The 165-pound weight class had been considered a soft spot for the Penn State wrestling team up to this point in the season, but after a sweep in the 165-bracket in yesterday's Nittany Lion Open, that spot seems to have been fortified.

Freshman David Erwin defeated teammate Phil Bomberger for the second time this season to seize first place at 165 pounds at Rec Hall. Jeremy Hart, who recently converted from the 174-pound weight class, clinched the sweep for the Nittany Lions when he defeated Trebor Clavette of Davidson University.

For Erwin, it was his first time to wrestle on the home mats since the Penn State Wrestle-Offs.

"I was real excited to get out there today. There were a lot of tough guys out there and a big bracket. I felt like I did well."

Erwin said he felt comfortable wrestling his teammate because they wrestle a lot during practice.

"We know each other real well," Erwin said. "It was intense, but you know it's your teammate so there's no anger."

Erwin's performance may have earned him a future spot at the 165-pound spot.

Penn State coach Troy Sunderland had previously committed to redshirting Erwin, but after less-than-spectacular performances by Phil Bomberger during duals against Wisconsin and Michigan, Sunderland is reconsidering his options.

"He's going to wrestle, it's just a matter of where exactly we bring him out and have him wrestle," Sunderland said. "For sure, we're going to take him to Reno [for the Dec. 18 Reno Tournament of Champions]. We're going to talk a little bit and see what we're going to do this weekend."

Erwin said he definitely wanted to take the spot.

"It's up to the coaches if I come out of the redshirt or not," Erwin said. "I would like to, but if they think I should red-shirt the rest of the year then that's what I'll do."

The Nittany Lions also captured first place in the 125-pound weight class with junior Mark McKnight, who made two early takedowns against Michigan State wrestler Franklin Gomez stand in a 6-4 victory.

"Gomez is a tough kid," Sunderland said.

"He's long and wiry and Mark did a great job on his takedowns."

Also placing for the Lions was Bryan Heller, who claimed third in the 133-pound weight class, and Brad Pataky, who took sixth place at 125 pounds.

The Lions sent 17 wrestlers, six officially attached for Penn State, to the annual event which netted a total of more than 500 wrestlers.