg 0-0
157 Shane Everett Fr. Saylorsburg, Pa./Pleasant Valley 5-5
165 Micah Bollinger Fr. Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg 14-4
Tim Darling Fr. Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth 9-3
Matt Dodds Jr. Leola, Pa./Conestoga 2-8
174 #20 David Erwin Jr. Urbana, Ohio/St. Paris Graham 23-10
184 Clay Steadman So. McKean, Pa./General McLane 3-3
197 Nathan Andrews So. Spring Mills, Pa./Penns Valley 2-8
J.R. Brown Fr. Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte 2-2
Jack Decker Sr. Roseland, N.J./Seton Hall Prep 15-7
Andrew Haile Sr. Crabtree, Pa./Greensburg Salem 0-0
HWT Stefan Tighe Jr. Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep 4-4
Cameron Wade Fr. Twinsburg, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel 17-10
All rankings listed are USA Today/NWCA as of 10/27/08
TODAY'S ACTION
STATE COLLEGE, Pa.; Nov. 5, 2008 -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 7 nationally, will open the 2008-09 regular season by sending a strong contingent of grapplers to the MSU Open on Sunday, Nov. 9. The event will take place in East Lansing, Mich.
Over 1,800 fans gathered in Rec Hall as No. 20 Penn State opened its 2008-09 season with its annual Wrestle-Offs. Over 30 Nittany Lion grapplers took to the mats to stake their claims on the Penn State depth chart this season.
Red-shirt freshman Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) beat Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) 5-2 in their first meeting at 141. Strayer entered the bout ranked No. 7 nationally at 133 but wrestled-off at 141. The duo met once again in the finals, with Molinaro riding Strayer all the way through the third period to grab a thrilling 4-3 win and claim the weight class title. Senior Mark Friend (Libertyville, Ohio) used a thrilling five point move in the final period to down red-shirt freshman Tim Darling (Nazareth, Pa.) in their first meeting at 165. Darling bounced down to wrestle-backs and posted a resounding win to get a second shot at Friend. In their next match-up, Friend put together a strong performance and posted a convincing 9-3 win to claim the title.
No. 20 David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) posted a 3-1 win over true freshman Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) in their first meeting at 157. In the next meeting, Wright got a first period takedown only to have Erwin score a last second reversal to tie the bout at 2-2 after the first period. Wright chose neutral in the second period but neither wrestler scored. Erwin escaped quickly in the third period to take a 3-2 lead and added a takedown to post a 5-2 win in the finals. Red-shirt freshman Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) downed Stefan Tighe (Erie, Pa.) in a spirited match-up at heavyweight with Wade nearly pinning Tighe in the second period for a near-fall that iced the bout. In the next match-up, Wade battled through two scoreless periods and then pinned Tighe at the 6:17 mark to claim the HWT crown.
Also winning their respective weight classes was No. 20 Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) at 125; senior Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.) went 3-0 at 133 to win his weight class; No. 2 Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) went 2-0 at 149 to claim his title; No. 3 Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) went 2-0 at 157; No. 20 Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.) was uncontested at 184; and Andrew Haile (Crabtree, Pa.), who went 3-0 to win the title at 197.
The Nittany Lions open up their dual meet season on Sunday, Nov. 16, hosting Hofstra at 1 p.m. in Rec Hall. Admission to wrestle-offs is free. 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 to wrestling events for free! Season tickets are $28 for adults and seniors, youth 18 and under season tickets are $21. Fans can call 814-863-1000 or 800-833-5533 to order tickets. All home duals will be streamed live at gopsusports.com and over the air on WBLF 970 AM  and WKVA 920 AM.
MOLINARO AND WADE SHINE IN WRESTLE-OFFS; RED-SHIRT FRESHMEN CLAIM TITLES AT 141 AND HWT Two red-shirt freshmen stood out at Penn State's Wrestle-Offs on November 2. Frank Molinaro went 2-0 against No. 7 (at 133) Jake Strayer at 141 pounds to claim the title and the starting spot while Cameron Wade went 2-0 against 2007-08 early-season starter Stefan Tighe, including a pin, to claim the starting spot at HWT.
