Wrestling Update - 'Shadow Team' Division

by Pete the Streak on Nov 22, 2009 10:08 PM EST

While Penn State's official wrestling team is competing in the Sprawl & Brawl Duals today in Binghamton, NY. , yesterday saw a number of PSU's 'Shadow Team' take to the mats at the East Stroudsburg Open. I'm not sure what to call our wrestlers that are either redshirting, temporarily ineligible or not yet out of high school, so 'Shadow Team' it will be - at least until someone comes up with a better label. These are the guys we'll see competing next year (or in the case of the Alton twins, possibly 2 years - as they're still in high school, and may be redshirted next year as freshmen).

Let's look at a few weight classes to see what's in our future, shall we? (Links take you to bios or ranking pages).

141: High school senior and uber-recruit Andrew Alton (ranked #1 in the country at 145) had a decent day. If, of course, by 'decent' you mean going 4-0 and winning the whole thing. This isn't some pansy tourney for team leftovers, either: with over 400 wrestlers entered, there are plenty of top-flight collegians here, with excellent teams sending their starting line-ups. Andrew Alton worries not about that. Nice future for him, to say the least.

149: High school senior and uber-recruit (is there an echo in here?) Dylan Alton (ranked #1 at 152) merely went 5-1 to finish 3rd. These two kids are tough, motivated and mean. So mean, in fact, that Dylan ruined a great day by freshman James English, who went 6-2. Both his losses were to Alton.

157: Redshirt senior Bubba Jenkins led a nasty PSU group here, going 4-0 and taking the gold. Jenkins - a 2008 NCAA runner-up before injuries got him last year - edged last year's #1 national recruit and RS FR David Taylor in the finals. Taylor finished the day 4-1. To top it off, freshman Jim Vollrath ended his excellent day 5-1. This group should be fun in the practice room.

165: RS FR Jake Kemerer took the bronze after finishing 4-1. VERY tough kid - read the bio for his bona fides. Impressive.

184: Here's where things get crazy, as PSU swept all three places. Quentin Wright took the gold by beating last year's #3 ranked recruit and RS FR Ed Ruth in the finals. As a bonus, soph transfer (from Pitt - hehehe) David Crowell finished the day 5-1 to take the bronze and complete the sweep. Crowell won't be eligible until January due to his transfer status. He's one guy that appears to be thriving under Sanderson's tutelage. (Did I just type that word? 'Tutelage'? Sheesh - what a dork I am).

197: Lastly, RS FR Luke Macchiaroli had a solid day, going 3-2 against guys 3-4 years older. It's very difficult for freshmen to compete at these upper weights. Just don't bother telling Luke.

Remember - these are the guys that we most probably WON'T see in an official PSU singlet this year, because it's OBVIOUS they need more seasoning and maturity.

Yes, the future is bright.

BTW - Happy Valley Half Nelson has some videos up of our wonderboys in action. Go take a peek.

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Oops

At 184, I neglected to mention Champ Quentin Wright is a returning All-American as a frosh, and is redshirting his sophomore year. He definitely needs more work. (snark off).

He should be an absolute beast when he returns.

'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'

by Pete the Streak on Nov 22, 2009 5:25 PM EST reply actions

With those results we're going to be near unstoppable at 184.

by PSUisMyHeart on Nov 22, 2009 5:40 PM EST up reply actions

I like it when we don't lose

This is better.

"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."

by ReadingRambler on Nov 22, 2009 5:35 PM EST reply actions

What do we lose in?

Pete and I report on the good teams, is that what you’re saying RR?

by Jeff Junstrom on Nov 22, 2009 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

Well

There’s a reason PSU got rid of the old coach, right?

"I don't know. I don't know. [waves hand dismissively] First, you'd have to tell me what a 'BCS' is. I don't know."

by ReadingRambler on Nov 22, 2009 5:57 PM EST up reply actions

FWIW Shadow Team is good

by PSUisMyHeart on Nov 22, 2009 6:26 PM EST reply actions

Yeah- I’m trying to think of something better, but failing. The Nega-lions? The Penn State Smoke Monsters? Bizarro Nits?

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Nov 23, 2009 8:09 AM EST up reply actions

How bout

Shadow Company? I really like Shadow for what it conveys about our squad on the sideline, and think Team is the only upgrade needed. Wasn’t Shadow Company the one Murtaugh and Mr. Joshua were in in Lethal Weapon? Not sure if that adds or detracts from my lobby with the youngsters (mushbooger, sic), but for those of us who grew up in the eighties, Shadow Company sounded pretty bad ass.

And, wow! I had no idea about these tourneys that where collegians and high schoolers can compete in the same pool. Talk about invaluable experience! Keep em coming, Streak. Love your work!

"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69

by jtothep on Nov 23, 2009 9:14 AM EST up reply actions

Shadow Squadron has slight alliteration going for it, if we wanted to go that route.

I’m with jtot on the support tho. Between The Streak’s wresting updates and Junny’s vball, we’re really getting the full scope of things covered (and well) around here.

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Nov 23, 2009 4:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I like this, Shadow Squadron ftw

And don’t forget the Hockey!

by PSUisMyHeart on Nov 23, 2009 4:35 PM EST up reply actions

Oooh, I likey

Fun with alliteration. Maybe drop the ‘ron’, tho, and just go with Shadow Squad. Either works, I suppose.

Now, if we can only get that pajama party invite!

by jtothep on Nov 23, 2009 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

PJ party

I hope you’re talking about the vball team

"God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy"

by NJ lion on Nov 24, 2009 10:01 AM EST up reply actions

A joint gig

With the fencing team.

by jtothep on Nov 25, 2009 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

Now you're talking

“Honey, I’m meeting some old college friends up at PSU for the weekend. Which of these pajamas make me look cool and young again?”

"God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy"

by NJ lion on Nov 25, 2009 10:26 PM EST up reply actions

Shadow Team/Black Ops...whaveter you call them

them boys good!

by brd119 on Nov 23, 2009 8:29 AM EST reply actions

Front Page

Thanks for the update. I am guessing Lehigh is much improved this year. Looks like PA should be dominating the college ranks.

by cjj127 on Nov 23, 2009 8:30 AM EST reply actions

Lehigh is always tough,

but PSU is NOT going to be real strong this year, especially in dual meets; we have large holes in fully half the lineup. Yeah, some of those holes could be more than adequately filled with the guys we’re redshirting. But Sanderson isn’t rushing anything, is recruiting extremely well, and is imposing an entirely new mindset / attitude for both practice and competition. We’re still a couple years away from domination, but it WILL come.

I’ll get a post up very soon on the Official PSU team to outline exactly where we are, and where we’re heading.

'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'

by Pete the Streak on Nov 23, 2009 5:57 PM EST up reply actions

Obligatory:

‘holes could be more than adequately filled’ sounds…..absolutely not hot when discussing wrestlers.

Just pre-empting, kids.

'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'

by Pete the Streak on Nov 23, 2009 6:00 PM EST up reply actions

Delta Force

"Every player we have, someone-maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone-poured their soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world."

-J.V.Pa.

by psume06 on Nov 23, 2009 8:33 AM EST reply actions