The Penn State wrestling team started off its national title hopes in convincing fashion today, compiling a 7-0 record and sitting in fourth place with 18 points in the first session of the NCAA championships in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Sophomore 133-pounder Jake Strayer posted the most convincing win for the Nittany Lions so far with an upset pinfall over Hofstra's Lou Ruggirello at the 6:19 mark. Down 5-3 with only a minute remaining, Strayer managed to bring Ruggirello down to the mat and roll him to secure the pin with 41 seconds remaining in the match.

Strayer entered the tournament unseeded. His next match will be against unseeded Nick Gallick of Iowa State. Gallick made his way to the second round after pinning the No. 3-seed at 133 pounds, Cornell's Adam Frey.

Senior Aaron Anspach, the tournament's No. 2-seed at heavyweight, also posted a strong showing for the Lions with a 13-4 major decision over Brown's Levon Mock.

Anspach was one of four Penn State wrestlers to win a major decision, one of the reasons the Lions find themselves sitting in fourth place overall.

Junior Mark McKnight (125 pounds), redshirt freshman Dan Vallimont (149 pounds) and true freshman Bubba Jenkins (157 pounds) were the other three Lions to win by major decisions.

Co-captains James Yonushonis at 174 pounds and Phil Davis at 197 pounds rounded out the first-round sweep for the Lions securing decisions at their respective weight classes.

Penn State's seven wrestlers will move on to compete in the second session, which will begin later tonight.