FRIEND AND ERWIN STRONG AT WRESTLE-OFFS; VETERANS SECURE STARTING SPOTS AT 165 AND 174 Senior Mark Friend and junior David Erwin were both strong at Wrestle-Offs on November 2. Friend won among a crowded field at 165, going 3-0 on the day, including two solid wins over talented red-shirt freshman Tim Darling. This marks the third straight year that Friend emerged victorious in Wrestle-Offs. Erwin was also outstanding, downing true freshman Quentin Wright twice at 174 to secure his starting spot as well.
HAAS, STRAYER, JENKINS, VALLIMONT NAMED TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2008-09 SEASON The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team has named a talented foursome as co-captains for the 2008-09 season. Senior Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.), junior Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.), senior Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) and junior Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) will share team leader duties this year.
"These four young men have been chosen by their peers to lead us through another successful campaign," head coach Troy Sunderland said. "Each of these wrestlers has outstanding leadership qualities and, while they differ from wrestler to wrestler, they combine to create a group of captains that is well suited to guide us this year. They are successful, hard-working and their teammates look to them as an example of what hard work and dedication can lead to."
Haas, a sixth year senior who was given an extra year of eligibility due to having two seasons shortened by injuries, will wrestling at 133 this year after going 7-15 last season. Haas was 5-11 in duals with a solid 3-5 Big Ten dual meet record. Haas has a 29-23 career record. Jenkins is the defending national runner-up at 149. The Virginia-native went 26-6 last season, including a 4-1 showing at nationals and an appearance in the NCAA title tilt. The All-American, who is now 49-18 overall at Penn State, has a 10-6 career Big Ten dual meet record, including a 6-2 mark last season. Jenkins begins his run at a national title with 82 career dual meet points.
Strayer was a 2007 All-American at 133 and moved up to 141 last season where he went 11-5. A two-time NCAA qualifier (he reached the `Round of 12' at 133 in 2006), Strayer returns to 133 this season. Strayer has a 64-19 career record, including a 53-14 mark at 133 pounds. Strayer's 39-9 career dual match record his highlighted by a 30-5 mark at 133 (12-4 in Big Ten action). He has 133 career dual match points.Vallimont earned his first All-America honor last year with a superb third place finish at 157 pounds. It was the New Jersey-native's first season at 157 pounds. Vallimont posted a superb 32-3 mark last year, including a 5-1 performance at nationals to take third place. Vallimont, who reached the `Round of 12' at nationals at 149 in 2007, has a 54-15 career record including a 29-8 dual match mark (12-4 in Big Ten action). He has 100 career dual match points as well.
PENN STATE RANKED NO. 7 IN USA TODAY/NWCA COACHES POLL The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, under the guidance of head coach Troy Sunderland, will enter the 2008-09 season ranked No. 7 in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches Pre-Season Poll. Penn State, which finished third at NCAAs last season, is still ranked among the nation's elite despite the loss of two All-Americans to graduation. Defending national champion Iowa is ranked No. 1, followed by in-state rival Iowa State. Cornell (3), Ohio State (4) and Missouri (5) round out the top five. Nebraska (6), Penn State and Oklahoma State (T7), Illinois (9) and Michigan (10) comprise the rest of the top ten.
With five teams in the top ten, the Big Ten is once again seen as the nation's elite wrestling conference. Northwestern (11), Minnesota (12), Wisconsin (13) and Indiana (16) are also ranked in the top 25, meaning nine of the conference's 11 teams are in the pre-season rankings. The conference's other two teams, Michigan State and Purdue, are receiving votes as well. With the release of the first Coaches Poll, the strength of Penn State's 2008-09 schedule becomes more evident. The Nittany Lions will face 11 of the country's top 25 teams (according to the poll), not including whomever the squad may face in the National Duals in January.
The Nittany Lions battle No. 1 Iowa in Rec Hall on Feb. 8; No. 3 Cornell in Ithaca on Nov. 21; No. 4 Ohio State in Rec Hall on Feb. 6; No. 10 Michigan in Ann Arbor on Feb. 14; No. 12 Minnesota in Rec Hall on Jan. 30; No. 13 Wisconsin in Rec Hall on Feb. 1; No. 15 Edinboro at the Sprawl and Brawl Duals in Binghamton on Nov. 23; No. 16 Indiana in Bloomington on Jan. 23; No. 21 Penn in Rec Hall on Feb. 20 and No. 25 West Virginia in Rec Hall on Dec. 14. Penn State also faces three of the eight teams receiving votes: The Lions face Hofstra in Rec Hall on Nov. 16; Purdue in West Lafayette on Jan. 24; and Michigan State in East Lansing on Feb. 13. In all, 14 of Penn State's 17 set dual meet dates (not including the National Duals) are against teams ranked or receiving votes, a stunning figure.
