Penn State Wrestling News and Notes

The wrestling preseason is almost over as we've finally reached the intra-squad scrimmage tonight in Rec Hall. Next week I'll start with more regular updates breaking down the results and making predictions for upcoming dual meets. 

Last week Penn State held wrestling media day and there was quite a bit of news. First on the injury front it was announced Pataky has a sprained knee among other injuries and he'll be back soon but no timetable was given. Surprisingly it sounds like freshman Frank Martellotti will get the start at 125 in place of Pataky. 

Frank Molinaro is still recovering from his ankle injury and he could be ready as early as the season opener at Bloomsburg. 

In a previously unannounced injury Clay Steadman is again battling neck problems that have plagued him in the past. Apparently he hasn't wrestled yet this season, so I wouldn't expect to see him any time soon. Justin Ortega has moved from 174 up to 197 to compete for the spot. Currently his top competition is coming from true freshman Nick Ruggear. It seems as though Cael has reversed his stance some on the all true freshman will redshirt stance.

Also announced at media day one of the Altons will wrestle this year, currently it looks like that will be Dylan. This is becoming a very interesting situation as you have Lynch who is a returning starter who was talked into coming back for a fifth year by the coaching staff against one of the most anticipated recruits Penn State has had in awhile. 

At 133 true freshman (noticing a trend here?) Sam Sherlock appears to be completely recovered from a knee injury and will compete for the starting spot against returning starter Bryan Pearsall. 

Another surprise seems to be what is brewing at 165 many people, myself included thought Jake Kemerer was a lock for the spot but apparently the it's still wide open with a close competition between Jake, Nick Fischer and true freshman Dirk Cowburn. With Kemerer and Fischer wrestling at the scrimmage it looks like this might be one weight where the true freshman ends up redshirting. Although it's important to remember that Cael has mentioned before the scrimmage matches aren't necessarily wrestle offs. 

Preseason rankings are out and they're generally pretty favorable. I'm not a huge fan of preseason rankings in any sport but these do give some idea of how other people outside of Penn State see some of the young wrestlers that will be hitting the mat this year for Penn State. As team Penn State came in ranked 7th which puts them third in the Big Ten behind #4 Wisconsin and #5 Minnesota. Overall the Big Ten as usual looks incredibly strong with eight teams ranked in the top 20 #4 Wisconsin, #5 Minnesota, #7 Penn State, #8 Iowa, #11 Illinois, #13 Michigan, #16 Ohio State, #18 Northwestern.

Individually Penn State has quite a few ranked wrestlers. At 125 Pataky is currently unranked but that will change once he starts wrestling this year. He'll likely debut somewhere in the top ten.

At 141 Intermat currently has true freshman Andrew Alton ranked 13th that will likely change as he won't start the year, but if it's Dylan I would expect the ranking to stay about the same. I think if Lynch starts the year he'll likely be ranked around 20th.

At 149 Frank Molinaro starts the season ranked 3rd behind two returning National Champions, Darrion Caldwell won at 149 two years ago, and Kyle Dake who moves to 149 after winning the title as a true freshman at 141.

True Freshman David Taylor starts the season ranked 6th at 157. Notably former Nittany Lion starter Bubba Jenkins is ranked 3rd at 157.

Ed Ruth a redshirt freshman starts the year ranked 13th at 174.  

Quentin Wright returns from his redshirt year ranked 3rd at 184. 

At Heavyweight Cameron Wade starts the season ranked #9 it remains to be seen if this will finally be the year Wade lives up to his ranking, it hasn't happened yet. 

The matches for tonight's scrimmage are as follows:

125: A battle of two true freshman as Nate Morgan takes on Frank Martellotti. This should be an exciting match for the fans to see the future of the lightweights. But once Pataky is healthy this will be his spot to lose. 

133: This should be a match for the starting spot Bryan Pearsall who started most of the year last year, but struggled mightily, will look to win his job against Sam Sherlock who was a big time recruit. I predict Sherlock will ultimately win the spot here. 

141: One of the Altons will take on returning starter Adam Lynch. Lynch struggled badly to start the year, but then he really turned it on when the Big Ten schedule started. I really have no idea how this will turn out. I do think it will be Dylan Alton in the wrestle off and Andrew will likely redshirt. I know many expect the Altons to win this easily, but don't forget Lynch beat some really good wrestlers during his campaign last year. 

149: David Church takes on James English, for the right to back up Molinaro. Frank says he'll be ready for the first match but I wouldn't be surprised if Penn State holds off until at least Ohio State in mid December. I think English will win this match up he was a pretty good under the radar guy when he came to Penn State after having a great senior season. 

157: David Taylor will wrestle James Vollrath, in what will likely be the coronation of the arrival of the magic man. I have to say after all the hype it will be interesting to see how Taylor looks when finally stepping on to the mat for Penn State. 

165: As mentioned before this will be the match between Fischer and Kemmerer. While this one has apparently been hotly contested in the wrestling room, I still expect to see Kemmerer win the spot here after all is said and done. Don't forge this is the same kid who beat Valimont in wrestle offs last year. 

174: Ed Ruth will wrestle Mike Lorenzo, Lorenzo now a senior has come a long way but Ruth should still win this match fairly easily. Fans have been eagerly waiting to see Ruth step on the mat he could make a pretty big splash this year. I wouldn't be surprised to see Lorenzo move up to 97 and make a run at what is now a wide open weight class, even if he does have to go up two classes to do it. 

184 Quentin Wright returns after an exciting true freshman campaign that finished with All American honors Wright took a redshirt year last year. The sky is the limit for this kid, who could be a true national title contender despite moving up a weight this season. He'll take on freshman Andrew Church. 

197 This could be one of the weakest spots in the Penn State lineup with or without Clay Steadman. Luckily help is on the way next year. This should be an interesting match up Ortega moves up from 174 to take on true freshman and fellow Oxford PA native Nick Ruggear. I think Ruggear will end up winning the spot. 

Hwt Cameron Wade takes on freshman Jon Ginrich, it's Wade's spot to lose. I don't see Ginrich taking it from him but he should have a few fans in the stand being a local kid from Bald Eagle Area. 

Exhibition
Dirk Cowburn will take on fellow freshman Brandon Phillips. Cowburn still has an outside shot at winning the 165 pound weight class, but both will likely redshirt and see action in open tournaments this year.