http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org Penn State Wrestling News en-us webmaster@pennstatewrestlingclub.org (Penn State Wrestling Club) webmaster@pennstatewrestlingclub.org (Penn State Wrestling Club) http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=792 <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>A Letter From Casey Cunningham - July 30, 2010</strong></div><div><br></div><div>Penn State Wrestling Fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div> </div><div><p>It has been since early June that I sent out my last update so I hope everybody has had and is having a great summer. We have had another busy summer with wrestling camps and recruiting so that is why I have been delayed on updating on what is going on around here. </p><p>We had another successful camp season here at Penn State and around different areas in the country. We came in contact with over 1000 kids this summer through Penn State and the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club camps. Hopefully the kids we came in contact with took something away that they will be able to use in wrestling and in life. The majority of the upper classmen on our team worked our camps and worked out for most of the summer. In the summer we are not allowed to have mandatory practices or lifts so the guys put it upon themselves to be here and work hard. We also have a large group of our incoming class here in State College going to summer school and working out as well. It has been a successful summer in that regard.</p></div><div>We are a little over 3 short weeks away from starting up classes again for the fall semester and before you know it wrestling season will be upon us. We are very excited about our home schedule and our relatively young team and their goals for the upcoming season. We know we have a ways to go but as long as the fighting attitude is there our guys will be ready when they step on the mat in November and ultimately in March.</div><div>We look forward to some exciting events this fall and to seeing everybody come out and spur us onto our ultimate goal of winning NCAA Titles. </div><div><p>I will try to keep everyone updated more regularly now that we are through the busy summer months and are now gearing up to get started in the Fall.</p></div><div>In NLWC news Les Sigman made the World Team and will be headed out on August 30 for Germany and then onto Russia for the World Championship in Moscow. He has had a great summer of training and is looking forward to winning a World Title in September.</div><div>In other news Marty Strayer of the Courtyard Hounds spent a little over a week here wrestling, running, and lifting as he was getting ready to go on tour for the next 6 months with his band. We enjoyed having him and he is a perfect example to our guys of where hard work and perseverance can take you. </div><p>I look forward to catching up with many of you soon.</p><div>Thanks for the support,</div><div> </div><div>GO LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:57:22 GMT http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=792 http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=791 <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hotel Information for 2011 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, PA</strong> </p><div><p>July 28, 2010</p></div><div><br></div><div>Hello Penn State Wrestling Club Members,</div><div><br></div><div>The Penn State Wrestling Club has secured blocks of rooms at two different hotels for the 2010-2011 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia. If you plan to take advantage of these hotel rooms, we encourage you to make your reservations as soon as possible. In addition to the rooms, we will have bus transportation available to take us to eating establishments between sessions. Below is listed a description of the two hotels. Depending on your budget and interests other than the wrestling, both hotels have their advantages.</div><div><br></div><div>The Hilton Garden Inn Philadelphia Center City is located at 1100 Arch Street in Philadelphia. It is in the historic district of Philadelphia conveniently located to many shops and restaurants. In addition it is a short walk to the subway system to take you directly to and from the Wachovia Center for the wrestling. The cost of the rooms is $149.00 plus tax per night. To make your reservations please use the hotel's web page that was made for the Penn State Wrestling Club. There is a limit of three rooms per Club membership. The web page address is : <a href="http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/groups/personalized/PHLGIGI-PSW-20110316/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG" target="_blank" title="">http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/groups/personalized/PHLGIGI-PSW-20110316/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG</a></div><div><br></div><div>The Comfort Inn Philadelphia Airport is located at 53 Industrial Highway, Essington, PA 19029. It is a ten to fifteen minute drive on Interstate 95 to the Wachovia Center. The Penn State Wrestling Club bus will transport those staying at the Comfort Inn to the wrestling daily. In addition, the bus will transport Club members to local eating establishments in Philadelphia</div><div>between sessions. The cost of the rooms is $72.00 plus tax per night. Call 610-521-9800 for reservations and mention Penn State Wrestling Boosters Club.</div><div><br></div><div>There is no need to sign up for bus transportation until September or October. We will notify you via the Update as well as on the web site: <a href="http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org" target="_blank" title="">http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org</a> of all club trips at that time. However, I encourage you to make your hotel reservation for the NCAA Championships at this time. If being in Center City with the variety of restaurants and attractions is important to you, I encourage you to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn. If you are on a tighter budget and just want a good night's sleep after the evening wrestling sessions, I would recommend the Comfort Inn.</div><div><br></div><div>If you have questions please feel free to e-mail me at: <a href="mailto: niebel@verizon.net" target="_blank" title="">niebel@verizon.net</a>.