Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/847744
How do you top an undefeated, championship-winning sophomore season? If you're Zain Retherford, you do it by put- ting together another undefeated, championship-winning sea- son, and then by claiming the Hodge Trophy, which goes to the nation's top collegiate wrestler. This year's Hodge could hardly have gone to a more deserving contender. Retherford was simply dominant as a junior, racking up 17 pins in 28 matches and winning Big Ten and NCAA championships at 149 pounds. His performance at nationals consisted of one pin and four technical falls, the last of which came in the championship match, in which he routed Missouri's third-ranked Lavion Mayes, 18-2. Retherford also won the Schalles Award, which is presented by WIN Magazine to the nation's top pinner. The award's namesake, former Clarion national champ Wade Schalles, said of Retherford, "He's a rare breed indeed because he doesn't care what the scoreboard reads. If you're not on your back, he's not happy." Retherford has won 63 consecutive matches, a streak that dates back to the 2014 NCAA tournament. It's the longest ac- tive winning streak in the country, and it begs a familiar ques- tion as Retherford prepares for his final season at Penn State: How does one keep topping oneself? After a junior season that could hardly have gone better, it's the most daunting of chal- lenges, but that likely won't stop the two-time national champ from attempting an even more dominant performance in 2018. HONORABLE MENTION Saquon Barkley football | Led the Big Ten in all-purpose yards (1,972) and scoring (132 points) and won the league's Of- fensive Player of the Year award… Trace McSorley football | Led the Big Ten in pass efficiency in his debut as Penn State's starting QB, throwing for a school-record 3,614 yards and 29 touchdowns… Bo Nickal wrestling | Defeated top-ranked Gabe Dean of Cornell in the final to claim his first national title… Jason Nolf wrestling | Wrapped up an undefeated season with a dominant performance at nationals that included two tech falls, two major decisions and a pin… Vince Pedrie ice hockey | Became only the second Penn State player to win first-team All- Big Ten honors and the first defenseman. –M.H. ZAIN RETHERFORD M A L E A T H L E T E O F T H E Y E A R PSU 149-pounder pins his way to another title RETHERFORD