As released by the NWCA earlier this week, six Nittany Lions are ranked individually: All-American Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) is ranked No. 2 at 149; All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) is ranked No. 3 at 157; All-American Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) is ranked No. 7 at 133; national qualifier Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.) is ranked No. 15 at 184; Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) is ranked No. 20 at 125 and David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) is ranked No. 20 at 174.
JENKINS AND VALLIMONT TO TAKE PART IN NWCA ALL-STAR CLASSIC Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) has been selected to participate in the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic. The exhibition event will take place at Ohio State's St. John's Arena on Monday, November 24, at 7 p.m. Jenkins, ranked No. 2 at 149 in the NWCA's pre-season rankings, will face No. 1 Brent Metcalf of Iowa. Jenkins, the defending national runner-up, lost to Metcalf 14-8 in the 2008 NCAA Championships at 149 last year. Metcalf served as Jenkins' foil last year, handing the Nittany Lion All-American three of his six losses during the campaign (Jenkins went 26-6 overall). Vallimont, ranked No. 3 at 157 in the NWCA's pre-season rankings, will face No. 1 Jordan Leen of Cornell. Vallimont, who was an All-American last year with a third place finish, never met Leen during the regular season. Leen went on to win the NCAA title. The selection of Jenkins and Vallimont marks the third straight year that a Nittany Lion has been represented at the prestigious event, annually pitting the top two pre-season wrestlers at each weight class against each other in an exhibition. In 2006, Penn State sent Phil Davis and James Yonushonis and last year Davis took part again.
The ten-bout exhibition features a full list of the nation's best wrestlers: 125: #2 Troy Nickerson (Cornell) vs. #3 Charlie Falck (Iowa) 133: #1 Joey Slaton (Iowa) vs. #2 Jayson Ness (Minnesota) 141: #1 J Jaggers (Ohio State) vs. #2 Nick Gallick (Iowa State) 149: #1 Brent Metcalf (Iowa) vs. #2 Bubba Jenkins (Penn State) 157: #1 Jordan Leen (Cornell) vs. #3 Dan Vallimont (Penn State) 165: #1 Nick Marable (Missouri) vs. #2 Mack Lewnes (Cornell) 174: #1 Steve Luke (Michigan) vs. #2 Jay Borschel (Iowa) 184: #1 Mike Pucillo (Ohio State) vs. #3 Phil Keddy (Iowa) 197: #1 Jake Varner (Iowa State) vs. #2 Hudson Taylor (Maryland) HWT: #1 Jared Rosholt (Oklahoma State) vs. #3 Kyle Massey (Wisconsin)
PENN STATE WRESTLING RADIO! All Penn State wrestling duals and the post-season will be aired live locally on WRSC (1390 AM State College) and regionally on WHUN (1150 AM Huntingdon) and streamed live at GoPSUsports.com. Jeff Byers will once again serve as the voice of Penn State wrestling!
LIVE AUDIO WEBCASTS ONLY $9.95 PER MONTH! All of Penn State's wrestling duals, the Big Ten Championships and the NCAA Championships (as well as the Troy Sunderland Show), will once again be webcast live at www.GoPSUsports.com. Fans just go to GoPSU and click on All-Access. From there, just sign up for the All-Access package of your choice for as little as $9.95 per month. The All-Access package gives fans all of Penn State's audio and video feeds for every Penn State sporting event that features audio or video, not just wrestling!
THE Troy Sunderland SHOW! Penn State head wrestling coach Troy Sunderland will once again host his weekly coaches show. This year's show will be broadcast each week on WMAJ (1450 AM State College). The starting date will be determined soon and announced later!
PENN STATE & TAKEDOWN RADIO This year, Penn State is a proud premier sponsor of the nation's top wrestling radio network, Take Down Wrestling Radio. The Nittany Lions have joined forces with TDR and will be featured regularly on the national network. Fans can listen to TDR simply by visiting www.takedownradio.com.