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cently won a freestyle championship at the FILA Cadet Nationals and is competing this month for a world FILA title in Serbia. Although he's the defending 160pound state champion, Nickal expects to compete at 174 pounds for the Nittany Lions and could eventually move up to the 184-pound class or higher. "I'll probably come in and start at 74 and see how much I grow," said Nickal, who stands 6-foot-1. "I feel like I have a lot of range as far as my weight class goes. I could end up anywhere from 74 to 97. It just depends on how much muscle I put on once I get into a college weight room." FloWrestling.com ranks Nickal as the No. 2 170-pounder in the country, behind only Marsteller. It's likely that Marsteller will begin his career at 165. While Marsteller committed in early July, along with Nevills, Nolf announced his decision later in the month. He is a two-time Pennsylvania state champion and has only suffered one loss in his high school career. A projected 141- or 149-pounder from Kittanning, he said he chose Penn State based on its proximity to his home and because he has built relationships with current members of the team like Nico Megaludis, Matt McCutcheon and Jimmy Gulibon. "It's where I have the best chance of becoming a four-time national champion," Nolf told the (Pittsburgh) Tribune-Review. "It's a nice campus, and I have a lot of friends there." The recruits also have a common goal of building upon Penn State's recent run of national team championships. That, Nickal said, might be the most appealing part of becoming a Nittany Lion. "There are schools out there like Oklahoma State and Iowa that have won 20 or 30 national championships, but I feel like right now it's time for Penn State to go on a little run," he said. "I'm super excited to continue the tradition that those guys have started – David Taylor, back to Frank Molinaro, Quentin Wright and Ed Ruth. I'm excited to continue that. I'm up for the challenge. It's going to be good, a I lot of fun." CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' The nation's top heavyweight is leaving the West Coast for Happy Valley ick Nevills is eager to see snow. Yes, the cold, blustery weather that most central Pennsylvanians look to escape during the winter months has Nevills excited. A resident of Clovis, Calif., which is located northeast of Fresno, Nevills is accustomed to the extreme heat of his home state's Central Valley. Temperatures in Clovis can reach 110 degrees during the summertime. While it's quite the contrast to State College winters, NEVILLS Nevills, the nation's No. 1 heavyweight as rated by FloWrestling.com, is looking forward to, among other things, the cool weather. The Class of 2014 prospect will spend his college career across the country at Penn State, wrestling for Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions. He'll be far from home, and the weather will be very different from what he's used to, but to him, the novelty is what makes it so intriguing. "I like that I'm going to get out and experience something different," he said. "I lived in Oklahoma until I was 5, but that's it. I've never lived in the snow. I'd like to think it would be OK. I'm looking forward it." Nevills' commitment, which was the first in an eventful July for the Nittany Lions, was slightly overshadowed when the nation's top recruit and in-state phenom, Chance Marsteller, chose Penn State just a few days later. Nonetheless, Nevills is a premier prospect himself. IntermatWrestle.com ranks him as the fourth-best overall recruit in the country. He has won two state championships for Clovis High and has a N 150-5 career record entering his senior season. The 6-foot-3, 240-pounder also plays defensive end and tight end for the school's football team. While he didn't receive any scholarship offers in that sport, a few Pac-12 schools showed interest. His goals, however, are on the wrestling mat, and he thinks that Penn State will give him his best chance to attain them. That's why he's so eager to move to University Park for the 2013-14 season, even if it's at the cost of some warm weather and even he has to move across the country. "That's something that I'm really looking forward to, actually," he said. "I love my family and I love being with them, but for the things I want to be able to accomplish, I just feel that leaving home is what I have to do in order to achieve those goals." Nevills also mulled offers from Ohio State and Stanford, which is where his older brother Zach wrestles. Prior to Nevills' commitment, Penn State had already secured a verbal commitment in December from Thomas Haines, who is a three-time 220-pound state champion from Solanco, Pa., and the fifth-best prospect in the country. On July 1, however, Sanderson informed Haines he would not receive any scholarship assistance and would be asked to walk on. "The next morning I see on FloWrestling the verbal agreement with Nevills," Haines' father, David, told Jim Carlson of PennLive.com. "I will say my son was very upset because it came as a complete shock to him and the family." Haines, who is also projected to compete as a 285-pounder, has since reopened his recruitment and is now considering Ohio State, Cornell and Maryland. – T.O.

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