</div><div><br></div><div>Sandy and I look forward to another year of coordinating Penn State Wrestling Club trips.</div><div><br></div><div>Joe Niebel</div><div>PSWC Vice President</div> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:37:21 GMT http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=791 http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=790 <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Undefeated Phil Davis confirms UFC 117 bout with Rodney Wallace</strong></div><div><br></div><div>by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jul 23, 2010 at 12:30 pm ET</div><div>http://mmajunkie.com/news/20030/undefeated-phil-davis-confirms-ufc-117-bout-with-rodney-wallace.mma</div><div><br></div><div>As expected Phil Davis (6-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has replaced injured light heavyweight Stanislav Nedkov (11-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and now meets Rodney Wallace (9-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) at next month's UFC 117 event. </div><div><br></div><div>MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) passed along news of the bout on Thursday. </div><div><br></div><div>Davis since has confirmed the fight via a Twitter message, one in which he predicts he'll move to 7-0. </div><div><br></div><div>UFC 117 takes place Aug. 7 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., and the night's main card airs on pay-per-view. However, the Davis vs. Wallace bout is slated for the un-aired preliminary card. </div><div><br></div><div>UFC officials have not officially announced the change, though Nedkov vs. Wallace was removed from the official fight card. </div><div><br></div><div>Davis, an NCAA Division I national wrestling champ at Penn State, is 2-0 since signing with the UFC and debuting earlier this year. After topping former WEC champ Brian Stann at UFC 109, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt then submitted Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 112 to move to 6-0 overall. </div><div><br></div><div>Another win from Davis likely will send his opponent packing from the UFC. Although he entered the UFC with a remarkable 9-0 record, Wallace, a three-time state high-school wrestling champion, since has posted back-to-back decision losses to Stann and Jared Hamman. However, that action-packed and crowd-pleasing fight with Hamann at UFC 111, which all three judges scored 29-28 in Hamman's favor, earned both fighters $65,000 "Fight of the Night" bonuses and earned Wallace a third UFC fight. </div><div><br></div><div>The latest UFC 117 card now includes: </div><div><br></div><div>MAIN CARD</div><div><br></div><div>Champ Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen (for middleweight title)</div><div>Thiago Alves vs. Jon Fitch</div><div>Rafael dos Anjos vs. Clay Guida</div><div>Ricardo Almeida vs. Matt Hughes</div><div>Junior Dos Santos vs. Roy Nelson</div><div><br></div><div>PRELIMINARY CARD</div><div>Tim Boetsch vs. Thiago Silva</div><div>Dustin Hazelett vs. Rick Story</div><div>Christian Morecraft vs. Stefan Struve</div><div>Charlie Brenneman vs. Johny Hendricks</div><div>Dennis Hallman vs. Ben Saunders</div><div>Phil Davis vs. Rodney Wallace*</div><div>* - Not officially announced</div><div><br></div><div>For more on UFC 117, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com. </div> Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:05:15 GMT http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=790 http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=786 <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>PSU wrestling schedule: Lions staying closer to home</strong></div><div><br></div><div>By: Guy Cipriano</div><div>Centre Daily Times</div><div>June 23, 2010 11:39am EDT</div><div><br></div><div>Penn State doesn't need to leave Pennsylvania to begin or end its 2010-11 wrestling season. The Nittany Lions aren't leaving the state for their marquee match, either.</div><div><br></div><div>The program's second schedule under coach Cael Sanderson announced Tuesday is a stark contrast to the one the program constructed in 2009-10.</div><div><br></div><div>The Nittany Lions are wrestling 10 times in Pennsylvania. That total includes seven dual meets at Rec Hall. Penn State wrestled just five home matches during Sanderson's first season.</div><div><br></div><div>The upcoming season begins Nov. 12 at Bloomsburg. It ends March 19 with the conclusion of the three-day NCAA Championships in Philadelphia.</div><div><br></div><div>"First, we made sure we had a schedule that challenged us and got us to where we needed to be in March," Sanderson said between youth camp sessions Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Penn State hosts Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin</div><div><br></div><div>"Getting more home duals was also real important. That's part of building a fan base. We need to have matches in State College."</div><div><br></div><div>The fan base should swell to impressive levels on Jan. 30 when Iowa visits Rec Hall. The Hawkeyes captured their third straight NCAA title this past season.</div><div><br></div><div>Penn State averaged 4,341 fans per home meet during 2009-10 despite a lackluster schedule. The Nittany Lions are primed to increase their average crowd because rival Lehigh (Nov. 14) and Ohio State (Dec. 19) join Iowa on the home schedule.</div><div><br></div><div>Sanderson said there have been discussions about moving a match to the Bryce Jordan Center. But for at least one more year, Penn State will wrestle its entire home schedule at Rec Hall.</div><div><br></div><div>"We like Rec Hall," Sanderson said. "We like the history and it's a great atmosphere. We get to use our own locker room. It feels like home to us. If we would move to the Bryce Jordan Center, we might get more fans, but it's not the same as staying in Rec Hall."</div><div><br></div><div>Penn State's home schedule also includes the annual Nittany Lion Open (Dec. 5) and duals against Lock Haven (Dec. 12), Pitt (Jan. 21), Illinois (Feb. 11) and Wisconsin (Feb. 18). Besides Blooms-burg, the Nittany Lions are wrestling Indiana (Jan. 23), Michigan State (Feb. 4), Michigan (Feb. 6) and Minnesota (Feb. 13) on the road. The Big Ten Championships are March 5-6 at Purdue.