Feb. 16, 2010
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Seven members of the Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team continue to hold rankings in the latest individual rankings released by Intermat and viewable at www.intermatwrestle.com. Head coach Cael Sanderson's squad is ranked No. 10 as a team in the latest NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll.
Senior Adam Lynch (Mifflinburg, Pa.) made his rankings debut at 141, stepping in at No. 20. Lynch is 11-9 overall and has blazed his way to a 6-1 record in Big Ten duals. Joining Lynch as ranked individuals are Penn State's three returning All-Americans. Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is 26-3 overall and ranked No. 4 at 149, Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah) is 25-3 and No. 6 at 157, and Dan Vallimont is (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) is 22-6 and No. 7 at 165. Senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) is ranked No. 10 at 184 with a 25-6 overall record while sophomore Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is 18-6 overall and ranked No. 12 at heavyweight. Junior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) rounds out Penn State's ranked individuals, sitting at No. 13 at 125 with a 23-6 record.
Penn State is one of eight Big Ten teams listed in the rankings. Iowa (1), Ohio State (3), Minnesota (5), Penn State (10), Indiana (13), Wisconsin (14), Illinois (21) and Purdue (23) are all listed among the nation's top 25 teams.
This past Friday, the NWCA also released the latest individual Ratings Percentage Index for each weight class as well as the coaches individual rankings (differing from Intermat's and, like the RPI, vital in determining automatic qualifications for the NCAA Championships). Penn State's seven ranked wrestlers are each listed among both the top 33 RPI and Coaches Rankings (rankings listed are RPI/CR): Pataky at 125 (8/13), Lynch at 141 (28/28), Molinaro at 149 (7/4), Sanderson at 157 (9/6), Vallimont at 165 (10/7), Erwin at 184 (3/11) and Wade at HWT (7/13).
Penn State is now 13-5-1 on the year, 5-2 in Big Ten duals, and riding a four-dual win streak. Michigan State now sits at 8-6-1, 2-4 Big Ten. The Nittany Lions close out the regular season at No. 5 Minnesota on Friday, Feb. 19, in an 8 p.m. (Eastern) dual in Minneapolis. 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.