Blue White Illustrated

June 2019

Penn State Sports Magazine

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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

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