</div><div><br></div><div>Sanderson said the Nittany Lions received an invitation to the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals. Penn State is bypassing the prestigious event to return to the Virginia Duals.</div><div><br></div><div>"We feel like the Virginia Duals are something we need," Sanderson said. "We had the opportunity to see Oklahoma and Oklahoma State there last year and it could be our only chance to see those guys this year. We debated back and forth which tournament we should go to."</div><div><br></div><div>The Nittany Lions are returning to November's Sprawl and Brawl Duals in Vestal, N.Y., for a second straight year. They replaced the Reno Tournament of Champions with the Southern Scuffle in Greensboro, N.C., as their holiday tournament.</div><div><br></div><div>"We want to stay as close to home as often as we can," Sanderson said. "But that's not easy to get the competition we need. Traveling out of State College is not easy and we travel quite a bit in the Big Ten. It's good to get opportunities to wrestle nearby and stay rested."</div> Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:09:16 GMT http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=786 http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=785 <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Penn State Wrestling Announces 2010-11 Schedule</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div>By: Pat Donghia</div><div><br></div><div>June 22, 2010</div><div><br></div><div>UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson has announced the team's 2010-11 schedule and Nittany Lion fans will be treated to an exciting home schedule featuring seven duals in Rec Hall. The season, Sanderson's second as head coach at Penn State, culminates with the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pa.</div><div><br></div><div>The 2010-11 season opens up on Friday, Nov. 12, with a short trip to Bloomsburg. The Nittany Lions will battle the Huskies at 7 p.m. Lehigh then invades Rec Hall on Sunday, Nov. 14, for the home opener set to start at 2 p.m. Penn State will close out November with a trip to the Sprawl and Brawl Duals in Binghamton, N.Y., on Sunday, Nov. 21. Penn State's foes in Binghamton will be set later this summer.</div><div><br></div><div>December begins with an eighth chance for fans to catch Penn State in Rec Hall as the squad takes part in the Nittany Lion Open on Dec. 5. Lock Haven visits Happy Valley on Sunday, Dec. 12, for a 2 p.m. dual before the Nittany Lions begin conference action. A revamped Big Ten schedule has conference teams opening up dual meet action in December and for Sanderson's Lions that means a home date with the Ohio State Buckeyes on Dec. 19, at 2 p.m. Penn State will then head to Greensboro, N.C., for the Southern Scuffle, a team-scored tournament on Dec. 29-30.</div><div><br></div><div>The new year begins with a return trip to the Virginia Duals in Hampton, Va. The dual meet tournament will take place on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 7-8, with the full 16-team field to be finalized later this summer. Penn State will then close out the non-conference portion of its schedule at home against Pittsburgh on Friday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. The Big Ten dual season continues in earnest two days later as Penn State heads to Indiana for a 1 p.m. dual on Sunday, Jan. 23, in Bloomington, Ind. The Iowa Hawkeyes trek to Rec Hall a week later as Penn State hosts Iowa in Rec Hall at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 30.</div><div><br></div><div>February begins with a two-dual road swing through Michigan. The Nittany Lions will take on Michigan State in East Lansing on Friday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m., and then visit Michigan for a 2 p.m. match-up on Sunday, Feb. 6. Penn State then hosts Illinois on Friday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall which is followed by a quick trip to Minnesota on Sunday, Feb. 13, for a 3 p.m. dual against the Gophers in Minneapolis. Sanderson's squad closes out the regular season by hosting Wisconsin on Friday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall.</div><div>March's tournament season begins with the 2011 Big Ten Wrestling Championships hosted by Purdue. The two-day event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, March 5-6, in West Lafayette, Ind. The season concludes with the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia, Pa. The three-day championship will take place in the Wachovia Center on Thursday through Saturday, March 17-19.</div><div><br></div><div>"We are happy to announce that we have seven home matches next season as well as the Nittany Lion Open in Rec Hall," Sanderson said. "This schedule will help prepare us for Nationals in Philadelphia."</div><div><br></div><div>All dates and times are as of June 22, 2010, and are subject to change. Season ticket prices for 2010-11 have been set at $42 for adults and $28 for youth (18 and under). Renewal applications for current season ticket holders will be available on or before October 1. Fans can place new orders for season tickets by calling Joel Diamond at 814-867-2557. A $5 per order handling fee will be added to any new orders. Reserved seat locations will be assigned and Nittany Lion Club members will be assigned best available seats according to their active membership and point level. Following fulfillment of all Nittany Lion Club season ticket requests, seats will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. New ticket orders will be fulfilled and mailed by November 1, 2010. Season tickets do not include the Nittany Lion Open.</div><div><br></div><div>Penn State Wrestling 2010-2011 Schedule</div><div>(as of June 22, 2010 -- SUBJECT TO CHANGE -- All times Eastern)</div><div><br></div><div>Fri. -- Nov. 12 -- at Bloomsburg -- 7 p.m. -- Bloomsburg, Pa. </div><div>Sun. -- Nov. 14 -- LEHIGH -- 2 p.m. -- Rec Hall </div><div>Sun. -- Nov. 21<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>-- at Sprawl and Brawl Duals -- TBA -- Binghamton, N.Y. </div><div>(opponents TBA) </div><div>Sun. -- Dec. 5 -- Nittany Lion Open -- 8:30 a.m. -- Rec Hall </div><div>Sun. -- Dec. 12 -- LOCK HAVEN -- 2 p.m. -- Rec Hall </div><div>Sun. -- Dec. 19 -- *OHIO STATE -- 2 p.m. -- Rec Hall </div><div>Wed.