Blue White Illustrated

WRESTLING SOUTHERN COMFORT Penn State cruises through the first half of the season while finalizing its starting lineup Cael Sanderson dimmed the lights inside an empty Rec Hall, called upon sophomore heavyweights Jon Gingrich and Jimmy Lawson and let them battle it out. Gingrich and Lawson had already split a pair of preseason wrestle-offs, so they entered the first half of the season as costarters. Sanderson had hoped that after the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn., Jan. 1-2, one would emerge as the obvious choice to be the starter. But the Scuffle came and went, and the choice was far from obvious. Both wrestlers registered, and many Penn State fans had hoped that Gingrich and Lawson would meet during the tournament to settle things outright. But that didn't happen. Both wrestlers fell during the quarterfinals, and both fell to Ohio's Jeremy Johnson in the consolation rounds. Lawson finished seventh, and Gingrich didn't place. But their overall records – Gingrich going 11-4 and Lawson 12-3 – were too close to determine a starter. So back in University Park, Sanderson set up a third wrestle-off on Jan. 11 inside the vacant gymnasium. With only teammates and coaches in attendance, Gingrich landed a late takedown to win the exhibition bout, 3-1. Sanderson said Gingrich earned the starting spot with his victory. "Each guy on our team has to keep earning their spot," Sanderson said. "Nothing is a given, but [Gingrich] is carrying the ball right now." Perhaps the biggest bout at the Southern Scuffle was the 165-pound final. It featured Penn State national champion David Taylor and Cornell's Kyle Dake, a three-time NCAA champ. In what many believe was a preview of the 165-pound NCAA championship in March, Dake edged Taylor, 3-2, with a controversial reversal call in the waning seconds. "I think it was a great match, and they're both great in all three positions," Sanderson said. "And even though it was a lowscoring match, there was a lot of action and people were on the edge of their seat. "We're just looking forward to the next meeting. David is a kid that's a student of the game, a student of his opponents. Dake is a tough kid. He has three national championships. He's a great talent and athlete, so March is going to be fun." Though Taylor fell short of the title, the J A N U A R Y HOLDING TIGHT Sanderson's Nittany Lions are ranked atop the country with a 5-0 overall dual meet record. Penn State Athletic Commuincations top-ranked Lions cruised to the tournament title – even without two of their starters. Andrew and Dylan Alton, twin brothers from Mill Hall, Pa., were cited for disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and harassment on Dec. 21, according to the Lock Haven City Police. Andrew, ranked No. 3 at 149 pounds, and Dylan, ranked No. 6 at 157 by Intermat.com, have both been suspended from competition until at least Jan. 21. "As far as competing for the team, we gave them a one-month suspension [starting] from the [date of the] incident," Sanderson confirmed. James English filled in for Andrew at 149 at the Scuffle, and James Vollrath took over the 157-pound duties for Dylan. English went 6-1 at the tournament, finishing third, 1 6 , 2 0 1 3 10 and Vollrath cruised to the finals before falling to No. 14 Jedd Moore of Virginia. English and Vollrath will continue to fill in for the Alton twins until they return to the lineup at the end of January. Both won their bouts against Michigan State on Jan. 13 – a dual meet that Penn State won 41-0 to improve its overall record to 5-0 and 2-0 in the Big Ten. "I'm prepared for anybody that I wrestle," Vollrath said. "I just go out there and wrestle my match. The Scuffle was definitely a confidence-builder for me." Penn State returns to action Jan. 18 in Rec Hall at 7 p.m. against the No. 24 Wisconsin Badgers. The Penn State sports information department is encouraging fans to wear blue if attending. If not, the dual meet will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network. – TIM OWEN B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M

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