Sports
Wrestling
Time away from practice mats pays off for McKnight
Penn State's Mark McKnight, left, attempts to escape from an Iowa wrestler earlier this season. McKnight placed fourth at 125 pounds at NCAA's.
Credit: Samantha M. Shal
Jenkins advances, looks for rematch
Penn State wrestling coaches react to a match earlier this season. Three Lion wrestlers advanced to the quarterfinals.
Credit: Maxwell Kruger
Scott will wrestle despite ligament tear
Garrett Scott, right, will compete at nationals with a LCL tear in his knee.
Credit: Maxwell Kruger
Davis wins second Big Ten title
Phil Davis, top, wrestles against Michigan State earlier this year. Davis won his second 197-pound Big Ten title while PSU finished seventh in the tou ...
Credit: Evan M. Cuttic
'Come prepared'
Dan Vallimont (left) wrestles against Michigan last month. The sophomore will be a No. 2 seed at tomorrow's Big Ten tournament.
Credit: Maxwell Kruger
Haas optimistic about extra year
Tim Haas, right, after a win against Purdue earlier this year. After a bunch of injuries during his Penn State career, Haas is petitioning for a sixth ...
Credit: Evan M. Cuttic
Wrestler teaches kids in preparation for Beijing
Brad Pataky, center, discusses a technique with his students. Pataky is No. 8 in the world in his weight class.
Credit: Maxwell Kruger
Scott, Strayer add depth
Garrett Scott, top, wrestles against Purdue earlier this season. Scott, and fellow 141-pound wrestler Jake Strayer, could both start.
Credit: Evan M. Cuttic
Updated March 26, 2008 12:50 AM
Dan Vallimont sat down before the last wrestling season and typed a list of goals for himself. When the Penn State sophomore was finished, three pages of objectives sat on his printer.
Updated March 24, 2008 12:49 AM
ST. LOUIS -- Phil Davis pumped his arms, ripped the straps off his white singlet and then, after the referee raised his arm recognizing him as the 197-pound NCAA champion, he ran full speed -- past rowdy Penn State fans who chanted his name -- into the tunnel of the Scottrade Center.
ST. LOUIS -- Bubba Jenkins stood stone-faced, alone in the bowels of the Scottrade Center until reporters crowded around him. He breathed heavy and seemed tired. The Penn State sophomore wrestler instead insisted the only thing he was tired of was being underestimated.
ST. LOUIS -- Mark McKnight's mind was dazed after his eighth-place finish at the Big Ten tournament -- so much so that Penn State coach Troy Sunderland held McKnight out of practice leading up to this past weekend's NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Updated March 23, 2008 1:27 AM
Penn State wrestler Bubba Jenkins was the runner-up at the 149-pound weight class at the NCAA Wrestling Championships at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Saturday. Updated 1:27 AM
ST. LOUIS -- Phil Davis became the first Penn State wrestler since 2000 to win a national championship Saturday at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
• Jenkins finishes second, 'likely' to redshirt next year
• Vallimont and McKnight finish third and fourth, respectively Updated 1:24 AM
Updated March 22, 2008 2:45 PM
ST. LOUIS -- Mark McKnight battled back from a second round knockout to finish in fourth place in the 125-pound weight class, while Dan Vallimont finished third at 157 pounds in the wrestleback finals this afternoon in the NCAA Wrestling Championships at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Updated 2:45 PM
ST. LOUIS - When he returns to his hotel after another dominating day on the mats of the Scottrade Center, Penn State wrestler Phil Davis is going to watch film in preparation for his second national championship match in three years. Updated 1:51 AM
ST. LOUIS -- Phil Davis said that Friday would be "comeback day" for the Penn State wrestling team.