-Thur. -- Dec. 29-30 -- at Southern Scuffle -- TBA -- Greensboro, N.C. </div><div>Fri.-Sat. -- Jan. 7-8 -- at Virginia Duals -- TBA -- Hampton, Va. </div><div>(field TBA) </div><div>Fri. -- Jan. 21 -- PITTSBURGH -- 7 p.m. -- Rec Hall </div><div>Sun. -- Jan. 23 -- *at Indiana -- 1 p.m. -- Bloomington, Ind. </div><div>Sun. -- Jan. 30 -- *IOWA -- 2 p.m. -- Rec Hall </div><div>Fri. -- Feb. 4 -- *at Michigan State -- 7 p.m. -- East Lansing, Mich. </div><div>Sun. -- Feb. 6 -- *at Michigan -- 2 p.m. -- Ann Arbor, Mich. </div><div>Fri. -- Feb. 11 -- *ILLINOIS -- 7 p.m. -- Rec Hall </div><div>Sun. -- Feb. 13 -- *at Minnesota -- 3 p.m. -- Minneapolis, Minn. </div><div>Fri. -- Feb. 18<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>*WISCONSIN -- 7 p.m. -- Rec Hall </div><div><br></div><div>Sat.-Sun. -- March 5-6 -- 2011 Big Ten Championships at Purdue -- West Lafayette, Ind. </div><div><br></div><div>Thur.-Sat. -- March 17-19 -- 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships -- Philadelphia, Pa. </div><div><br></div><div>* Indicates Big Ten dual meet -- Home duals in CAPS</div> Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:06:59 GMT http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=785 http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=784 <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Overseeing the future of wrestling</strong></div><div><br></div><div>By: Guy Cipriano</div><div>Centre Daily Times</div><div><br></div><div>UNIVERSITY PARK - With top-40 music playing from the speakers and clocks counting down from 48 minutes, the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex brims with activity nearly two months after Penn State finished its official season.</div><div><br></div><div>In one corner, an Olympic gold medalist and emerging heavyweight struggle moving each other. In an adjacent circle, a two-time NCAA champion pushes around a sophomore hoping to reach similar heights.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other side of the complex, another former NCAA champ trains with a teenager whose life revolves around wrestling. Behind the glass walls separating the wrestling mats and weight room, a man with big hopes for the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club's newest endeavor and freestyle wrestling at Penn State watches a rehabbing heavyweight.</div><div><br></div><div>This mid-May afternoon provides a glimpse into a joke that started last fall when a competitor spotted heavyweight Les Sigman wearing NLWC gear at a major freestyle tournament. The competitor asked Sigman what the letters meant.</div><div>"It's the future of wrestling," Sigman responded.</div><div><br></div><div>Bold words, indeed. But it's difficult convincing the men involved in last month's practice and those overseeing the development of the NLWC's senior-level resident program otherwise.</div><div><br></div><div>Cael Sanderson's arrival as Penn State's head coach last spring is producing major changes to freestyle wrestling in Centre County. The NLWC has expanded to include five senior athletes: Sigman, Jake Varner, Aaron Anspach, Teyon Ware and Nick Fanthorpe. USA Wrestling recently designated State College as one of its regional Olympic training centers.</div><div><br></div><div>The NLWC is different than other major freestyle clubs such as Sunkist, New York Athletic or Gator because its senior athletes live and train at the club's epicenter. Anspach also coaches the NLWC's youth club. Sigman, Varner, Ware and Fanthorpe, who all attended Midwestern colleges, receive stipends to live and train here. The five wrestlers are 2012 Olympic hopefuls.</div><div><br></div><div>Sanderson and NLWC supporters want to create a "One Stop Shop" for aspiring Olympians. They envision State College becoming a place where athletes train with the dedicated partners, compete for national-championship caliber teams, earn degrees and pursue Olympic and world titles.</div><div><br></div><div>"This is a very crucial and complementary piece to our wrestling program," says Penn State director of wrestling operations Matt Dernlan, who guides the NLWC's fundraising efforts and resident athlete program. "We not only want to have the most dominant collegiate wrestling program in the country, we also want to be known as the most dominant senior-level program in the country as well."</div><div><br></div><div>Sanderson, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist, says Penn State and State College can develop into a freestyle haven.</div><div><br></div><div>"It was something we were trying to do where I was at," says Sanderson, Iowa State's head coach from 2006-09. "We didn't necessarily have the potential to do what we can here. We really want to have an impact on USA Wrestling, help USA Wrestling, help wrestling in the United States and at the same time, build a program that's bringing NCAA championships to the East."</div><div><br></div><div>Expanding the program</div><div><br></div><div>Sanderson isn't the first Penn State coach to view freestyle as a way to bolster Penn State's folkstyle program.</div><div><br></div><div>A magazine article published in the late-1970s profiling brothers Ed and Lou Banach placed ideas into former coach Rich Lorenzo's head. The Banachs combined to win five NCAA titles at Iowa before earning gold medals at the 1984 Olympics. Their story still resonates with Lorenzo.</div><div><br></div><div>"The article said if you went to a university that didn't have a freestyle and Greco program you were committing suicide," Lorenzo says.</div><div><br></div><div>When Lorenzo replaced Bill Koll as head coach in 1978, he requested to hire an assistant with freestyle and Greco-Roman experience. He received his wish in 1983 when Hachiro Oishi joined the Nittany Lion staff.</div><div><br></div><div>Oishi spent 16 seasons at Penn State, helping the Nittany Lions produce 10 NCAA champions and 70 All-Americans. Ken Cher-tow, Sanshiro Abe and Kerry McCoy, Penn State wrestlers from 1985-97, made Olympic teams.</div><div><br></div><div>Most of Penn State's recent freestyle successes have come at the junior levels, with Bubba Jenkins capturing a junior world title in 2007. Heavyweight Kerry McCoy is the program's only two-time Olympian, making the United States freestyle teams in 2000 and '04.