Hunter will be hunted at Big Ten wrestling tourney

By RYAN HOCKENSMITH
Collegian Staff Writer

Jeremy Hunter has become the hunted.

With a perfect 26-0 record, Hunter, Penn State's 125-pound wrestler, travels to Ann Arbor, Mich., this weekend with his sights set on a Big Ten title.

But everybody else's sights are set on him.

"Obviously, he's the favorite," said J. Robinson, coach of No. 2 Minnesota. "He's got a couple of years of experience in both Big Tens and NCAAs. Guys will be shooting for him."

Hunter has had a bull's-eye on his singlet all season after snagging All-American status last season with a fifth-place finish at NCAAs.

Despite being a target, the Nittany Lion junior has been a ranked-wrestler assassin this season, picking off eight different opponents currently deemed worthy of top-20 rankings. He sits at No. 2 with an 8-0 record against Big Ten foes. Four of his Big Ten victims are ranked.

Two opponents Hunter named as serious contenders at the weight class, No. 13 Pat Cassidy of Indiana and Minnesota's No. 7 Leroy Vega, have not been on his hit list. Cassidy did not wrestle when Indiana visited Rec Hall Feb. 6 and Vega's Minnesota squad was not on Penn State's schedule this season.

Vega especially has drawn Hunter's attention.

"I've never wrestled him before," Hunter said. "I watched him a little bit at Team Duals, and he really gets after guys."

But Hunter said he would enjoy his prey turning to predator.

"If he comes after me, I'm gonna like it," Hunter said. "I like when guys come after me."

Along with Hunter, Vega and Cassidy, the 125-pound weight class also will boast five other ranked grapplers. Hunter has defeated No. 8 Chris Viola of Michigan, Purdue's No. 11 Jason Silverstein, No. 14 Dominic Caruso of Northwestern and Ohio State's No. 19 Matt Fratta.

Vega probably will grab the No. 2 seed behind Hunter when seedings are announced Wednesday. Vega went 8-1 in the Big Ten, defeating Silverstein, Viola and Fratta along the way. Vega's lone loss came to Caruso, 4-3 in overtime Feb. 21, who Hunter hammered twice this season.

Although Hunter has dominated 125 pounds this season, Robinson expressed confidence in his Big Ten Championships entrant.

"(Vega)'s done really well as a freshman," Robinson said. "He has a confident air about him. I think 125 is a pretty average weight class, so I expect Leroy to be there in the finals."

Penn State coach Troy Sunderland displayed equally as much confidence in his 125-pound wrestler.

"If he wrestles well," Sunderland said, "he should win it."