The Penn State wrestling team's trip to the Reno Tournament of Champions ended with a third-place finish in a field of 25 teams.
Without Cameron Wade, the Nittany Lions didn't present a wrestler in the heavyweight class. Although 10 Penn State wrestlers competed, only nine counted toward the team score because of the absence of a heavyweight participant.
149-pounder Frank Molinaro remains undefeated and holds a 17-0 season record after a first-place finish. Molinaro defeated No. 7 Jason Chamberlain of Boise State in the finals. Cyler Sanderson claimed the 157-pound title over No. 5 Adam Hall of Boise State while 165-pounder Dan Vallimont lost a 2-1 decision to defending national champion and No. 1 ranked Jarrod King of Edinboro in the finals.
184-pounder Dave Erwin placed fourth after Wyoming's Joe LeBlanc, who ranks No. 5 nationally, defeated Erwin by major decision in the third-place match. At 125 pounds, Brad Pataky placed fifth. Pataky lost to No. 7 Eric Morrill of Edinboro in the semifinals and No. 8 Michael Martinez of Wyoming in the consolation bracket before defeating No. 15 Alan Bartelli of Boise State.
After serving a two-game suspension for breaking team rules, Clay Steadman finished 1-2 with decision losses to Oklahoma's State's Alan Gelogaev, who ranks No. 8 in the country, and Upper Iowa's Nick Shandri.
Although Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said Colby Pisani would start, the 141-pounder didn't compete. Adam Lynch took his spot and posted a 1-2 record. Pisani suffers from pulled cartilage in his ribs.133-pounder Bryan Pearsall ended with a 1-2 record, and174-pounder Justin Ortega lost twice by decision.
Penn State's second 184-pounder David Crowell, whose score didn't count, finished 2-2 with a loss by fall to LeBlanc. The tournament marked Crowell's first appearance in a Penn State singlet. Crowell refrained from competition for a year after transferring from Pittsburgh.
