Nov. 12, 2015
By Ryan Hickey, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" Just two days away from the opening match of the season against Lock Haven, the No. 1-ranked Penn State wrestling team hosted its annual media day at Rec Hall on Wednesday.
"We are excited the season is starting," said head coach Cael Sanderson. "We've got an exciting team. We have some kids that are excited to get out there and compete."
The Nittany Lions enter the 2015-16 season with nine wrestlers ranked in their respective weight classes. Senior Morgan McIntosh leads the way as he is ranked No. 1 in the 197-pound weight class. Nico Megaludis (125 Pounds), Jimmy Gulibon (141 Pounds) and Zain Retherford (149 Pounds) all are ranked No. 2. Jason Nolf (No. 6 at 157 Pounds), Jordan Conaway (No. 8 at 133 Pounds), Garett Hammond (No. 14 at 165 Pounds), Bo Nickal (No. 14 at 174 Pounds) and Matt McCutcheon (No. 14 at 184 Pounds) round out the ranked Nittany Lion wrestlers in the probably starting lineup.
With the return of Retherford and Megaludis to the lineup, Sanderson made a few tweaks at the lighter weights classes to best serve the team. Megaludis returns from a redshirt season to his usual 125-weight class, bumping Conaway to the 133-division. Gulibon jumped up to 141 and Retherford will wrestle at the 149-pound division.
For Retherford, the transition up a weight class will come with great confidence, as he is ready to start the season and accept the new challenges.
"I knew I was going 149 since the summer, so I kind of wrapped my mind around it for a while now, but I am excited about it," said Retherford. "The guys might be a little bigger and a little taller, but I'm excited."
For Conaway, he already has wrestled at the 133 division before and says how that experience has benefitted him when it came to making the switch to that weight class again this season.
"I definitely feel that I am stronger when compared to when I wrestled at 133 a couple of years ago," said Conaway. "I am just a little more mature for the weight class compared to a couple of years ago."
Sunday's match against No. 7 Virginia Tech poses a early season challenge for the Nittany Lions, but many of the wrestlers are looking forward to the experience as it prepares them for what's to come both in the regular and post season.
"Lock Haven is going to be a good test, but I'm excited to travel. First home match is going to be a lot of fun, but it's different to travel and wrestle after a Friday match and have to make weight again Sunday," said Retherford. "You get exposure to different things you are going to see later on in the season."
"That will be a real good test for us," said Megaludis. "I think their whole lineup is pretty stacked, so that will be a good test for all of our guys to go out there and fight."
The Nittany Lions open the season Friday with a match against Lock Haven at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. Penn State then hits the road for a Sunday match against the seventh-ranked Hokies, which is slated for a 1 p.m. start.