RETURNING ALL-AMERICAN
All-American Dan Vallimont will look to build upon a strong finish to the 2009 season at his new weight of 165 and return to the level that he achieved in 2008. Vallimont, the third place finisher at 157 as a sophomore, moved up to 165 midway through the 2009 season and found the footing rough early on after the switch. But winning eight of his last 11 bouts, including a third place finish at the Big 10 Championships and a `round of 12[apos] showing at NCAAs has Vallimont ready to return to the lofty heights he achieved two years ago.
Lion Career
2008-09:
Downed #15 Jonny Bonilla-Bowman of Hofstra on 11/16...lost to two top-five wrestlers on swing through New York on 11/21-23...posted resounding 5-0 record to win 2008 Nittany Lion Open crown on 12/7, including two majors, a TF and a pin...went 4-1 at National Duals on 1/10 including 3-1 (sv) win over #7 Michael Chandler of Missouri...moved to 165 at the start of Big Ten season...downed #9 Luke Manuel of Purdue on 1/24 in a 6-4 decision...majored Minnesota[apos]s Scott Glasser on 1/30 but upset by #10 Andrew Howe of Wisconsin on 2/1....lost 8-3 decision to #2 Colt Sponseller of Iowa on 2/6 and 5-4 decision on riding time to #3 Ryan Morningstar of Iowa on 2/8....hard-fought 6-5 win over Michigan State[apos]s Rex Kendle on 2/13...majored Penn[apos]s Zack Shanaman (11-3) on 2/20.
Big Ten Championships
(4-1, 3rd, National Qualifier): entered 2009 Big Ten Tournament as the No. 6 seed and more than bested that with a third place finish..downed #16 Luke Manuel of Purdue and #3 Colt Sponseller of Ohio State on his way to a 4-1 mark and a third-place finish.
NCAA Championships
(3-2, `Round of 12[apos]): Went 3-2 at 2009 NCAA Championships, dropping 5-2 decision to Andrew Rendos of Bucknell in the `round of 12[apos], one win shy of becoming a two-time All-American...downed #8 seed Brandon Mason of Oklahoma State in first round...also beat WVU[apos]s Donald Jones and Chattanooga[apos]s Seth Garvin.
2007-08:
Went 2-0 at wrestle-offs...majored Maryland[apos]s Brian Letters in first dual at 157 on 11/11....went 7-0 with a pin and four majors to win the 2007 Nittany Lion Open crown....5-4 win over #20 Newly McSpadden of Oklahoma State helped Penn State post 21-18 win in Stillwater...12-3 major over Cornell[apos]s Drake Hovis to help PSU down Cornell 35-10 on 1/4...at National Duals, majored #20 Seth Garvin of Chattanooga 15-7, downed #18 Chris Oliver of Nebraska 11-6, 13-1 major over Cornell[apos]s Drake Hovis, strong 7-4 win over #5 Cyler Sanderson to spark Penn State[apos]s 22-16 win over Iowa State...beat Ohio State[apos]s Jason Johnstone on 1/13...downed #16 Ryan Morningstar of Iowa in dual on 1/20...beat Johnstone again, this time 5-3 in Columbus on 1/25....strong 8-5 win over #9 Brandon Becker of Indiana on 1/27....first loss of the season was a close 6-3 decision to #1 Mike Poeta of Illinois on 2/3...beat Michigan[apos]s Jeff Marsh 8-6 on 2/8...majored MSU[apos]s John Fulger (15-3) on 2/15....Vallimont[apos]s 32-3 record was a team-best for wins and all three of his losses were to Illinois[apos] Mike Poeta.
Big Ten Championships
(3-1, 2nd, Big Ten Runner-Up, National Qualifier): Second seed at 2008 Big Ten Championships...three straight wins to start tournament...downed Ohio State[apos]s Jason Johnstone, No. 16 Ryan Morningstar of Iowa and No. 15 Jeff Marsh of Michigan...lost to No. 2 Mike Poeta of Illinois in title bout.
