Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1063223
T he next-man-up mentality that the majority of athletic teams adopt when injuries or other problems ravage their starting lineup doesn't always work in the college wrestling world. With just 9.9 scholar- ships spread over four years, coaches have to ensure that recruits stick around and remain productive point scorers throughout their ca- reers. That doesn't always happen, and national recruiting rankings, though relatively accurate, can't take into account injuries, transfers or the overall lack of steady improvement of an individ- ual wrestler. Penn State coach Cael Sanderson struck gold with the high school class of 2014. That class earned the No. 1 overall rank- ing, and you can still see the reason(s) why by looking at the Lions' starting lineup, which includes Jason Nolf (157), Shakur Rasheed (184), Bo Nickal (197), Anthony Cassar (285) and Nick Nevills (also 285). Arizona State was labeled as attracting the No. 1 high school class from 2015; Penn State was No. 19 that year with only two-time champion Vincenzo Joseph in the current lineup. The following year's Class of 2016 net- ted a good yield for Penn State – then. Now, that No. 2-ranked class has only Mark Hall in the starting lineup and Mason Manville waiting in the wings. Nick Suriano bolted to Rutgers, and A.J. Nevills, who actually never signed, left his grayshirt status and went home to Fresno State. The Lions earned a No. 5 overall ranking for their incoming high school class from 2017. Nick Lee started right away, while Brady Berge and Jarod Verkleeren have shared the 149-pound spot thus far this season after redshirting. All of which points to the Class of 2018, another gold-medal haul for the Nittany Recruiting eorts continue to yield elite talent HOWARD |