Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson announced Tuesday redshirt sophomore J.R. Brown has quit the team.
Brown informed the team of his decision last Wednesday, prior to the Lehigh meet . Brown said he wanted to focus his time on studies and beginning another period of his life.
"I was tired of it," Brown said. "I'm just burnt out."
The 184-pounder was the projected starter in his weight class to begin the season, but redshirt freshman Justin Ortega wrestled in the 184-weight class at Lehigh on Friday and against Bloomsburg on Sunday.
Brown grappled true freshman Ed Ruth in the Intrasquad Dual meet with Ruth defeating Brown in a 10-1 major decision.
Brown, a Bellefonte native, finished with a 3-14 overall record last year in his only season competing for the Lions. He posted a 0-6 duals record and a 3-8 tournament record.
Because 197-pounders Clay Steadman and Andrew Haile sustained injuries last year, Brown moved up to the 197-pound weight class. The redshirt sophomore wrestled every match away from his natural 184-pound class.
Brown defeated Lock Haven's Henry Turner, unattached wrestler Brian Dwyer and Ohio State's Jason Cook last season. He wrestled Turner in a 5-3 decision at the Nittany Lion Open, Dwyer in a 15-5 major decision and Cook by fall.
With Pittsburgh transfer David Crowell ineligible to compete until the Spring semester and Ruth expected to redshirt, Ortega appears to be the only option at 184. No. 12 David Craig of Lehigh defeated Ortega in a 3-1 decision on Friday. Only two days later, Ortega lost a 4-0 decision to Bloomsburg's Derek Coffey.
Similar to Brown last season, Ortega wrestled away from his usual 174-pound position to weigh in at the depleted 184 class.
