Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling

Penn State Nittany Lions
University Pennsylvania State University
Head Coach Cael Sanderson (8th season)
Assistant Coach Casey Cunningham
Conference Big Ten
Location University Park, PA
Arena Lorenzo Wrestling Complex at Rec Hall
(Capacity: 7,000)
Nickname Nittany Lions
Colors Blue and White[1]
         
Fight song Fight On, State
Team national championships
1921, 1953, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
NCAA individual national championships
1935, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1984, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
NCAA individual champions
41 (by 29 athletes)
All-Americans
214
Conference championships
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016

The Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling team is a NCAA Division I Wrestling team competing as members of the Big Ten Conference.

Coached by Olympic Champion Cael Sanderson (Athens, 2004), the Nittany Lions have maintained status as a top wrestling program. Penn State held a four-time NCAA team championship winning streak from 2011-2014. Ed Ruth & David Tayor concluded their collegiate careers in March 2014. Ruth finished third as a freshman and then was a three time National Champion. Taylor was a two-time National Champion, finished as runner-up twice, and four-time All-American.

The Nittany Lions have captured three more consecutive championships in 2016, 2017 & 2018, bringing the Nittany Lions to a total of eight NCAA team National Championships. The 2015-2016 Penn State team includes such talented wrestlers as Nico Megaludis, Zain Retherford, Jason Nolf, Bo Nickal, and Morgan McIntosh.

Zain Retherford won his last 94 consecutive matches over his last three seasons, including three championships. Retherford and Megaludis won individual titles in 2016, as Penn State captured its 6th team championship. Both the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 squads had five wrestlers reach their individual championship match: Retherford (149), Nolf (157), Vincenzo Joseph (165), Mark Hall (174), and Bo Nickal (185). In 2017, all five won their matches, becoming the fourth team to accomplish that feat. All five returned to their championship mats in 2018, and all but Hall repeated as individual champions, helping Penn State secure their 7th and 8th team championships. The 2018 squad featured 8 All-Americans, bringing their all-time total up to 214. They have gone undefeated over the last three seasons in dual meets, riding a 45 meet winning streak into the 2018-2019 season.

History

Penn State wrestling program was established in 1909 and was declared national dual meet champion in 1921.[2] [3] In 1925 Penn State won all seven team duals in which they competed, finishing the dual meet season undefeated.[4] Charlie Spiedel coached the team from 1927–1964, taking a four-year break during World War II to serve his country. He is credited with laying the groundwork for the Nittany Lion wrestling standard of excellence, and he guided the team to the 1953 national title.[5]

National championships

Team championships

In 1921, Penn State was declared the National Dual Team champion after defeating Indiana University & Iowa State. [5] Penn State has won eight NCAA national championships as a team (1953, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018).[6][7]


YearCoachNCAA Meet PointsDuals Record (W-L-T)
1921William E. LewisN/A6-1
1953Charlie Speidel219-0
2011Cael Sanderson107.517-1-1
2012Cael Sanderson143.013-1
2013Cael Sanderson123.513-1
2014Cael Sanderson109.515-1
2016Cael Sanderson123.016-0
2017Cael Sanderson146.514-0
2018Cael Sanderson141.514-0

Individual Championships

Winners (41)

YearNCAA ChampionWeight Class
1935Howard Johnston165 lbs
1952Joe Lemyre167 lbs
1953Hud Samson191 lbs
1955Larry Fornicola137 lbs
1955Bill OberlyHeavyweight
1957Jon Johnston130 lbs
1971Andy Matter167 lbs
1972Andy Matter167 lbs
1975John Fritz126 lbs
1984Carl Destefanis118 lbs
1984Scott Lynch134 lbs
1988Jim Martin126 lbs
1991Jeff Prescott118 lbs
1992Jeff Prescott118 lbs
1994Kerry McCoy275 lbs
1995John Hughes142 lbs
1996Sanshire Abe126 lbs
1997Kerry McCoy275 lbs
1999Glen Pritzlaff174 lbs
2000Jeremy Hunter125 lbs
2008Phil Davis197 lbs
2011Quentin Wright184 lbs
2012Frank Molinaro149 lbs
2012David Taylor165 lbs
2012Ed Ruth174 lbs
2013Ed Ruth184 lbs
2013Quentin Wright197 lbs
2014David Taylor165 lbs
2014Ed Ruth184 lbs
2015Matt Brown174 lbs
2016Nico Megaludis125 lbs
2016Zain Retherford149 lbs
2017Zain Retherford149 lbs
2017Jason Nolf157 lbs
2017Vincenzo Joseph165 lbs
2017Mark Hall174 lbs
2017Bo Nickal184 lbs
2018Zain Retherford149 lbs
2018Jason Nolf157 lbs
2018Vincenzo Joseph165 lbs
2018Bo Nickal184 lbs

Penn State Wrestlers have reached their individual championship match 69 times, going 41-28 in those title bouts. The following table counts the achievements of Nittany Lion wrestlers by name as opposed to year.

