Junior Jered Cortez could compete at 133 or move up to 141 pounds for Penn State after a promising season cut short by injury a year ago. Cortez has the podium in Cleveland as his goal as the 2017-18 campaign unfolds. The Illinois native wrestled at 133 a year ago before a first semester injury ended his season.
Parent: Robert and Nicole Cortez -- Major: Communications
Year-by-Year:
2016-17: Ranked #13 by InterMat before injury ended season...majored Army WPs Austin Harry in Penn State debut on 11/11...pinned Peter Russo of Stanford in Rec Hall dual debut on 11/13...Went 4-1 with three pins to place third in the Keystone Classic at Penn on 11/20.
2015-16: Intra-conference transfer rules meant that Cortez was not eligible to compete as a collegian...went a perfect 12-0 in open tournaments last season, with a pin and three tech falls...4-0 run to the Mat-Town Open title on 11/22...blazed his way to the Nittany Lion Open Championship on 12/6, including a 5-4 win over teammate and two-time All-American Jordan Conaway in the finals...4-0 at 141 to win the Messiah Open title on 2/6/16.
2014-15: Red-shirt season at Illinois, going 6-2 in open tournaments.
High School/Personal:
Won four straight Illinois state titles at four different weights (one of only 14 people in Illinois high school history to do so) for Glenbard North High School, claiming the 112, 120, 126 and 132 pound crowns...was the 2009 Cadet Freestyle National Champ, the 2013 Junior National Freestyle Champion, a four-time Fargo All-American, two-time FILA Cadet All-American and a 2013 ASICS first team All-American.
| Career Statistics | |||||||
| YEAR | OVERALL | DUALS (B10) | TRN (B10/NCAA) | F | TF | M | Pts. |
2014-15 Red Shirt Season (Illinois) 2015-16 Intra-conference transfer 2016-17 6-2 2-1 (0-0) 4-1 (0-0/0-0) 4-0 0-0 1-1 10
Career 6-2
2-1 (0-0)
4-1 (0-0/0-0)
4-0
0-0
1-1
10