Penn State , now 8-2 overall, is coming off a 3-2 performance at the 2008 National Duals. The Nittany Lions entered the Duals ranked No. 1 nationally but become the fourth top-ranked team in the country to suffer an untimely defeat, getting upset by Nebraska 19-13 in the quarterfinals. The Lions, who opened with a win over Chattanooga, came back to down Cornell and Iowa State before falling to Ohio State in their final action in Cedar Falls. Iowa , on the other hand, regained their No. 1 ranking with a superb 4-0 performance at the duals to claim the 2008 title. Iowa beat Cornell , Missouri and Michigan before taking town Nebraska in the finals. The Hawkeyes are now 11-1 on the year.
In what should be an exciting dual for wrestling fans, 17 ranked wrestlers will take to the mat in Carver Hawkeye Arena. Penn State has eight ranked grapplers, including newly ranked heavyweight John Laboranti. Senior Phil Davis leads the Nittany Lions with a No. 2 nod at 197. Davis is 10-0 on the year. Sophomore Dan Vallimont, also undefeated at 157, is now ranked No. 4 and is 17-0 on the year. Junior Jake Strayer, who is now 10-3, slid to No. 5 at 141 while sophomore Bubba Jenkins is No. 6 at 149 and is 13-1 on the year. Mark McKnight is ranked No. 8 at 125 with an 8-2 mark, giving Penn State five wrestlers ranked in the top eight.
Joining that fivesome in the national rankings is sophomore David Erwin, junior Phil Bomberger and junior Laboranti. Erwin is 19-5 overall and is ranked No. 16 at 174 and Bomberger is 12-4 overall and is ranked No. 15 at 184. Laboranti is now 18-3 on the year at heavyweight and debuted in this week’s rankings at No. 15.
Iowa will bring nine ranked individuals into the fray. Charlie Falck brings a 21-1 overall record and a No. 3 ranking at 125 into battle while Joey Slaton is ranked No. 4 at 133 with a 20-2 mark. Dan LeClere is ranked No. 10 at 14 and is 17-5 on the year and Brent Metcalf is 20-1 overall and gets a No. 3 nod at 149. Ryan Morning Star is ranked No. 16 at 157 and is 13-5 thus far while Mark Perry holds the No. 1 spot in the country at 165 with an 18-2 record. Jay Borschel is 19-4 this year and is ranked No. 3 at 174, Phil Keddy is 17-5 and ranked No. 8 at 184 and Matt Fields is 20-3 and ranked No. 6 at HWT.
The Nittany Lions will continue Big Ten action next weekend with two key duals. Penn State will visit No. 6 Ohio State on Friday night at 7 p.m. and then return home to host No. 17 Indiana in Rec Hall for a 1 p.m. match-up. Tickets for all regular season duals are on sale now at the athletic department ticket office in the Bryce Jordan Center . Single-dual tickets are $5 for adults and seniors and $3 for students 18 and under. Penn State students with a proper student ID are admitted free! Fans can call 814-863-1000 or 800-833-5533 to order single-dual or season tickets. All Penn State duals will be broadcast locally on WBLF 970 AM and WKVA 920 AM and streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com. All home duals will feature a live video webcast and live scoring at www.GoPSUsports.com as well.
PENN STATE VS. IOWA : THE SERIES
The Nittany Lions and Hawkeyes have met 29 times throughout the years, with Iowa holding a 21-6-2 advantage over Penn State . The Lions, however, have won the last two meetings. Penn State downed Iowa 24-13 last February in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions also won the last time the two teams met in Carver-Hawkeye, posting a 21-12 win on Feb. 3, 2006.
Thanks to PSU Sports Information for the article