NCAA QUALIFIER
Senior Andrew Alton heads into his final year after missing nearly all of 2013-14 with a shoulder injury. Alton, with 32 career pins to his name, has been one of the NCAAs most potent pinners during a career hampered by injuries. Alton is a two-time NCAA qualifier, having advanced as far as the All-America round as a freshman in 2010-11. Parents: Neil and Donna Alton -- Major: Recreation, Park and Tourism Management
Lion Career
2013-14:
Made season debut in late-December coming back from off-season surgery with 3-0 showing at Wilkes Open on 12/28 with a tech fall and a pin...made season dual debut with 7-6 win over Purdue[apos]s Brandon Nelsen on 1/12...went 3-0 at Hitchcock Open on 1/19, including a tech fall and a pin...downed MSU[apos]s Nick Trimble 9-5 for second Big Ten dual win of the year on 1/31...season cut short by a shoulder injury.
2012-13:
Went 6-0 with five pins and a major to win NLO on 12/2 in first action of year, including four first-period pins...returned to dual action on 12/9 by pinning Indiana[apos]s Geno Capezio (0:52), his sixth pin in his first seven bouts of the year....went 5-0 with three pins, a tech and a major to win F&M Open on 1/5...went 4-0 (plus one win over NC) on 1/20 to win Hitchcock Open in Millersville...18-8 major over Iowa[apos]s Brody Grothus in CHA on 2/1.
Big Ten Championships (4-2, 4th, NCAA Qualifier): Nice run at 2013 Big Ten Championships, going 4-1 to place fourth, qualify for NCAAs and help Penn State to its third straight Big Ten crown...downed Iowa[apos]s Josh Dziewa 3-2...lost 10-6 to #11 Jake Sueflohn of Nebraska...pinned Northwestern[apos]s Dylan Marriott in a Big Ten tournament record 0:16...beat #7 Eric Grajales of Michigan 14-8...downed Michigan State[apos]s Dan Osterman 13-4...pinned by #10 Ivan Loupochanski of Purdue.
NCAA Championships (1-2, DNP): Posted 1-2 mark at 2013 NCAA Championship, getting key pin in Penn State[apos]s run to the NCAA team title...lost 4-1 to Missouri[apos]s Drake Houdashelt...pinned Daniel Young of Army (2:05)...lost to #12 Eric Grajales of Michigan 8-1.
2011-12:
Red-shirt season, went 9-1 with three majors and two pins as an unattached grappler.
2010-11:
Andrew is the twin brother of Dylan, who is red-shirting this year...auspicious collegiate debut on 11/12, pinning Bloomsburg[apos]s Derek Shingara in just :54...followed that up with pin of Lehigh[apos]s Stephen Dutton in 1:21 on 11/14...went 3-0 at Sprawl and Brawl Duals on 11/21, including two pins (one in just :21)...won his first four collegiate bouts as a true freshman by falls, all in the first period, in a combined time of 3:57...beat Rutgers[apos] fifth-year senior 7-4 on 11/21 in first collegiate dual win not by fall...went 6-0 with five pins to win the Nittany Lion Open 141-pound title on 12/5...won title by pinning #20 Zack Kemerer of Penn in just :39 in the finals...majored LHU[apos]s Justin Loudon 13-4 on 12/12...made Big Ten dual debut a quick one, pinning Ohio State[apos]s Randy Languis in just :31 on 12/19...Went 6-1 with three pins and a major at Southern Scuffle on 12/29-30...started season 17-0 with 13 pins before suffering first loss of season with a last second takedown by #1 Kellen Russell of Michigan in Scuffle semis, rebounded for two more wins to take third...went 3-1 at Virginia Duals with two pins and a major, only loss another close battle w/ #1 Kellen Russell of Michigan (this one a 2-1 decision on riding time)...dominated #7 Tyler Nauman of Pitt 7-4 with riding time on 1/21 and pinned Geno Capezio of Indiana on 1/23...lost hard-fought 3-1 (tb) decision to #1 Kellen Russell at Michigan on 2/6...lost tough 5-3 dec. to #4 Jimmy Kennedy on 2/11...lost close 4-1 decision to #2 Mike Thorn of Minnesota on 2/13...pinned UW[apos]s Shane McQuade (3:52) on 2/16 for 17th pin of the year.
Big Ten Championships (2-2, 5th, NCAA Qualifier): Posted a 2-2 mark with a tech fall to take fifth at Big Tens as the No. 5 seed...beat Purdue[apos]s Jake Fleckenstein 17-2 and Northwestern[apos]s Kaleb Friedley 6-4.
NCAA Championships
(2-2, `round of 12[apos]): Went 2-2 with a pin and a major at first NCAA tournament, finishing just one win shy of All-America status in the `round of 12[apos]...pinned Binghamton[apos]s Anwar Goeres in NCAA tournament debut...also majored 11th-seed Michael Mariarcher of American...lost tough 2-0 decision to third-seeded Boris Novochkov of Cal Poly and before suffering 5-4 upset loss to Penn[apos]s Zach Kemerer in `round of 12[apos]
High School/Personal
Andrew Alton was ranked No. 1 at 145 by Intermat and was the No. 2 ranked overall recruit in the country (at any weight). Andrew is coming off a 145 pound title at last year[apos]s PIAA championships, going 45-0. As a junior, he went 46-0 overall, winning the 140 pound title as well. Andrew went 47-1 at 140 as a sophomore, taking third at PIAAs, and was 40-7 as a high school freshman at 130 (also placing third at states). He when 178-8 over his career at Central Mountain High School in neighboring Clinton County. The Mill Hall native is also an outstanding freestyle wrestler, having won two (2008 and 2009) Junior National Championships. He took third at the FILA Junior Nationals in 2009, won the 2008 Super 32 Challenge and took second place at the 2008 Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman. Andrew is the son of Neil and Donna Alton of Mill Hall, Pa., and the twin brother of fellow signee Dylan.
| Career Statistics | |||||||
| YEAR | OVERALL | DUALS (B10) | TRN (B10/NCAA) | F | TF | M | Pts. |
2010-11 30-10 14-5(4-4) 16-5 (2-2/2-2) 18-0 1-0 4-0 74 2011-12 Red-shirt season 2012-13 27-6 7-2(3-2) 20-4 (4-2/1-2) 12-2 2-0 6-0 26 2013-14 8-1 2-1(2-1) 6-0 (0-0/0-0) 2-1 2-0 0-0 6 Career 65-17 23-8 (9-7) 42-9 (6-4/3-4) 32-3 5-0 10-0 106