Jan. 8, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Eight members of the Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team remain ranked nationally by Intermat, seven of whom appear in the top five at their respective weights. Following a third straight Southern Scuffle title last week, head coach Cael Sanderson's two-time defending NCAA and Big Ten Champions solidified the No. 1 team ranking on Intermat's Tournament Power Index (TPI). The full list of national rankings is available at www.intermatwrestle.com.
Penn State is ranked No. 1 with 112 points on Intermat's TPI, well ahead of second place Oklahoma State, which has 99. Iowa has vaulted to third place and Minnesota follows in fourth.
Sophomore All-American Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) is ranked No. 2 at 125 with a 12-1 record, including four pins, a tech fall and two majors. Sophomore Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa) is 13-0 and ranked No. 3 at 149. Alton has nine pins, a tech and two majors. Sophomore All-American Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is ranked No. 5 at 157 with a 12-2 mark, five pins and a major.
Defending NCAA Champion and two-time All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is ranked No. 2 at 165 and is 13-1 with six pins, a major and five tech falls. Sophomore Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) is ranked No. 3 at 174 and is 14-1 with five pins, a tech fall and four majors. Defending NCAA Champion and two-time All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) is ranked No. 1 nationally at 184 with a 15-0 mark. Ruth has five pins, two techs and five majors. Three-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa) is ranked No. 3 at 197 with a 14-0 record, including seven pins. Sophomore heavyweight Jimmy Lawson (Tom's River, N.J.) is ranked No. 16 at 285 with a 12-3 record, including a pin and two majors.
Penn State hosts Michigan State on Sunday, Jan. 13. The Spartans invade Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. meeting. Penn State's full season of home duals is sold out but limited Standing Room Only tickets are available for select dual meets. For information on which duals have a limited number of SRO tickets available and to purchase tickets, fans can call 1-800-NITTANY or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office windows from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstateWREST and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2012-13 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.