Jan. 18, 2010
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Two Penn State freshmen claimed individual titles at the 2010 Floyd `Shorty' Hitchcock Memorial Open hosted by Millersville University. Freshmen Nick Fischer (Unionville, N.J.) and Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) both went undefeated to win the titles on Sunday at Millersville. All wrestlers were wrestling unattached.
Fischer went 5-0 at 157, including two pins, to claim the title. He downed Rider's Ramon Santiago 5-1 in the finals and improved to 12-7 on the year. Ruth was a perfect 4-0 at 184, including two pins. He pinned Army's Colin Whittmeyer in the finals and is now 11-2 on the year.
Sophomore David Crowell (Easton, Pa.) was superb in his first tournament up at his new weight of 197. Crowell went 3-1 to take second place, dropping a hard-fought 6-5 decision to No. 14 Richard Starks of Army in the title bout. Crowell is now 17-9 overall. Freshman Jack Chidester (Conestoga, Pa.) also placed for Penn State, going 7-1 at 133 to take third.
Other Nittany Lions competing at the event included Eric Caschera (South Williamsport, Pa.), who went 0-2 at 125; Tom Reynolds (Skillman, N.J.), who went 1-2 at 133; Jarret Freeman (Laurelton, N.Y.), who went 0-2 at 149; James English (York, Pa.), who went 4-2 at 149; James Vollrath (Richboro, Pa.), who went 5-2 at 157; Eric Resch (Lititz, Pa.), who went 0-2 at 165; Michael Lorenzo (Bellefonte, Pa.), who went 3-2 at 174; and Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.), who went 2-2 at 174.
The Nittany Lions are now 8-3-1 on the year and open up Big Ten action next Friday. Penn State's first home dual in nearly three months is set for Jan. 22 when it hosts No. 19 Illinois at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. Single event tickets will cost $8 for adults and $6 for youth. Group sales are available once again for groups of 15 people or more. Group prices are $4 in advance and $5 walk-up. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 1.800.NITTANY between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. All Penn State events will once again air live on Forever Broadcasting's WRSC (1390 AM) or 3WZ (95.3 FM) and on www.GoPSUsports.com as well. The 2009-10 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.