NCAA Championships
(5-1, 3rd, All-American): Vallimont cemented his spot as one of the nation[apos]s top 157-pounders with a superb 5-1 showing at the 2008 NCAA Championships...the No. 3 seed, placed third at the event...only loss was a heart-breaking 6-5 defeat to No. 2 seed Mike Poeta of Illinois in the national semifinals...came back to down No. 1 seed and defending national champion Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro and No. 4 seed Brandon Becker of Indiana to claim third place...Vallimont also beat No. 11 seed Tyler Sherfey of Boise State.
2006-07:
Posted a 22-12 overall record...went 12-7 in duals and 5-3 in Big Ten action...2-0 in pins and picked up 44 dual match points in first year as starter...went 5-1 at the 2006 Nittany Lion Open to take second place at 149...downed No. 8 Trevor Chinn 3-1 in Penn State[apos]s win over Lehigh on 12/8...went 3-1 at the Virginia Duals...dropped hard-fought 8-6 decision to No. 8 Tyler Turner of Wisconsin in his Big Ten debut on 1/19...beat No. 16 Lance Palmer of Ohio State 4-2 on Jan. 26 for first Big Ten dual win and followed that up with a 9-3 win over No. 10 Troy Tirapelle of Illinois two days later, giving him two wins over two ranked Big Ten wrestlers in the same weekend...recorded major over Northwestern[apos]s Vince Colletti on 2/2 and won fourth straight Big Ten bout with 6-3 victory over Iowa[apos]s Alex Grunder on 2/4...majored MSU[apos]s Jeff Wimberly on 2/18 (15-2)...entered the national rankings on 1/30...sixth seed at Big Ten tournament but wrestled to a fourth place finish...was the #12 seed at the 2007 NCAA Championships....wrestled to his seed by going 3-2 and advancing to the `round of 12,[apos] one win shy of All-American status...ended year ranked No. 12 by the NWCA. Named to Amateur Wrestling News[apos] All-Rookie Team.
Big Ten Championships
(3-2, 4th, National Qualifier): Seeded sixth....went 3-2 to place fourth and earn trip to nationals in first year as starter...opened with 9-3 loss to Ohio State[apos]s Lance Palmer, who was ranked No. 16 at the time...rebounded with three straight wins in consolations, including pin of MSU[apos]s Jeff Wimberly, 6-1 decision over No. 17 Troy Tirapelle and a 5-4 win over No. 10 Tyler Turner of Wisconsin...fell to Palmer again in the consolation finals.
NCAA Championships
(3-2, `Round of 12[apos]): Seeded 12th at nationals as a freshmen and went 3-2 to wrestle to his seed...finished just one win shy of All-America status...majored North Dakota State[apos]s Ryan Adams 11-2 in NCAA debut...fell to #5 seed and eventual national champion Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro 10-2...downed Boston[apos]s Michael Roberts (10-6) and Missouri[apos]s Joshua Wagner (10-6) in first two consolation bouts...upset by Indiana[apos]s Matt Coughlin in `Round of 12[apos].
2005-06:
Red-shirt season...went 5-5 in unattached action.
High School/Personal
Posted a career record of 134-9...78-0 through his junior and senior years in high school to win consecutive New Jersey state titles...posted a 39-0 record as a senior...ranked No. 2 in the nation at 140 pounds in both W.I.N. Magazine and Wrestling USA... finished third at National High School Coaches Association Senior Nationals...named captain of the All-State team twice...an accomplished freestyle wrestler. .. won 140-pound junior division state title in New Jersey...MAWA Eastern National Champion in 2002, 2003 and 2004...gold medalist at the AAU Disney Duals (2004).
| Career Statistics | |||||||
| YEAR | OVERALL | DUALS (B10) | TRN (B10/NCAA) | F | TF | M | Pts. |
| 2008-09 | 24-12 | 12-9 (3-5) | 12-3 (4-1/3-2) | 1-0 | 1-0 | 6-2 | 41 |
| 2007-08 | 32-3 | 17-1 (7-1) | 15-2 (3-1/5-1) | 1-0 | 0-0 | 9-0 | 56 |
| 2006-07 | 22-12 | 12-7 (5-3) | 10-5 (3-2/3-2) | 2-0 | 1-0 | 4-5 | 44 |
| 2005-06 | Red-Shirt Season | ||||||
| Career | 78-27 | 41-17 (15-9) | 37-10 (10-4/11-5) | 4-0 | 2-0 | 19-7 | 141 |