Penn State isn’t wasting any time using sophomore David Crowell. And the Nittany Lions are taking their time with Cameron Wade. Coach Cael Sanderson has confirmed Crowell will be among the 10 wrestlers competing in Sunday’s Reno Tournament of Champions. Crowell, who transfered from Pitt last January, became eligible to wrestle for Penn State when the fall semester ended Friday. The Reno tournament permits teams to insert multiple wrestlers at select weights. The format allows Crowell and David Erwin to compete at 184 pounds for Penn State. The Nittany Lions’ 10-wrestler contingent doesn’t include a heavyweight. Sanderson said Cameron Wade, a sophomore ranked 13th, will miss a “couple of weeks” with a sprained ankle. Wade (9-3) suffered the injury while warming up for last Saturday’s match at Pitt. Sanderson also said sophomore 197-pounder Clay Steadman, who missed last week’s duals against West Virginia and Pitt for disciplinary reasons, is traveling to Reno.

The addition of Crowell should bolster the Nittany Lions’ upperweights during the second semester and beyond. Crowell, a two-time PIAA Class AAA finalist at District 11 Nazareth, went 12-5 competing in four open tournaments this fall. Crowell competed at 197 during his freshman year at Pitt. Sanderson said Crowell, whose father is legendary Nazareth coach Dave Crowell, can wrestle from anywhere between 174 and 197. “He’s just a good, solid kid,” Sanderson said. “He has had a lot of success and comes from a great wrestling family. His dad is one of the best high school coaches in the country. He’s good technically. He has a lot of potential.”

Penn State’s traveling contingent also includes Brad Pataky at 125, Bryan Pearsall at 133, Colby Pisani at 141, Frank Molinaro at 149, Cyler Sanderson at 157, Dan Vallimont at 165 and Justin Ortega at 174. Cael Sanderson said Thursday that he doesn’t plan on holding anybody out besides Wade this weekend. The Nittany Lions are competing for the third straight weekend. They conducted their Nittany Lion Open on Dec. 6 before visiting West Virginia and Pitt. “We got banged up a little bit, but that stuff happens sometimes,” Sanderson said. “When it happens, you just deal with it. Luckily, we didn’t have any permanent damage. Just bruises really.”

Thanks to Guy Cipriano and the "Centre Daily Times" (State College, Pa.) for the article