University Park, Pa. — The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, led by head coach Cael Sanderson, continues to hold the No. 2 spot in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll. In addition, eight Penn State individuals are ranked in the top 20 at their respective weights by Intermat, led by true freshman Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) who is No. 2 at 174.
The top two teams remain the same in the dual meet Coaches Poll. Cornell is No. 1 with 275 points while Penn State is a close second with 264. Virginia Tech moved up to third with 249 while Big Ten foes Wisconsin (4th, 241) and Minnesota (5th, 234) round out the top five. Oklahoma State (6), Missouri (7), Iowa (8), Boise State (9) and Oklahoma (10) comprise the rest of the top ten. Big Ten teams Michigan (11), Illinois (15), Northwestern (19) and Purdue (23) are also ranked, giving the conference eight teams ranked in the coaches poll while both Indiana and Ohio State are receiving votes.
While the USA Today/NWCA poll reflects projected dual meet strength, Intermat’s official tournament team ranking (projecting post-season tournament finishes based on each entity’s individual rankings) now has Penn State tied with Cornell in the No. 1 spot. TheOpenMat.com also compiles a comprehensive tournament strength ranking and has Cornell in the No. 1 spot with Penn State No. 2 on that listing.
Senior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) is 7-2 on the year with two pins, two techs and a major and is ranked No. 11 at 125. Sophomore All-American Andrew Long (Creston, Iowa) is ranked No. 5 at 133 with a 4-0 mark, including a pin and two majors. Freshman Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) is ranked No. 5 at 141. Alton is 22-2 on the year with 15 pins and three majors. His only two losses are one-point decisions to the top-ranked 141-pounder and his 15 pins is fifth all time at Penn State for falls in a single season. Two-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) is ranked No. 5 at 149. Molinaro sports a 17-2 record with three pins, three tech falls and seven majors.
Freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) remains undefeated on the year and has a 23-0 record. Taylor is ranked No. 3 at 157 and has six pins, nine tech falls and seven majors. Only one of his 23 bouts has been decided by less than a major. Classmate Ed Ruth is ranked No. 2 at 174 and has a 21-1 record. The Harrisburg native has eight pins, five tech falls and two majors. Sophomore Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), a 2009 All-American at 174, was ranked among best at 184 before an injury sidelined him in December. The junior is back in the Penn State line-up and is ranked No. 6 with an 8-2 record. Junior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) is ranked No. 6 at heavyweight. Wade sports a 19-3 record with eight pins, three tech falls and two majors.
The Nittany Lions are 11-0 on the year, their best start (no losses or ties) since the team went 12-0 in 1971-72. Penn State will be back in action for a nationally televised match-up with No. 22 Pittsburgh this Friday, Jan. 21. Action in the Big Ten Network live event begins at 6 p.m. in Rec Hall.