UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The dual season Big Ten champion Penn State Nittany Lions close out their regular season on Sunday against Buffalo. The top-ranked Nittany Lions will also be celebrating senior day, honoring those in their final season in a Penn State singlet.
But Shakur Rasheed, who will be honored before the match Sunday with his senior class knows this isn't the end.
We're brothers," Rasheed said. "We're all a family now. It's our last match, but we'll always stay in touch and be together and continue to have a relationship as life goes on. It's not an end for us, it's just an ending for our college career. It's definitely going to be pretty emotional, but we're still going to be family at the end.
Rasheed is ready to get back on the mat after missing the last three dual meets.
"It's rough," Rasheed said. "I didn't get to compete the last few matches, so that's pretty hard but I'm out here now, and I'm ready for Big Tens and Nationals. I'm happy I get out there in front of the crowd for one last hoorah. That will be fun.
Another senior, two-time national champion Bo Nickal, is grateful for all of the opportunities he has had with the Nittany Lions.
"I'm really grateful," Nickal said. "That kind of just sums it up. For all that everybody here has done for me and all the time, effort and energy that people have put into me."
Nickal also has a message for what he considers the best fans in the country.
"I appreciate the support and I appreciate all the times that they're out there cheering for me," Nickal said. "It's pretty awesome to experience that. There's no place like Rec Hall, it's definitely the best fan base and the best place to wrestle in the country."
For two-time national champion Jason Nolf, it has been a life-changing five years at Penn State.
"It has been an amazing last five years," Nolf said. "I was just talking to my dad on the phone today and realized how fast it has actually gone. It has been the best five years of my life. I met my wife and I met some of the best teammates that I've ever had, so it has been awesome."
Nolf doesn't expect his final collegiate match in Rec Hall to be emotional, but he is focusing on one thing.
"I don't really think it will be as emotional as it will be just trying to really soak it all in and enjoy while it's still here," Nolf said. "I'm not the type to sob over it or anything, but I'm excited to compete and I'm really going to try to take it all in and perform."
While head coach Cael Sanderson is sad to see his senior class go, there is still plenty of wrestling to be done with this group.
"I think I say this every year but they did their thing and they had their four years," Sanderson said. "Some of these guys have made the most of it. Guys like Jason Nolf and Bo Nickal. We have some really outstanding kids and they do their thing here and then it's time to move on in life."
"I'm going to miss them and it crossed my mind with Bo and Nolf, especially those two, that they're guys that we won't see again in a Big Ten dual, but it isn't time to really think too much about that."
Penn State's final dual of the 2018-19 season against Buffalo begins at 2 p.m. at Rec Hall.
