UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, featuring a young and talented line-up that includes four returning All-Americans, will begin the 2011-12 season ranked No. 1 in the NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll. Penn State received seven first place votes in the preseason poll.
The Nittany Lions are coming off winning their first-ever Big Ten Championship and their first NCAA national title since 1953. Four All-Americans lead a young Penn State squad including junior Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), national champ at 184; senior three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), national runner up at 149; sophomore Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), All-American and third place finisher at 174; and sophomore David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), All-American, national runner-up at 157 a year ago and now wrestling at 165.
Penn State leads the preseason poll with 244 points including seven first place votes while Big Ten rival Iowa is close behind at No. 2 with 238 points and two first place votes. Oklahoma State is ranked third with 234 points and one first place vote. Minnesota and Cornell round out the top five.
Lehigh (6), Michigan (7), Illinois (8), Missouri (9) and Oklahoma (10) comprise the rest of the top ten. Ohio State (13) and Northwestern (19) are the other Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25, giving the conference seven ranked teams. Michigan State, Nebraska and Purdue are receiving votes.
The regular season begins with a home dual against Bloomsburg on Sunday, Nov. 13, which will feature the raising of Penn State’s Big Ten and NCAA title banners. Match time in Rec Hall for the match-up with the Huskies is set for 2 p.m.
Fans can purchase these very limited single dual tickets by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person. The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven’s WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State’s All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html .