</div><div><br></div><div>Dernlan says the implementation of a senior-level program represents the biggest shift in Penn State's freestyle philosophy.</div><div><br></div><div>"We feel that's one of the last pieces - or the key piece - to the puzzle," says Dernlan, who worked for USA Wrestling from 1998-99.</div><div><br></div><div>Sigman and Varner are legitimate candidates to make the 2012 United States freestyle team. But neither wrestler has a Penn State affiliation. Sigman won four NCAA Division II titles at Nebraska-Omaha while Varner captured two Division I titles at Iowa State.</div><div><br></div><div>The duo has personal relationships with Sanderson. Sigman met Sanderson through Penn State assistant coach Casey Cunningham. Varner wrestled for Sanderson at Iowa State. Fanthorpe also wrestled at Iowa State. Ware won a NCAA title at Oklahoma.</div><div><br></div><div>Lorenzo, the NLWC's executive director, says the long-term plan involves former Penn State wrestlers occupying resident spots.</div><div><br></div><div>"That's what Cael wants to do," he says. "That's his first preference. But he wants people he knows, trusts and respects. That's why you're seeing the Iowa State influence with Varner and Fanthorpe. It's really exciting to see what the plan is and how he's going to pursue it."</div><div><br></div><div>An ideal situation</div><div><br></div><div>Sigman faced a major personal decision last spring: Stay in the Midwest or uproot his life and move to State College.</div><div><br></div><div>Approaching 30 and with one last serious chance to make the Olympic team, the NLWC's offer proved too appealing to resist. The club covers living expenses and offers health insurance, which Sigman calls "huge."</div><div><br></div><div>Sigman, 28, previously trained in Nebraska, splitting his time between Omaha and Lincoln. Multiple injuries, including a knee surgery and staph infection, interrupted his training.</div><div><br></div><div>"I didn't have great medical coverage and I kind of paid for it," he says. "Now, I hope I don't have to use it. But it's nice to have."</div><div><br></div><div>Sigman, a South Dakota native, is a rising freestyle star. He won the 120 kilogram (264.5 pounds) title during April's U.S. Open in Cleveland. The victory gives him a bye into the finals of next weekend's World Team Trials in Council Bluffs, Iowa.</div><div><br></div><div>Sigman's life revolves around wrestling. He lifts at 8 a.m., grabs brunch and returns to the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex for afternoon practices.</div><div><br></div><div>The move included some adjustments. He spent four months living in Cunningham's basement. But Sigman moved here to wrestle, and he says his recent results are a product of training with Sanderson, Varner and Anspach.</div><div><br></div><div>"I don't think I can find any better situation to be in," he says.</div><div><br></div><div>Some of Sigman's toughest competition next weekend might come from Anspach. The 2007 NCAA finalist finished fifth at the U.S. Open, and he has made a similar commitment to freestyle despite his responsibilities with the youth club.</div><div><br></div><div>"It's an all or nothing process," Anspach says. "At this level, no one is here training because they think it's fun to do. At this level, you have to make it your lifestyle. Nobody has a job outside of here. If you are serious about it, you can't have a job outside of here."</div><div><br></div><div>A big sell</div><div><br></div><div>Varner didn't delay entering the work force.</div><div><br></div><div>After stepping off Iowa State's graduation podium during a Friday evening last month, he packed his car and ventured East, leaving Ames, Iowa, on a Saturday and arriving in State College on a Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>By Monday, he was practicing with Penn State sophomore upperweight Quentin Wright, another wrestler with huge freestyle potential. By Tuesday, Varner's shirt was covered with sweat and his contacts fell out multiple times as he wrestled Sanderson.</div><div><br></div><div>Varner's wrestling desires and allegiance to Sanderson outweigh any social or post-wrestling desires he harbors.</div><div><br></div><div>"Coming out here, it's going to be a little tough at first," says Varner, a Bakersfield, Calif., native who made the U.S. world team last year. "I will fit in. I will make it work. My goal coming here is to wrestle and that's what I'm worried about."</div><div><br></div><div>Varner visited State College twice last summer to train with Sanderson. He decided last spring he would spend his immediate post-college years in unfamiliar surroundings.</div><div><br></div><div>"I knew when he took the job he was going to make this a powerhouse, not only on the college level, but on the freestyle level as well," Varner says. "My whole plan coming into college was being with Cael. Obviously, my last year at Iowa State I wasn't, which was fine. I was OK with it. But to win my Olympic gold medal, I need to be with Cael and that has never changed."</div><div><br></div><div>Funding Olympic dreams come at a price. Neither Sanderson nor Dernlan would reveal the monetary stipends athletes are receiving. Dernlan says the NLWC has created an incentive-based package, which rewards athletes for making national and world teams.</div><div><br></div><div>The NLWC also funds athletes' traveling expenses. Sigman has traveled to Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and Canada since joining the club.</div><div><br></div><div>"It's a pretty expensive ordeal," says Sanderson, who trained for the 2004 Olympics while working as a special assistant to Iowa State's athletic director. "But we feel it's more than worthwhile. It's what our focus is on now with our next step with the program."</div><div><br></div><div>The NLWC operates separately from Penn State, with the only shared resources the wrestling facility and coaches. The club functions through donations and fundraisers.