Yet the present doesn’t appear as bleak as some expected. Despite dozens of potential NCAA tournament points and dual meet victories preparing for 2010-11, the Nittany Lions enter the two-day Virginia Duals with a 6-1-1 record. And despite the presence of the national duals, which includes eight top-10 teams, the 30-year-old Virginia Duals remains a viable option for major programs such as Penn State. If the 14th-ranked Nittany Lions defeat Virginia Tech, they could wrestle 13thranked Kent State. The tournament also includes No. 4 Oklahoma State, No. 10 Oklahoma, No. 11 Lehigh, No. 16 Edinboro, No. 23 Virginia and No. 25 Old Dominion. The possibility of wrestling three ranked opponents eases the sting of not being in Cedar Falls. “We’re not disappointed because we are going to wrestle a lot of the good teams out there (in the national duals) in the Big Ten anyway,” sophomore Frank Molinaro said. “This is a good tournament. We will get to wrestle some teams we won’t see again this season.” The Nittany Lions are guaranteed at least three matches this weekend. But their previous Virginia Duals appearances have resulted in four matches. Penn State won the title outright in 1991 and tied Oklahoma State 18-18 in the 1987 final. The Nittany Lions last attended the duals in 2007, losing to Edinboro in the finals.
Mystery surrounds this year’s opener. The Nittany Lions and Hokies haven’t met since 1965, when Virginia Tech was referred to as Virginia Polytechnic Institute. The school has since ditched the VPI initials and should be a tougher foe than it was in the 1960s. The Nittany Lions clobbered the Hokies 27-2, 30-0, 28-0 and 25-5 from 1962-65. Virginia Tech’s roster features four ranked opponents, although 149-pounder Peter Yates will miss the duals with a knee injury. The Hokies also could be without starters at 133, 174 and heavyweight because of injury or illness, according to the team’s Web site. Virginia Tech’s projected lineup does include 13thranked Jarrod Garnett at 125. Garnett pinned Brad Pataky in the finals of last month’s Nittany Lion Open. The Hokies also will send seventh-ranked face second-ranked Cyler Sanderson at 157. Led by former Iowa wrestler and successful Virginia prep coach Kevin Dresser, Virginia Tech has won seven straight duals since opening with a 20-18 loss to Kent State. “We know they are a real solid team,” Cael Sanderson said. “They have a great coach and they will be ready to go. We need to make sure we set the tone and bring the attitude to the match.”
Penn State wrestlers pleased their demanding bosses Sunday at Lock Haven, compiling 36 take-downs during a 32-6 victory. The Nittany Lions dropped just two bouts and scored bonus points at five different weights, including every one from 141-165. Increased Penn State primed to meet or surpass last year’s eight-victory mark before the start of the Big Ten season. “I think we are probably exceeding some people’s expectations they might have had for us in the beginning,” sophomore 149-pounder Frank Molinaro said. External expectations should swell next season. The mid-January destination might also change because Sanderson called the national duals “where we want to be this time of year.” But for now, an appearance in the Virginia Duals elicits few complaints. “I definitely think it’s going to be tough competition and a good challenge,” senior 141- pounder Adam Lynch said. “I think we can do pretty well.”
Thanks to the "Centre Daily Times" (State College, Pa.) for the article