Feb. 26, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Four Nittany Lion wrestlers closed out their seasons at the National Collegiate Open in Richmond, Va., today. Three of the four Nittany Lion entries placed, led by red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.), who won the title at heavyweight.
Gingrich began the tournament with a pin over a non-collegiate wrestler (which does not count on his record) and the posted two close decisions to advance to the finals. In the finals, the freshman dominated William Smith of Rutgers, posting the 7-0 win. Gingrich ends his red-shirt freshman season with an outstanding 21-4 mark, collecting three pins and six majors in the process.
Red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) dropped a 10-6 decision in the finals at 174 to former American University All-American Steve Fittery. The Lion freshman was dominant getting to the finals, posting two majors and a pin to go 3-0. The loss against Fittery does not count towards his overall record as Fittery was a non-collegiate entry into the tournament. Brown ends a super season with a 27-2 record, including multiple wins over ranked wrestlers at both 174 and 197. He was 5-0 in duals, 2-0 in Big Ten duals and had 10 majors, 4 technical falls and seven pins.
Red-shirt freshman Dirk Cowburn (Coudersport, Pa.) began the tournament 3-0 before losing in the semifinals to a non-collegiate wrestler (a loss that does not count on his record). He ended the tournament with a 4-1 record and a fifth place finish. Sophomore Andrew Church (Erie, Pa.) went 2-2 at 174 and closes out his season with a solid 22-12 record.
The Nittany Lions will look to defend their Big Ten Championship next weekend. Penn State will take part in the 2012 Big Ten Championship Tournament at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., on March 3-4. Session one on Saturday, March 3, is set for 10 a.m.
The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (670 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.