The spotlight of the 133-pound weight class shone bright on Jake Strayer on Sunday, as he captured most of the attention by dominating the bracket.
Under the radar at the Nittany Lion Open was another 133-pounder, sophomore Adam Lynch. Quietly, Lynch took care of business, winning five bouts as he wrestled his way to the championship of the wrestle-back bracket to finish sixth.
Lynch wrestled at the 141-pound weight class last season, and "just wasn't the same guy at 133" until Sunday, senior 133-pound wrestler Tim Haas said. Haas said Lynch poured it on and appeared as if he had adjusted to his weight on Sunday.
"I think he turned a corner, which will help not just the 133-pounders, but all the lightweights in the room," Haas said.
Lynch, redshirt freshman Tim Darling, junior Christian Harr and senior John Laboranti led a strong contingent of non-starting Penn State wrestlers to have strong performances Sunday at the Nittany Lion Open.
Haas said it is important for a non-starter to succeed in a tournament such as the Nittany Lion Open so the team has depth in case of an injury to a starter.
"It gives you a chance to compete against some top guys and show people what you got," Maryland's backup 157-pound wrestler Matt MacLean said.
In addition, when your practice partner succeeds in a tournament and challenges you everyday in practice, the starter benefits as well, Haas explained.
Senior 165-pound starter Mark Friend was winless at the Nittany Lion Open, leaving it to Darling to represent the Lions at the weight. Even though it appeared Darling was on the verge of getting pinned in his last match, the Nazareth, Pa., native recorded a pin of his own to finish fifth at the 165-pound weight class. Darling pinned two other opponents in his strong performance.
Laboranti, wrestling unattached, won his heavyweight bracket in impressive fashion, including a 5-2 victory over Cleveland State's No. 11-ranked wrestler Rashard Goff.
"The higher the competition is in the room, the better we're all going to be on the mat," Haas said. "If you have a guy going toe-to-toe with you and pushing you every single day, it's important in a lot of ways."
Assistant coach Matt Dernlan said the success the Nittany Lions had Sunday is indicative of the team buying into what the coaching staff is preaching.
When the team buys in, they're going to accomplish things, Dernlan said.
"This is my last year, but I'm really looking forward to coming back and watching all these young guys tear it up like they've been doing," Strayer said.
"Every match I watched everyone wrestled really well."
