Wrestler Leykikh has tough road towards 165-pound title
Editor's note: This is the sixth in a 10-part series previewing the 10 weight classes for the Big Ten Wrestling Championships beginning this Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich. This story previews the 165-pound class.

By RYAN HOCKENSMITH
Collegian Staff Writer

Alex Leykikh is full of surprises.

The Penn State 165 pounder probably surprised a few people when he announced he would be transferring from Virginia for this season, the final year of eligibility for the senior. Leykikh had been an NCAA qualifier last season for the Cavaliers before electing to finish his collegiate career in State College.

Leykikh then gave the Nittany Lions coaching staff a pleasant surprise Nov. 7 when he swept through the team's wrestle-offs, snagging a starting position labeled a tossup in the preseason.

After grabbing the starting nod, Leykikh then ran up a 24-7 season tally, despite missing six dual meets with an injured elbow.

Now, as Penn State prepares for this weekend's Big Ten Championships, Leykikh hopes he can spring another surprise on the wrestling world.

"I'm confident I can hang with anybody in the country," the senior said. "I've been in big matches and tournaments before, and I'm confident I can wrestle with the best of 'em."

Leykikh's goal of a Big Ten title won't be an easy task.

Because three Big Ten wrestlers are ranked ahead of him and his injury forced him to miss time from the lineup, the unranked Leykikh might not even receive a top-five seed when seedings are announced later today.

"He should be able to get seeded," Penn State coach Troy Sunderland said. "But missing those matches could hurt a little when the draws get made up."

The likely No. 1 seed, Wisconsin's Don Pritzlaff, went undefeated in Big Ten competition. The Badgers sophomore grabbed fourth-place honors at last season's Big Tens, then finished sixth at NCAAs for All-American status.

Other returning Big Ten place winners at 165 pounds include No. 5 Josh Holiday of Minnesota, Ohio State's No. 17 Peter Rogers, Bill Zeman of Illinois and Northwestern's Drew Pariano.

Earlier this season, Leykikh nipped Zeman 7-4, but dropped a 5-0 bout with Pariano two days later. Penn State did not wrestle Wisconsin or Minnesota this season, and Leykikh missed a match with Rogers because of his elbow injury when the Lions wrestled the Buckeyes Jan. 23.

Minnesota coach J. Robinson said Pritzlaff and his own entrant, Holiday, are the two clear favorites at the weight. But even Pritzlaff disagreed with that statement.

"It's a real open weight," Pritzlaff said. "I'm sure a guy like Leykikh could sneak up on some people. From what I've heard, he's a real tough competitor."

While Sunderland admitted his wrestler would probably be an underdog against No. 3 Pritzlaff, the first-year coach liked his grappler's chances versus the rest of the field, especially Holiday.

"Pritzlaff would be a tough match for Alex," Sunderland said. "Holiday, though, has a style a lot like Alex's, so they match up well. But Alex could beat anybody anytime."

Note: The top seven place winners from each weight class advance to the NCAA Championships. Two wild cards will also advance.