</div><div><br></div><div>Freestyle and folkstyle are held at different times during the NCAA season. Anspach is the only senior athlete permitted to participate in official Penn State workouts, although current Nittany Lions can work out with Sigman, Varner, Ware and Fanthorpe on their own. A strong freestyle program is viewed as an attractive recruiting tool.</div><div><br></div><div>"One of the big recruiting things is that we have this guy at this weight class you can train with," says four-time Ohio state champion David Taylor, who initially committed to Iowa State before following Sanderson to Penn State last June. "Obviously, the coaching staff already draws so many people here. But freestyle is as big of a recruiting thing as anything else. Having a strong freestyle program helps recruiting even more."</div><div><br></div><div>Just like football</div><div><br></div><div>One of Penn State's rivals also sees the future.</div><div><br></div><div>The Columbus, Ohio-based Buckeye Wrestling Club became the Ohio Regional Training Center two years ago. The center uses Ohio State's wrestling facilities and is coached by freestyle ace Lou Rosselli, the Buckeyes' associate head coach.</div><div><br></div><div>The club hired Ohio State graduate and 2004 NCAA champion Tommy Rowlands as director and its resident athletes include former Ohio State stars J Jaggers and J.D. Bergman, NCAA finalist Shawn Bunch and heavyweight Tervel Dlagnev.</div><div><br></div><div>The Ohio center holds regular fundraisers and solicits donor support. Rowlands says the Ohio club has increased its fundraising total from $100,000 to $250,000 per year since its inception in 2006.</div><div><br></div><div>The presence of a strong freestyle program helped Ohio State finish second at the 2008 and '09 NCAA Championships. The Buckeyes are poised to make similar title runs because of recent recruiting triumphs.</div><div><br></div><div>"It's no different than college football," Rowlands says. "Every recruit that goes to Penn State or Ohio State wants to go the NFL, win the Lombardi Trophy, win the Heisman and everything in between. Football sends its good kids to the NFL. It's the same in wrestling except we want to send kids to the Olympics."</div><div><br></div><div>Like a successful football program, Sanderson wants the NLWC to feature athletes at every position. The NLWC currently has four of seven freestyle weights covered by senior athletes: Fanthorpe at 60 kilograms (132 pounds), Ware at 66kg (145.5), Varner at 96kg (211.5) and Sigman and Anspach at 120kg.</div><div><br></div><div>If the plan succeeds, wrestlers such as Taylor and Wright could fill future spots.</div><div>"We know there are going to be Olympians and it's only going to get better as we go around," Sanderson says. "It won't be too long until the majority of our guys are graduating from Penn State."</div> Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:17:35 GMT http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=784 http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=783 <h1><font size="5">Wade, Wright prepped for trials</font> <br /> </h1> <h4 class="byline"><font size="2">from Guy Cipriano</font> </h4> <p> Penn State wrestlers Cameron Wade and Quentin Wright recently turned 21, making them among the youngest entries in the United States World Team Trials. </p> <p>Yet neither seems intimidated by the seasoned opponents lurking this weekend in Council Bluffs, Iowa. </p> <p>Wade and Wright spent the spring training with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club's stable of accomplished upper weights. Wade, who's competing at 96 kilograms (211.5 pounds), and Wright, who's competing at 84 kilograms (185), are among the wrestlers trying to earn a spot in September's world championships in Moscow. </p> <p>One wrestler at each weight qualifies for the world championships. Wade and Wright's weights are both being contested Saturday. They qualified for the trials by finishing sixth at their weights during April's U.S. Open in Cleveland. </p> <p>The duo's training partners include Penn State coaches Cael Sanderson and Casey Cunningham and Nittany Lion Wrestling Club residents Les Sigman, Aaron Anspach and Jake Varner. Sanderson, the Nittany Lions' head coach, won an Olympic gold medal in 2004, Sigman captured the heavyweight crown at the U.S. Open, and Varner made last year's world team at 96 kilograms (211.5) pounds. Cunningham and Anspach also have international experience. </p> <p>"They are great partners," Wade said. "When you wrestle guys like that, you have no choice but to get better. It's an amazing situation that I never thought I would be in." </p> <p>Two of Wade's partners are in his weight class this weekend. Sigman's victory in April gives him a bye into Saturday's final, where he will meet the winner of the challenge tournament. Anspach, who finished fifth at the U.S. Open, is in the challenge tournament. Past NCAA champions Tommy Rowlands and Steve Mocco and former world bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev also qualified for the trials. </p> <p>"Those are the guys that I looked up to when I was young," Wade said. "I watched them whenever I could, and now I get to be in the same tournament and compete with them. It's an awesome feeling. It's something I have worked for." </p> <p>The trials extend a long year for Wade. After his folkstyle season at the NCAA Championships, Wade took a week off before beginning preparations for the U.S. Open. The tournament was contested near his Twinsburg, Ohio, home, and he stayed with his parents for two weeks before returning to State College last month. </p> <p>Wright's year has revolved around freestyle training. He redshirted in 2009-10, so he trained to peak at events such as the U.S. Open, University Team Trials and World Team Trials. </p> <p>Two weeks ago, he defeated NCAA finalist Mack Lewnes of Cornell to win the University Team Trials. The division includes wrestlers ages 20 to 25. </p> <p>"Beating a good, quality kid there let's me know I'm right there with the best guys," Wright said. "I have a lot of momentum and taking sixth at the U.S. Open made me say, 'Hey, I can hang with these guys, I'm right there with them.'" </p> <p>Wright's freestyle season included a victory over two-time NCAA champion Chris Pendelton at the U.S. Open. Pendleton, Jake Herbert, Keith Gavin and Max Askren are NCAA champions who could enter Wright's weight. Herbert, a