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Penn State placed 26h and sixth at the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments, respec- tively. In fact, only two starters from last year return to the same weight class. 125 NICO MEGALUDIS * RANK No. 2** YEAR Sr. HOME Murrysville, Pa. A two-time national 2nalist, Megaludis is back in Penn State's leado3 position for his 2nal season a6er taking a redshirt in his fourth year with the program, during which he focused on international freestyle competition while also re2ning his folkstyle technique. Megaludis has added a few pounds while maintaining the ability to wrestle at the lightest weight class in col- lege. While the extra weight might not amount to much – only about three pounds – he said it does make a di3erence. "There's a point of managing your weight [in which] you don't want to get too low and you want to keep your strength up," Megaludis said. "And with these extra few pounds, I'm making weight easy, but the extra three pounds is strength, muscle, and I think it's going to be really bene2cial." 133 JORDAN CONAWAY * RANK No. 12 YEAR Sr. HOME Abbottstown, Pa. Despite earning All-America honors – the 2rst of his career – at 125 last season, Conaway had some di4culty maintaining the weight. With the two other starters ahead of him moving up a weight class, there was an opportunity for Conaway to slide back into the spot at which he wres- tled the 2rst couple seasons of his college career. With the added weight, Sanderson said, "I expect him to have an even better year this year. Even though he 2nished as an All-American last year, I think he'll be even stronger this year at '33." 125 JIMMY GULIBON * RANK No. 1 YEAR Jr. HOME Latrobe, Pa. Like Conaway, Gulibon moved up a weight class in spite of earning his 2rst All-America citation at the weight below. But Gulibon and his coaches both believe that the move will pay o3 here, too. He had more success with weight manage- ment last season at 133, but in his 2rst season in the lineup '33 was a challenge for Gulibon to consistently make. At 141, which is far less daunting in terms of competition than his previous weight class, expectations are growing around Gulibon. "Jimmy is de2nitely better o3 at '41," Sanderson said. "He did a nice job with his weight last year, but he was extremely disciplined. We just want him to go out there and feel great. And he should feel great at '41." 125 ZAIN RETHERFORD * RANK No. 2 YEAR Soph. HOME Benton, Pa. The impetus for most of the weight changes came from the growth of Rether- ford, who is noticeably bulkier than he was as a true freshman at 141. It became clear in the spring that Retherford would have to move up a weight. With more than six months until the season opener, Guli- bon and Conaway had ample time to begin their transition to the next weight class. "A lot of it was based o3 of Zain and what Zain wanted to do," Sanderson said. "If Zain says he's going up a weight, [other starters] are going to shi6 around him, because he's very tough and very good." The new weight class will present a dif- ferent set of challengers, but a6er going 33-3 in his college debut season, and beat- ing four-time national champion Logan Stieber in a dual meet, Retherford said he's up for it. "The guys are going to be bigger and stronger, and I didn't get any taller, so guys are going to be taller, too, but I feel strong," he said. "I'm feeling ready to com- pete at '49, so I'm looking forward to it." 125 JASON NOLF RANK No. 6 YEAR R-Fr. HOME Yatesboro, Pa. Asked about the success he enjoyed dur- ing his redshirt season, in which he 2nished with a 15-1 record wrestling unattached, Nolf instead points directly to that lone defeat, which came at the hands of All- American James Green in the championship round of the acclaimed Southern Scu5e. He also points to two losses on the freestyle circuit, although he only recently began focusing on that discipline. "Those losses are going to motivate me," he said. That mindset is one that Sanderson de- sires in his competitors, and one that could lead the three-time Pennsylvania state champion to even greater heights in this sport. While Sanderson said he doesn't want to put a lot of pressure on Nolf, he has clearly been impressed with what he's seen so far. Said the coach, "He's going to be a guy who, I think, will be remembered around here for a long time." 125 SHAKUR RASHEED RANK N/R YEAR R-Fr. HOME Coram, N.Y. Rasheed missed most of his true fresh- man season due to a shoulder injury that 1 2 5 1 4 1 1 5 7 1 6 5 1 4 9 1 3 3 * Denotes returning All-American. ** All preseason national rankings listed above are by FloWrestling.com.

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