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Though Penn State can be found annually in the top 25 of the NCAA Division I wrestling rankings, rarely are they seen in the top five. Penn State is currently ranked number five in the nation, a ranking that should rise after knocking off number three Oklahoma State. The match featured eleven nationally ranked wrestlers despite the absence of #3 Jake Strayer (PSU, Forest Hills HS) who was replaced by another local standout Garrett Scott (Juniata Valley HS). Fans missed out on what could have been the match of the night due to Strayer's injury that has kept him out of the line up for Penn State. Oklahoma State also features one of the nations top 141 lb. wrestlers in Nate Morgan who slipped by Scott with a 6-3 decision. However, the wrestlers did not disappoint the Oklahoma crowd. The bout tally was five apiece, but the Nittany Lions got falls from Bubba Jenkins and top-ranked 197 lb. wrestler Phil Davis to overcome the three major decisions by the Cowboys in the 21-18 victory.

#5 Penn State 21, #3 Oklahoma State 18
Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007 - Stillwater, Okla.

125: #6 Mark McKnight PSU dec. Ben Ashmore OSU, 4-3
133: #1 Coleman Scott OSU dec. Mike Eagen PSU, 8-2
141: #6 Nathan Morgan OSU dec. Garrett Scott PSU, 6-3
149: #4 Bubba Jenkins PSU pinned Mike Bizzle OSU, WBF (6:42)
157: #10 Dan Vallimont PSU dec. #20 Newly McSpadden OSU, 5-4
165: #12 Jake Dieffenbach OSU maj. dec. Dave Rella PSU, 13-4
174: #4 Brandon Mason OSU maj. dec. David Erwin PSU, 8-0
184: #19 Phil Bomberger PSU dec. Cody Hill, 8-5
197: #1 Phil Davis PSU pinned Clayton Foster OSU, WBF 5:50
HWT: #8 Jared Rosholt OSU maj. dec. Stefan Tighe PSU, 9-0

Is strayer hurt or did scott beat him out for the 141 spot? I know scott beat strayer pretty convincingly at the penn state open and he may have just beaten him out in eliminations.

Penn State's site does not say the reason for Scott's start, but does say in the write up on the match that Strayer is still the starter. I would be hard pressed to believe that Strayer, an All-American, team captain, and #3 ranked wrestler for Penn State could be completely bumped out of the line-up. Scott did dominate Strayer in a 7-3 win, but I would think that if Scott has earned the 141 spot, Strayer will be heading back down to 133. That would probably significantly improve the line up, although out right now with an injury at 133 is Tim Haas. This just speaks to the depth of Penn State's line up. Aside from Strayer and Haas who did not wrestle against OK ST, a part time starter from last year, Mark Friend, has been beat out by David Erwin (who finished 2nd and 1st respectively in the PSU Open). Also, John Laboranti won the PSU Open at HWT where the starter on Sunday, Tighe was 2-1. This is a deep team that if they stay healthy, sort their line up out just right, and have a solid March day, could be National Champions.

I'd be very surprised to see Strayer at 133...since last year it's pretty much been decided that he'd be at 141...I have to believe that certification would prevent his dropping, plus I doubt he wants to....he said he struggled with the weight thing last year....

141 could turn out to be interesting....but it's certainly a good problem to have....

That kind of stinks. With Jenkins at 149, it would be nice for them to have Strayer or Scott at 133. Especially since Scott can't redshirt now.

NOTE: PSU moved up to #3 in the rankings.

Just an update on PSU wrestling:

They have indeed dropped off a bit after their surge toward number one. However, they are still right there with the top teams in the nation and currently ranked #9 (#8 in some polls). After getting trounced by Ohio State at National Duals, PSU was poised to beat them in the dual meet. The Nittany Lions led by 3 going into the last bout (141) where Jake Strayer was controlling the scoreless match. However, #10 Jaggers pulled off a defensive pin to steal the win for OSU.

PSU also posted a win over #10 Northewestern. In that match, Strayer fell by decision to unranked Sulzer.

In the latest matches, Penn State was upset by Illinois. However, Garrett Scott pinned #11 Prater at 141. The Lions pulled off an upset of their own against Michigan where Scott beat #4 Russell. The victory bumped Strayer's name out of the national rankings and placed Scott's in at #9.

Penn State had a great national tournament showing, placing 3rd as a team with a national champion, a national runner-up, a third place finisher, and a fourth place finisher. Of their seven qualifiers, 5 are underclassmen: 1 junior; 3 sophomores; and a freshman.

Plus Pataky took an olympic red-shirt,Q.Wright is coming in, amd Molinaro red-shirted; Add the fact that the B-10 championships are in Happy Valley next year, the Lions should be roaring!