The position at 197 pounds is finally secure for the Penn State wrestling team, but only for one weekend.
After three straight weekends of splitting matches with Clay Steadman, redshirt sophomore Dave Crowell will compete at the 197 spot at 7 tonight when the Nittany Lions (12-5-1, 4-2 Big Ten) welcome Michigan State (8-5-1, 2-3) to Rec Hall.
An undisclosed Steadman injury made the decision for the coaches an easy one, and Crowell (17-12) is looking to take advantage of the chance to wrestle against the Spartans' Tyler Dickenson (15-14).
"Every time you step in there, it's a good opportunity to prove yourself," Crowell said. "We're getting down to the Big Ten tournament, so [the coaches] have got to make a decision on the starter."
The question of whether he comes out of tonight's bout with a win or loss isn't concerning Crowell. He said he's concentrating on what the coaches talk about every day -- wrestling hard and fighting the entire match.
Tonight's dual is the only competition on the Lions' slate this weekend after they've had matches Friday and Sunday the last three weekends. Steadman wrestled in each of the team's Friday duals during that time while Crowell grappled in the Sunday contests.
Flip-flopping the two wrestlers this late in the season wasn't part of Penn State coach Cael Sanderson's initial plan.
"We've been talking about that [spot]," Sanderson said. "I hate that it's gone on so long. Crowell was sick last week, and we have an injury this week."
Neither Lion 197-pounder has been able to get any momentum in the Big Ten bouts, going a combined 0-6. Against ranked foes, Crowell lost to No. 8 Trevor Brandvold of Wisconsin and No. 9 Anthony Biondo of Michigan, while Steadman dropped a bout to No. 10 Patrick Bond of Illinois.
It was during Steadman's Feb. 5 match against Northwestern's John Schoen when he sustained his injury. Steadman said the coaches told him he and Crowell will wrestle-off next week when he feels healthy enough.
"It will be the best two-out-of-three matches," Steadman said. "Whoever wins that is going to take the spot. I think that's a fair way to do it."
Crowell said he isn't feeling any pressure from the competition with Steadman. He feels it is out of his jurisdiction, and he said he doesn't get nervous or worry about things he can't control.
Sanderson believes whichever grappler earns the spot for the postseason will benefit the team.
"They're both great kids, and they both do everything we ask them to do," Sanderson said. "So, we can't go wrong either way."
