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Nittany Lion wrestlers head to St. Louis for NCAA Championships
03/14/2008 12:00 am
Nittany Lion wrestlers head to St. Louis for NCAA Championships 
Penn State Sports Information
Sophomore Dave Rella is one of seven Penn State grapplers headed to the NCAA Championships. University Park, Pa. — The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (14-5, 5-3 Big Ten), ranked No. 6 nationally in the final dual meet poll, will have seven wrestlers competing in the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships. The three day event is hosted by the St. Louis Sports Commission and will take place in St. Louis’ Scottrade Center. Action begins at 11 a.m. (Central) and 10 a.m. (Central) on Friday and Saturday. Head coach Troy Sunderland’s squad will take one 2008 Big Ten Champion, one runner-up and five other qualifiers to the Scottrade Center. Senior Phil Davis, winner of the 2008 Big Ten title at 197 and now a two-time Big Ten Champion at that weight, will enter his fourth NCAA Championship with a shot at becoming only the fourth four-time All-American in Penn State history. Already among Penn State’s historical leaders in wins, pins and honors, Davis will be in search of that elusive NCAA title. The three-time All-American placed seventh as a freshman, fifth last year as a junior and was the 2006 NCAA Runner-Up as a sophomore in 2006. Davis will carry a 21-1 season record into his final event as a collegiate wrestlers as well as a 111-20 career record. Sophomore Dan Vallimont reached the Big Ten Finals in Minneapolis before losing to Illinois’ Mike Poeta. Vallimont, the 2008 Big Ten Runner-Up, carries a 27-2 record with him into his second NCAA tournament. Both those losses are to Poeta. Vallimont is in his first season at 157 after reaching the NCAA ‘Round of 12’ last year as a 149-pounder. Sophomore Dave Rella is coming off an outstanding run in the Big Ten tournament, advancing to the consolation finals and placing fourth at 165 to earn his first trip to nationals. Rella will carry a 15-14 mark with him to St. Louis. Junior Phil Bomberger is making his first trip to the NCAA Championships after his fifth place finish at 184 in this year’s Big Ten Championships. Bomberger has a 19-8 overall record. Sophomore Bubba Jenkins placed fifth at Big Tens in his first season at 149. Jenkins, now 22-5 on the year, is making his second trip to the NCAA tournament after qualifying at 157 last season. True freshman Garrett Scott bounced back from a heart-breaking loss in the second round of the Big Ten tournament to place seventh at 141 and earn a trip to nationals in his first year with Penn State. Scott is 18-5 overall. Senior Mark McKnight garnered one of the Big Ten’s two Wild Card qualifier spots after his eighth place finish at 125. McKnight has a 13-9 record this year and is now making his fourth trip to nationals. He reached the NCAA ‘Round of 12’ twice already. The ESPN Networks will air all of Friday and Saturday’s action live to a national television audience. Friday’s quarterfinals and semifinals will air live on ESPNU and rerun Saturday morning. Saturday’s medal rounds will air live on ESPNU and Saturday night’s Championship Finals will air live on ESPN/ESPN HD. For more on the NCAA Championships, go to www.stlsports.org/wrestling. All Penn State duals and post-season tournaments will be broadcast locally on WBLF 970 AM and WKVA 920 AM and streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com. 125 #9 Mark McKnight (8th - WC) Sr. McDonald, Pa./South Fayette 13-9/6-9
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Source: PSU Live
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