two-time NCAA champion at Northwestern from western Pennsylvania, won the U.S. Open. Former Penn State wrestler James Yonushonis, who trains at the Ohio Regional Training Center in Columbus, also competes at 84 kilograms. </p> <p>"My goal is to definitely win," said Wright, who turned 21 on Wednesday. "I don't go to a tournament without the expectation of winning it. I believe I can if I perform my best every match. But if that doesn't happen, I know this will help me grow. I'm still young and have tons of years ahead of me." </p> <p>The NLWC is bringing a talented contingent to Council Bluffs, which sits across the Missouri River from Omaha, Neb. Varner is one of the favorites to emerge from the challenge tournament at 96 kilograms while Teyon Ware is competing at 66 kilograms (145.5). Sanderson and Cunningham are expected to attend the trials as coaches. </p> <p>"Casey Cunningham gives me a real good feel for guys that I will be wrestling," Wright said. "Varner is the next class up and he gives me a feel for bigger guys. And Coach Cael also helps me out with the bigger guys." </p> <p>Former Penn State wrestlers Bubba Jenkins and Pat Cummins also qualified for the freestyle trials. Former Bald Eagle Area wrestler Justin Millard is competing at 96 kilograms in the Greco-Roman tournament. Millard won the Armed Forces tournament earlier this year. </p> Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:01:30 GMT http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=783 http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=782 <div>Penn State Wrestling Fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div> </div><div>If you are receiving an wrestling update from me for the first time and you would not like to receive it please shoot me an email and let me know to remove you from my list. I have been sending out updates throughout the season but just had approximately 500 new names added to my list so if you are now receiving it twice or would like to be removed please let me know.</div><div><br></div><div>Several of our guys had their most recent tournament this past weekend in Colorado Springs, CO. We had one guy David Taylor wrestling in the Fila Jr. (18-20 years old) World Team Trials on Friday. On Saturday we had two guys James English and Quentin Wright wrestling in the University World Team Trials (18-25 years old). David wrestling in the 163 pound weight class lost in the finals of the mini tournament in three periods to the eventual Champion. In freestyle you have to win 2 out of 3 periods regardless of overall score to win the match. Quentin was automatically in the finals because he had won the University Nationals earlier in April so he ended up facing Mack Lewnes NCAA runner up from Cornell in the Finals. In the final matches not only do you have to win 2 out of 3 periods you have to win 2 out of 3 matches. Quentin lost the first match, pinned Lewnes in the second match, and then in the third won a wild 3 period match. Quentin never stopped wrestling in the second period of the third match when it looked like it was over but with 1 second left turned Lewnes to put it into the third period where he eventually pulled out the win. With the win he is now eligible to compete in the University World Championship. Quentin was also named Themat.com wrestler of the week for his performance. James competed hard but did not place.</div><div><br></div><div>Quentin and Cameron Wade are also competing next weekend in the Senior World Team Trials in Omaha, NE. Along with these two guys there are several other Nittany Lion Wrestling Club athletes competing as well trying to make the World Team. These athletes include Teyon Ware (66kg), Aaron Anspach (120kg), and Les Sigman (120kg). Training has been going very good for these guys so we look forward to seeing them compete next weekend.</div><div><br></div><div>After the World Team Trials we have one week then we have our first set of camps here at Penn State beginning June 19. The majority of our college guys will be here working camps and then beginning summer school the last week in June. We look forward to having a great summer and working towards our goals of winning titles. </div><div><br></div><div>GO LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div> </div><div>http://www.pennstatewrestlingcamps.com/</div> Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:38:29 GMT http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=782 http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=781 <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>All-American Wrestler Quentin Wright Claims National Title at University World Team Trials</strong></div><div><br></div><div>By: Pat Donghia</div><div><br></div><div>June 2, 2010</div><div><br></div><div>UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State wrestler Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) claimed the 84 kg/185 lbs. national title at the 2010 University World Team Trials this past weekend in Colorado Springs, Colo. Wright, wrestling for the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club and a red-shirt sophomore this coming year, downed Cornell's Mack Lewnes in the finals.</div><div><br></div><div>Wright lost the first match to Lewnes, the 2010 NCAA Runner-Up at 174, before posting a fall at the 1:11 mark in the second match to keep his title hopes alive. Wright then won the third match 2-5, 4-1, 5-3 to win the crown.</div><div><br></div><div>Champions in each weight class in the University World Team Trials position themselves for a trip to the University World Championships on Oct. 26-30 in Turin, Italy. Any wrestler who finishes in the top three at next month's U.S. World Team Trials in freestyle, and is eligible for the University division, can challenge the University World Team Trials champion for the spot on the University World Team.</div><div><br></div><div>Wright was a 2009 All-American as a true freshman, taking sixth at 174 for the Nittany Lions. He went 33-13 mark his rookie year, was the 2009 Big Ten Runner-Up and won four bouts in his first trip to nationals to take sixth.