Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1115425
coming clear that Penn State's program is
not simply giving those wrestlers a
chance to claim a starting spot and con-
tend for national championships. It's
helping them find ways to become the
best wrestlers they can be. Here's a look
at who is up next:
Marco Vespa
WT 125/133 | HOME Central Valley, N.Y.
SUMMARY
A member of the 200-win
club at Monroe-Woodbury, Vespa is a
three-time Section 9 champion and held
an undefeated record during his senior
year until his very last match. Having
competed most recently at 120 pounds,
Vespa adds critical depth to PSU's lighter
weight classes.
Joe Lee*
WT 165 | HOME Evansville, Ind.
SUMMARY
Once a top-10 overall
prospect, Lee captured two state titles
before finishing high school remotely
from State College while training with
NLWC. Because he was living in Pennsyl-
vania, he didn't compete for his third In-
diana crown at Mater Dei. His older
brother Nick followed a similar path be-
fore claiming two All-America honors for
PSU at 141. Joe's collegiate debut has been
delayed by a grayshirt. A redshirt in 2019-
20 could be in the offing as well.
Carter Starocci
WT 174/184 | HOME Erie, Pa.
SUMMARY
Finishing his prep career
with a 159-10 record, Starocci won two
state titles for Erie Cathedral Prep. His
first came at 160 pounds as a junior be-
fore a jump to 182 this year and an unde-
feated 40-0 finish. The aim is for Starocci
to begin his career at 174 before eventu-
ally climbing up another weight class.
Aaron Brooks*
WT 184 | HOME Hagerstown, Md.
SUMMARY
One of the most accom-
plished international wrestlers in the U.S.
junior ranks right now, the World silver
medalist and four-time Maryland state
champ is a candidate to redshirt this sea-
son while continuing to focus on his
freestyle pursuits. But if there is a need
for him in the lineup – which there very
well might be – Brooks could be called
upon to step in right away. He's already
shown he can compete with the best at
the college level.
Michael Beard*
WT 197 | HOME Pottstown, Pa.
SUMMARY
A three-time prep national
champion, Beard concluded his career at
Malvern Prep with a 266-19 record, win-
ning his last 141 matches. Although he's
been on grayshirt since then, Beard has
been holding his own at collegiate open
tournaments. He walked away victorious
at the Clarion and Franklin & Marshall
opens, and depending how the lineup
shakes out, Beard could find his way into
a PSU singlet this coming season.
Donovan Ball
WT
197
| HOME
Camp Hill, Pa.
SUMMARY Ball finished his career at
Cedar Cliff with a 121-38 record and a
runner-up finish at 195 pounds as a sen-
ior. In March, he was selected to represent
the Pennsylvania All-Star team in the
Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic, formerly
known as the Dapper Dan. Ball will sup-
ply depth at Penn State's upper weights.
Seth Nevills*
WT
285
| HOME
Clovis, Calif.
SUMMARY The third four-time state
champion in California history, Nevills
joined his older brother, Nick, in Univer-
sity Park a year ago. While training with
the NLWC, he competed at open tourna-
ments, winning at Franklin & Marshall. If
NCAA champ Anthony Cassar doesn't
receive the sixth year of eligibility he's
seeking from the NCAA, Nevills could be
the heavyweight starter this season.
■
It's not just potential medical red-
shirt waivers that are keeping Penn
State's lineup in :ux this o;-season.
Transfers are also in play. One has been
added and more could be on their way.
Matt Parker announced in mid-April
that he was leaving Lehigh a

