Head coach Troy Sunderland and assistant coach John Hughes guided 10 different individuals through the event. Bringing home individual titles at the event in Petesti were senior heavyweight Aaron Anspach (Columbia, Pa.), junior Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.) and freshman Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.).
Anspach went 3-0 and won the title at 120 kg, Davis was 3-0 at 96 kg and won the crown while Jenkins went 4-0 at 66 kg to claim his title. In addition, freshman Dave Rella (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) was runner-up at 74 kg with a 4-1 mark and sophomore David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) was runner-up at 85 kg with a 4-1 record.
Other Nittany Lions competing at the event, by weight, were: 60 kg -- Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.) (0-2), Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) (0-1); 66 kg -- Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) (0-1); 85 kg – Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.) (0-1), Mike Ward (Mayfield, Ohio) (0-1). Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.) and Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) also made the trip but did not compete in the event.
Shortly thereafter, five Nittany Lions took part in the FILA Junior World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., under the guidance of assistant coach Matt Dernlan. Jenkins continued his hot summer with a first place finish at 66 kg. His title earned him a spot on the world team that will compete in Beijing, China, on August 16-21. Freshman Eric Caschera (South Williamsport, Pa.) was runner-up at 50 kg and Rella was runner-up at 74 kg. Ward competed but did not place at 85 kg and heavyweight Stefan Tighe (Erie, Pa.) competed but did not place at 120 kg.
Pataky and heavyweight John Laboranti (Scranton, Pa.) will both be competing in the U.S. Senior World Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev., on June 9-10. The duo will be coached by Sunderland and assistant Dave Hart.
The Nittany Lion wrestlers are wrapping up a superb freestyle season that included the above mentioned events as well as solid tournaments in April. Strayer won the individual title at 63 kg at the 2007 University Freestyle National Championships back in late April. Strayer was one of seven Penn State placers at that event. Davis was third at 96 kg, Erwin was third at 79 kg, McKnight was fourth at 55 kg, Rella was fifth at 74 kg, senior James Yonushonis (Philipsburg, Pa.) was fifth at 84 kg and Laboranti was sixth at 120 kg.
Earlier in April, Jenkins and Rella claimed crowns at the 2007 FFILA Junior National Championships. Rella took the crown at 74 kg while Jenkins won the title at 70 kg. Three other Nittany Lions placed as well. Caschera was fourth at 50 kg, Ward was sixth at 79 kg and Tighe was third at 120 kg.
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