</div><div><br></div><div>Final Results -- 84 kg/185 lbs.:</div><div>Quentin Wright (Penn State/Wingate, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) def. Mack Lewnes (Cornell/Annapolis, Md./New York AC), 2 matches to 1 </div><div>Lewnes dec. Wright, 4-3, 0-2, 2-0</div><div>Wright pinned Lewnes, 1:11</div><div>Wright dec. Lewnes, 2-5, 4-1, 5-3</div> Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:37:30 GMT http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=781 http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=780 <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Youth freestyle, Greco-Roman titles on line in Bellefonte</strong></div><div><br></div><div>By: Guy Cipriano </div><div>Centre Daily Times</div><div><br></div><div>Earning a trip to Hershey for the PIAA Championships motivates high school wrestlers in March.</div><div><br></div><div>Bellefonte could be on its way to becoming the desirable May trip for many of the same teenagers.</div><div><br></div><div>The Pennsylvania Amateur Wrestling Federation freestyle and Greco-Roman state championships are making their first stop in the borough this weekend. The two-day event is the qualifier for the prestigious junior national championships held every summer in Fargo, N.D.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bellefonte wrestling community is taking its role as state tournament host seriously. Varsity coach Mike Maney, junior varsity coach Tom Alterio, booster club president Brian Wit-mer and dozens of volunteers started working on the event's logistics in March.</div><div><br></div><div>Festivities include a meet and greet with Penn State wrestlers and past Pennsylvania freestyle greats during today's weigh-ins at the Bellefonte YMCA. Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday on eight mats setup in Bellefonte High School's main and auxiliary gyms.</div><div><br></div><div>PAWF state director Van Plocus said more than 550 wrestlers from ages 6 to 18 are competing this weekend. Like the PIAA Championships, wrestlers must qualify for the event.</div><div><br></div><div>Maney said Shippensburg University, York College and a facility in Wilkes- Barre also expressed interest in hosting this year's tournament.</div><div><br></div><div>But a well-organized qualifier last spring led to discussions about bringing a state tournament to Bellefonte. PAWF officially awarded Bellefonte the event toward the end of this past folkstyle season.</div><div><br></div><div>Penn State, Lock Haven and Clarion Universities are among previous state championship sites. District 11 Blue Mountain High School hosted last year's event. The freestyle and Greco-Roman championships operate on a two-year cycle, and Plocus said the event will return to Bellefonte next spring.</div><div><br></div><div>"They have a great booster club, it's in the center of the state, they have a new school and a new, beautiful gym," Plocus said. "It's an ideal location."</div><div><br></div><div>Maney said he hopes this weekend spurs additional local interest in freestyle and Greco- Roman wrestler.</div><div><br></div><div>The brutal and demanding nature of the PIAA wrestling leaves many Pennsylvania standouts torn about pursuing spring freestyle events. Recent PIAA champions Andrew and Dylan Alton, Josh Dziewa, Nico Megaludis and Josh Kindig wrestled in national freestyle finals last summer.</div><div><br></div><div>Still, Pennsylvania has a reputation of regularly not sending all of its best juniors and seniors to Fargo.</div><div><br></div><div>"Other states look at Fargo as an opportunity," said Maney, a two-time All-American at Lock Haven. "Realistically, Pennsylvania is one of the marquee wrestling states and guys who do well at the PIAA tournament are already receiving national exposure. Some kids don't see it as having more to prove. They already have college scholarships.</div><div><br></div><div>"It's different in a lot of other states. But Pennsylvania does well at sending a lot of its best eighth-, ninth-and 10th-graders to Fargo."</div><div><br></div><div>Two high-profile wrestlers who own PIAA titles and college scholarships should give this year's state tournament a local boost.</div><div><br></div><div>Bellefonte senior Mitchell Port, who won the PIAA Class AAA 125-pound title in March and signed with Edinboro last November, wrestled Tyrone senior A.J. Schopp in the 140-pound junior freestyle and Greco-Roman finals during last weekend's qualifier at Central Mountain. Schopp won a PIAA Class AA title in March and also signed with Edinboro last November. The future teammates could meet again at Bellefonte.</div><div><br></div><div>A wrestler generating buzz before making his varsity debut is another curiosity this weekend.</div><div><br></div><div>Chance an eighth-grader in the District 3 Kennard-Dale school district, won the 152-pound junior freestyle title at the Central Mountain qualifier. Marsteller, who trains with former NCAA champion Cary Kolat, competed in last year's Nittany Lion Open and he's already receiving media attention in southern Pennsylvania.</div><div><br></div><div>The quality of the field means multiple college coaches, including Penn State's Cael Sanderson, are expected to attend Saturday's freestyle tournament. The Greco- Roman event is Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>"I was excited to hear that the tournament is in Bellefonte," Sanderson said. "We want to see who's wrestling in the off-season and who's wrestling at these tournaments. The fact that you only have to go 15 miles is good. I think there's a lot of interest in the area. It's a good thing for the sport."</div><div><br></div><div>Plocus said the interest is statewide. He said the number of wrestlers registered in qualifiers this year increased, and the federation has 3,500 wrestlers involved in its programs. The number of participants in PAWF has doubled since the late-1980s.</div><div><br></div><div>While many accomplished high school seniors skip freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments, Plocus said the majority of the state's best compete in PAWF state tournaments during their careers.</div><div><br></div><div>"It's probably the best competition at any one place for a state tournament," he said. "There's no two-division format. We're only wrestling for one championship in every age group."</div> Fri, 21 May 2010 17:57:29 GMT http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org/content/read_news.php?id=780