• Davis and Jenkins will wrestle for titles Updated 1:43 AM
Updated March 21, 2008 12:49 AM
ST. LOUIS -- Sporting a cut on his lower eyelid, Phil Davis had one thing to say as last night's second round of the championship bracket wore down at the NCAA Wrestling Tournament at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
ST. LOUIS - The sparkle in Bubba Jenkins' smile rivaled that of his diamond earrings as he talked to reporters in a dark tunnel leading to locker rooms in the Scott Trade Center last night.
Updated March 20, 2008 12:50 AM
When the final whistle blows at the NCAA Wrestling Tournament in St. Louis on Saturday, ten new champions will be crowned. The Penn State wrestling team will compete for seven of those titles and the team championship from Thursday to Saturday, entering wrestlers at 125-, 141-, 149-, 157-, 165-, 184-, and 197-pounds.
Updated March 18, 2008 12:52 AM
Despite suffering a knee injury during last weekend's Big Ten tournament, 141-pound true freshman Garrett Scott insists he's ready to wrestle at the highest level in this week's NCAA tournament.
Updated March 17, 2008 12:46 AM
Phil Davis never won a state championship in high school, something which motivates him in the postseason.
Updated March 9, 2008 11:33 PM
The Penn State wrestling team finished seventh at the Big Ten championships Sunday in Minneapolis, but still qualified six wrestlers for the NCAA championships. Updated 11:33 PM
Updated March 7, 2008 12:50 AM
John Hughes sat against a wall in the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex last Thursday. Penn State wrestlers, still catching their breath from a tough practice that just ended, looked up at their assistant coach.
Updated March 5, 2008 12:52 AM
Tim Haas doesn't have to look far for advice as he petitions the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility.
Updated February 29, 2008 12:49 AM
A gray-haired man in his 60s sits on a bench in the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex beneath championship plaques. He watches intently as his grandson, an elementary school wrestler, rolls around the mat with a kid twice his age, but not much taller.
Updated February 27, 2008 12:52 AM
For nearly a month, reporters have asked Penn State wrestling coach Troy Sunderland: When will we see Jake Strayer again?
Updated February 25, 2008 12:50 AM
LOCK HAVEN -- Fans clad in maroon and gold had little to cheer about Saturday night, as they watched the No. 7 Penn State wrestling team thrash their Lock Haven Bald Eagles, 35-8, inside Thomas Field House.
Updated February 20, 2008 12:50 AM
It only took the Big Ten Network until last Friday to televise a Penn State wrestling match. It's too bad that last Friday happened to be the Nittany Lions' second-to-last conference match of the year.
Updated February 19, 2008 12:52 AM
While 133-pound starter Tim Haas was honored as one of the seniors during Sunday's match at Rec Hall, he could be recognized during next year's Senior Day, too.
Updated February 18, 2008 12:50 AM
Beyond the home benches at Rec Hall yesterday, Penn State coach Troy Sunderland was wrestling with John Laboranti, stretching Tim Haas' arms and loosening up Garrett Scott.
Mark McKnight's last match at Rec Hall didn't get off to a great start.
Updated February 16, 2008 1:32 PM
With a crowd of less than 3,000 people and every light turned on for the Big Ten Network, it was an atypical night at Rec Hall for the No. 9 Penn State wrestling team. Updated 1:32 PM
Updated February 15, 2008 12:48 AM
Phil Davis has one more opportunity to top his favorite moment at Rec Hall.
Updated February 14, 2008 12:50 AM
When All-American wrestler Jake Strayer went down with a potential season-ending injury two weeks ago, Troy Sunderland had some big shoes to fill and a lot of questions to answer -- No. 1: Who could step up and replace Strayer?
Updated February 13, 2008 12:52 AM
Practice is over for the rest of the Penn State wrestling team, but not for Mark McKnight.
Updated February 11, 2008 12:49 AM
Phil Davis wasn't going to let the "big one" get away.
Bubba Jenkins was yelling "two shots, two shots," loud enough to be heard from the track at Rec Hall on Friday. He was encouraging freshman Garrett Scott during his 141-pound match with No. 4 Kellen Russell of Michigan.
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