Hunter, wrestlers to face Boilermakers

By CHRIS ANTONACCI
and RYAN HOCKENSMITH
Collegian Staff Writers

As Jeremy Hunter sat in his chair, addressing the media after the Penn State's match against Iowa last Sunday, he was quiet, speaking only when spoken to. Part of that could have been because he was sitting next to fellow All-American Clint Musser, one of the more outspoken members on the team.

Most of it likely was because Hunter lets his actions speak louder than his words.

This week he will let his actions do the talking against No. 16 Purdue when the 11th-ranked Nittany Lions host the Boilermakers at 11 a.m. Sunday in Rec Hall.

"I can't say enough about Jeremy Hunter," Musser said. "He doesn't say much. He doesn't say much to anybody.

"Jeremy leads by example. I know he doesn't think about being a leader too much, but he is."

When Hunter does speak, the words softly roll off his tongue. His face is serious, a smile a rarity. When Hunter is on the mat, he is entirely different.

Jeremy Hunter, the man -- quiet and soft-spoken.

Jeremy Hunter, the 125-pound wrestler -- tenacious and relentless.

Boilermaker 125 pounder Jason Silverstein has his work cut out for him (he has been chosen to compete against Hunter, the wrestler) if he plans to defeat the West Alexander native.

"(Hunter)'s tough, he's real tough," Boilermaker coach Jesse Reyes said. "He's a competitor. He hates to lose, and he is in good shape.

"But if (Silverstein) wrestles to his ability, he can beat Hunter."

Few have. Heading into this weekend, Hunter -- the 1997 Big Ten Freshman of the Year -- has posted a flawless 19-0 mark and has won individual championships at Mat-Town and the Penn State Open.

In his match with Iowa last weekend, Hunter came out strong against his opponent, Ben Kritsonis, showing his ferociousness from the beginning.

"I went right for his head," Hunter said still sitting back in his chair as a rare smile spread across his face. "I was going to go right for the pin, but he must have been double-jointed or something."

And from the moment Hunter steps on the mat, he hardly lets up. Like a shark, Hunter circles his opponents until attacking.

In practice, he often marches to the beat of a different drummer, running through his own regiment.

In spite of his work ethic, at this juncture of the season, he concedes he is in a bit of lull.

"Right now, I am not wrestling as good as I can," Hunter said. "But a win is a win. "It is just cruise control right now, we just want to keep winning."

The Lions are at the midway point of the campaign, and are planning to peak soon for their national championship run.

That all may begin Sunday, when they wrestle competitively for the last time in Happy Valley this season -- aside from the NCAA Tournament during March in The Bryce Jordan Center.

And when March does roll around, Lion coach Troy Sunderland said he thinks Hunter -- currently the No. 3 wrestler in the nation at 125 pounds -- will be right in the mix for the national championship.