Nov. 12, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" Over a dozen Penn State wrestlers took part in open tournament action today as the Nittany Lions also took care of dual meet business in Rec Hall earlier in the afternoon. Thirteen Penn Staters took part in the Binghamton Bearcat Open in Vestal, N.Y. on Sunday. The Lions had athletes wrestling both attached and unattached, including six true freshmen. Penn State also had representation at the East Stroudsburg Open the same day.
True freshman Jerod Verkleeren (Greensburg, Pa.) competed unattached at 149 and rolled through the field for the 149-pound title. The Greensburg native went 5-0 in his first open tournament as a collegian to lead Penn State, which had six of its 13 entrants place. Verkleeren had two tech falls. True freshman Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.) competed for the second straight week in open action at 141. Lee went 3-1 with two tech falls and a major to place third.
Junior Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.) competed at 197. The Nittany Lion junior, wrestling in his second open tournament up at 197, went 3-1 with three pins to take fourth place. Junior Devon Van Cura (Washington, N.C.) wrestled at 184 and posted a 5-1 record with a major to place fifth. Sophomore Dominic Giannangeli (Murrysville, Pa.) wrestled at 133 and posted a 5-1 mark as well to finish fifth. Giannangeli had one pin on the day.
Redshirt freshman Bo Pipher (Paonia, Colo.) wrestled at 149 and posted a 4-2 record. Redshirt freshman Luke Gardner (Pottsville, Pa.) took to the mat at 149. Gardner went 4-2 with a pin and a major. Redshirt freshman Mason Lindenmuth (Brockway, Pa.) grappled at 133 and went 3-2 with two pins.
In addition to Verkleeren and Lee, five other true freshmen wrestled unattached at the tournament. True freshman James Hoeg (Mattituck, N.Y.), wrestling at 197, went 2-2 with a major. Mason Manville (Lorton, Va.), wrestling at 165, posted a 3-2 mark with a pin and two tech falls. Richie McClanahan (Panama City Beach, Fla.) competed at 149 and went 2-2. Scott Obendorfer (Germantown, Md.) wrestling at 141, went 1-2. Joey Blumer (Leechburg, Pa.) competed at 141 and went 2-2 with a major.
Two Penn Staters competed at the East Stroudsburg Open as well. Junior Scott Stossel (Pittsburgh, Pa.) wrestled at 133. Stossel went 2-2 with a major. Redshirt freshman Benjamin Tuohey (Chadds Ford, Pa.) competed at 157 and went 1-2.
Penn State continues action next weekend with a dual meet at Binghamton on Friday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. The Nittany Lions then trek to Philadelphia for the Keystone Classic on Sunday, Nov. 19, at Penn. With all home dual meets sold out, a limited number of Standing Room Only (SRO) tickets are available to select Rec Hall duals based on availability. Call 1-800-NITTANY for information or to purchase tickets.
The 2017-18 Penn State wrestling season is sponsored by The Family Clothesline. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.