WrestlerNCAA ChampionshipsNCAA Runners-upOutstanding Wrestler
Ed Ruth30
Zain Retherford30Hodge Award 2017 & 2018
Vincenzo Joseph20
Andy Matter20
Kerry McCoy20Hodge Award 1997
Bo Nickal21
Jason Nolf21
Jeff Prescott20
David Taylor22Hodge Award 2012 & 2014
Quentin Wright21
Nico Megaludis12
Frank Molinaro11
Phil Davis11
Jeremy Hunter11
Sanshire Abe11
John Hughes11
Jim Martin11
Matt Brown11
Glen Pritzlaff10
Scott Lynch10
Carl Destefanis10
John Fritz10
Jon Johnston10
Bill Oberly10
Larry Fornicola10
Hud Samson10
Joe Lemyre10
Howard Johnston10
Mark Hall11
Troy Sunderland02
Josh Moore01
Clint Musser01
Pat Cummins01
Aaron Anspach01
Bubba Jenkins01
Dan Vallimont01
Greg Haladay01
Cary Kolat01
Dan Mayo01
Greg Elinsky01
Morgan McIntosh01
TOTALS41285 Hodge Awards

Olympics and post-graduate careers

Penn State wrestlers have gone on to have success beyond their NCAA achievements. Wrestlers have had career success in the Olympics and in professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

YearWrestlerCompetitionNotable Achievements
1924Katsutoshi NaitoOlympicsBronze Medal
1988Ken ChertowOlympics
1996Sanshiro AbeOlympics
2000, 2004Patrick Cummins (fighter)UFCtwo-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler and 2004 runner-up
2000, 2004Kerry McCoyOlympics
2009–presentPhil DavisBellator12-2 record UFC Light Heavyweight.
2016Frank MolinaroOlympicsT-5th place

Coaching

Current coaching staff

Position[8]Name
Head CoachCael Sanderson
Associate Head CoachCody Sanderson
Head Assistant CoachCasey Cunningham
Assistant CoachJake Varner
Director of OperationsAdam Lynch

Head coach history

YearsName
1927–1942, 1947–1964Charlie Spiedel
1965–1978Bill Koll
1979–1992Rich Lorenzo
1993–1998John Fritz
1999–2009Troy Sunderland
2010–presentCael Sanderson

Roster

2014-15 Roster [9]

NameWt. ClassClassHometown/High School
Andrew Alton149SRMill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain
Dylan Alton157SRMill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain
Zack Beitz141SOMifflintown, Pa./Juniata
Brian Brill165SOState College, Pa./Central Mountain
Matt Brown174SRWest Valley City, Utah/Cyprus
George Carpenter125FRChapel Hill, N.C./Carrboro
Anthony Cassar197FRRocky Hill, N.J./Montgomery
Jordan Conaway125/133JRAbbottstown, Pa./New Oxford
Dylan Dailey174/184JRDanville, Pa./Danville
James Frascella174JRCarmel, Ind./Carmel
Luke Frey149JRMontoursville, Pa./Montoursville
Jon Gingrich285SRWingate, Pa./Bald Eagle Area
Jimmy Gulibon133SOLatrobe, Pa./Derry Area
Garett Hammond157/165RS FRChambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg
Cody Law157/165RS FRWindber, Pa./Forest Hills
Jimmy Lawson285SRToms River, N.J./Manchester Township
Caleb Livingston165/174SODrexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby
Rex Lutz165JREaston, Pa./Penn Argyl
Matt McCutcheon184/197RS FRApollo, Pa./Kiski Area
Morgan McIntosh197JRSanta Ana, Calif./Calvary Chapel
Nico Megaludis125SRMurrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional
Kade Moss141/149RS FRSouth Jordan, Utah/Bingham
Nick NevillsHWTFRClovis, Calif./Clovis
Bo Nickal174/184FRAllen, Texas/Allen
Jason Nolf149/157FRYatesboro, Pa./Kittanning
Jordan Pagano174FROradell, N.J./Bergen Catholic
Wes Phipps174/184SOGrove City, Pa./Grove City
Shakur Rasheed165FRCoram, N.Y./Longwood
Zain Retherford141SOBenton, Pa./Benton
Josh Rogers197JRPottstown, Pa./St. Pius X/Valley Forge MA
Nick Ruggear285SROxford, Pa./Oxford
Devon Van Cura174/184FRWashington, N.C./Washington
Michael Waters133/141JRAdvance, N.C./Davie
Nicholas Weldon184FRBirmingham, Ala./Clay-Chalkville
Kenneth Yanovich125FREffort, Pa./Pleasant Valley

Facilities

Penn State has high quality wrestling facilities. A wrestling room is equipped with equipment and gear. Nittany Lion wrestlers may take advantage of spacious strength training facilities, a practice room, athletic medical facilities and academic support centers housed in the venerable fieldhouse to maximize their talents. The Lorenzo Wrestling Complex - widely considered among the best in the nation - gives Penn State athletes a world-class facility for training. Recently renovated and expanded, the facility encompasses over 24,000 square feet, including the practice room, weight room, locker room and support space. The recent renovation more than doubled the size of the former wrestling room. When hosting home dual meets, mats are set in the gym. Penn State has committed over $145 million to Nittany Lions athletic facilities.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Penn State Artwork (PDF). November 6, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Indiana University Alumni Quarterly". IX. Indiana University Alumni Association. 1922: 210. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  3. ↑ The Penn State Wrestling Club (2008). A Century of Penn State Wrestling. pp. 18–21. ISBN 978-0-615-19200-0.
  4. ↑ http://www.wrestlingstats.com/pennstate/home.php
  5. 1 2 Palmer, Mark (June 3, 2008). "Intermat Rewind: 1953 Penn State". Intermat. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  6. ↑ "National Championships". Penn State University. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  7. ↑ "Penn State Wrestling History and Records". Penn State Wrestling Club. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Coaches". Penn State University. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Official Wrestling Roster". Penn State University. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Lorenzo Wrestling Complex". Penn State University. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.