Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/420483
Nov. 9, it was without six wrestlers who combined to score 79 percent of the team's points at the 2014 NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City. Now it's time to start fresh. Well, sort of. In the starting lineup there are still two All-Americans in Matt Brown (174 pounds) and Morgan McIntosh (197), along with a few national quali8ers in Jimmy Gulibon (133) and Jon Gingrich/Jimmy Lawson (285). Even one of the newly named starters – Jordan Conaway at 125 – has wrestled in the national tournament before, but half of the lineup will be comprised of underclassmen who have yet to make a splash on the collegiate scene. "Maybe our [starters] on paper aren't right there yet, but we have until March to get these guys ready to score points at the national tournament and to be their best," head coach Cael Sanderson said. "This year is a di9erent type of a challenge, I think." Di9erent indeed. Penn State opened the season ranked No. 5 in the country by most polls, its lowest preseason ranking since it began winning titles four years ago. The coaching sta9 has never been forced to replace six starters since it has been at the school, so this is also the largest lineup turnover it has encountered. It won't be the same, considering world- beaters Taylor and Ruth are no longer at the forefront – "You don't replace guys like that," Sanderson said – but the coach- ing sta9 is embracing the future. "We have to climb and we have to im- prove and we have to make progress," Sanderson added. "I think that's exciting for us. Every year is di9erent, regardless. We always have changeover and di9erent obstacles and blessings, but we'll see what we can do this year. We'll see how well we can coach." Who are the six new starters who round out PSU's new lineup? Let's get to know them, here. JORDAN CONAWAY WT 125 YR R-Jr. Conaway is a familiar name to the Penn State wrestling faithful, as he's already assembled a 34-15 career record and fell just one win shy of All-America status two years ago at 133. He's also got a reputation for having one of the most stubborn work ethics on the team. But Conaway has yet to wrestle an entire season as a starter, and he's rarely wres- tled at his natural weight. With Megaludis taking a redshirt, that changes this year. "He stepped in at 133 as a freshman and did a great job wrestling undersized," . NAME WT. CLASS ELIG HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL Andrew Alton 149 Sr. Mill Hall, Pa. Central Mountain Dylan Alton 157 Sr. Mill Hall, Pa. Central Mountain Zack Beitz 141 So. Mifflintown, Pa. Juniata Matt Brown 174 Sr. W. Valley City, Utah Cyprus George Carpenter 125 Fr. Chapel Hill, N.C. Carrboro Anthony Cassar 197 Fr. Rocky Hill, N.J. Montgomery Jordan Conaway 125/133 Jr. Abbottstown, Pa. New Oxford Dylan Dailey 174/184 Jr. Danville, Pa. Danville James Frascella 174 Jr. Carmel, Ind. Carmel Luke Frey 149 Jr. Montoursville, Pa. Montoursville Jon Gingrich 285 Sr. Wingate, Pa. Bald Eagle Area Jimmy Gulibon 133 So. Latrobe, Pa. Derry Area Garett Hammond 157/165 R-Fr. Chambersburg, Pa. Chambersburg Cody Law 157/165 R-Fr. Windber, Pa. Forest Hills Jimmy Lawson 285 Sr. Toms River, N.J. Manchester Township Caleb Livingston 165/174 So. Drexel Hill, Pa. Upper Darby Rex Lutz 165 Jr. Easton, Pa. Penn Argyl Matt McCutcheon 184/197 R-Fr. Apollo, Pa. Kiski Area Morgan McIntosh 197 Jr. Santa Ana, Calif. Calvary Chapel Nico Megaludis 125 Sr. Murrysville, Pa. Franklin Regional Kade Moss 141/149 R-Fr. South Jordan, Utah Bingham Nick Nevills 285 Fr. Clovis, Calif. Clovis Bo Nickal 174/184 Fr. Allen, Texas Allen Jason Nolf 149/157 Fr. Yatesboro, Pa. Kittanning Jordan Pagano 174 Fr. Oradell, N.J. Bergen Catholic Wes Phipps 174/184 So. Grove City, Pa. Grove City Shakur Rasheed 165 Fr. Coram, N.Y. Longwood Zain Retherford 141 So. Benton, Pa. Benton Josh Rogers 197 Jr. Pottstown, Pa. St. Pius X/Valley Forge MA Nick Ruggear 285 Sr. Oxford, Pa. Oxford Devon Van Cura 174/184 Fr. Washington, N.C. Washington Michael Waters 133/141 Jr. Advance, N.C. Davie Nicholas Weldon 184 Fr. Birmingham, Ala. Clay-Chalkville Kenneth Yanovich 125 Fr. Effort, Pa. Pleasant Valley 2 0 1 4 - 1 5 R O S T E R