WILLIAMSPORT – A former Lock Haven University wrestler has filed a lawsuit against the university’s athletic director, former wrestling coach and president claiming the university tried to force him to wrestle when injured, and violated his freedom of speech by limiting his ability to speak out against the school.

Landis Wright filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Williamsport.

Listed as defendants are Athletic Director Sharon E. Taylor, former coach Anthony “Rocky” Bonomo, who retired from his post earlier this month, and university President Dr. Keith T. Miller.

The lawsuit states Wright, now 21, was one of the nation’s “most promising young wrestlers,” and ranked third in the state and seventh in the nation when a senior at Bald Eagle Area High School at Wingate.

The suit states Bonomo offered Wright a $10,000 per year scholarship to attend the university up to five years. The suit states Bonomo also offered Landis’ younger brother, Quentin Wright, a full scholarship as well. The suit alleges that violated NCAA rules, as Quentin was only a high school sophomore at the time.

When news surfaced in September that Ryland Geiger was leaving the University of Minnesota, it was more than just a small blip on the radar for the Gopher faithful.

The 19-year-old Geiger, who was one of the nation’s top recruits from the Class of 2008, was expected to make an immediate impact at 197 pounds for a young and talented Gopher team looking to get back to the top of the college wrestling world after coming off its worst NCAA finish (14th) since 1996.

Great expectations had been placed on the broad shoulders of Geiger after a prep career that saw him capture two Oregon (OSAA) state titles and win titles at prestigious high school events such as NHSCA Nationals, Cadet Nationals, and Junior Nationals. He was ranked No. 1 in the country at 189 pounds by InterMat.

Last season, as a redshirt for the Gophers, Geiger compiled a 19-3 record while competing in open tournaments. In the spring, Geiger won both the FILA Junior Nationals and FILA World Team Trials in freestyle to earn a spot on the Junior World Team. Geiger, though, chose not to compete at the Junior World Championships in Ankara, Turkey in August, and instead opted to stay in Minneapolis and focus on his summer term courses at Minnesota.

COB BASRA, Iraq – Who is Coach J Robinson?

Robinson has had an illustrious career as an Army Ranger during the Vietnam War, an Olympic wrestler and one of the greatest coaches in University of Minnesota history.

Robinson demonstrated his bravery by telling a roomful of military policemen how he listens to Britney Spears and Lady Gaga to get motivated.

Robinson is also caring. He flew to Iraq recently to motivate the troops and when he learned the government wasn’t going to pay his way, he was perfectly willing to fly halfway around world on his own dime.

All to offer a simple “Thank you.”

“When the chaplain called and asked if I could come, I thought it was the least I could do,” said Robinson, who was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005. “I was sitting at home, and you know what that’s like. It’s pretty good. Sometimes you don’t realize that until you leave.”

Robinson visited troops all over Contingency Operating Base Basra, at each stop encouraging Soldiers and telling them to embrace their deployment as a learning experience.

By Stephen Hennessey and Jocelyn Syrstad
Collegian Staff Writer

Bubba Jenkins admits he wasn’t even in shape at this point last season.

Each practice, even though the season has not started, has been harder than last year’s most difficult practice, redshirt sophomore Clay Steadman said.

The wrestlers were used to training for an extended period of time in the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex, but not spending a Friday night there for breaking a team rule.

Welcome to the Penn State wrestling team’s version of Friday Night Lights.

The itinerary entails sweeping the filth off the practice mats with a broom, cleaning with a mop and running up and down the length of the four giant practice mats, paper towel in hand, to dry the floor that has been the training ground for 98 NCAA All-Americans. After cleaning, wrestlers study in the bleachers of the facility, without any conversation, cell phones or iPods.

“It’s something you don’t want to get, but it’s really easy to get,” freshman wrestler Ed Ruth said. “As soon as you get it, you’re like, ‘I’ve got Friday Night Lights.’ It’s not really a surprise when you get it, it’s just that in public school they give you disciplinary actions, but they give you like a strike or a demerit or something to build up to that. But this, you just get it right away. It’s like sink or die.”

by SEAN KEELER

State College, Pa. — The wrestling room is bigger than a VFW hall, the mats wide as a country mile. Four high-definition televisions hang on the walls, each one placed strategically a few feet apart from the next.

“It’s a nice room,” Cael Sanderson says. “But obviously a room’s not going to win for you.”

He smiles. Penn State’s Lorenzo Wrestling Complex opened in 2006 to the tune of $4 million. Tucked neatly into the west side of campus, it’s more a penthouse than a palace, but every corner sparkles.
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“I think it was just a lot of bad information that was out there as to why I made the decision,” Sanderson said of the stunning coup that brought the former Iowa State wrestling coach here from Ames five months ago. “But really, that wasn’t the reason that I took the job. I was just looking at a long-term opportunity here.”

At the most recent NCAA wrestling championships, a dozen Pennsylvania natives were named to the All-American team; two were natives of Iowa. Steve Sanderson, Cael’s father, told The (Penn State) Daily Collegian last spring that his son had discussed a move to State College for at least a year, if the job ever came open.

Back on July 6, USA Wrestling was notified by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office that one of its employees, Mark A. Scott, had been arrested on suspicion of attempting to lure a child for sexual purposes over the internet and was in custody.

Mr. Scott, who is employed as the Director of State Services, has been relieved of all duties with USA Wrestling. All state service matters should be referred to the Manager of State Services.

USA Wrestling was shocked and disturbed about this situation. USA Wrestling has zero tolerance for this type of conduct. The organization will fully cooperate with the appropriate authorities. USA Wrestling will monitor the criminal proceedings and take appropriate action as necessary.

USA Wrestling has no further comment on this matter at this time.

COLUMBIA — If you’ve ever complained about the climb to your seat in row 70 of Memorial Stadium, don’t tell the Missouri wrestling team.

The 40 men of the Tiger squad trudge to the stadium once a week during preseason, which began last Monday, for their Wednesday stadium run. For at least 10 minutes, the ring of tennis shoes against metal bleachers and the grunts of overexertion and encouragement echo through the stands, drowning out the football team’s practice on the field below.

The weekly ritual is not the only element of the grueling preseason training that tests the team’s strength and willpower; the eight hours a week of practice that the NCAA permits before regular workouts begin are devoted to pushing the team’s physical and mental limits.

“They’re going to get to the point during this training where they’re going to wonder if they can go anymore,” Missouri coach Brian Smith said. “And they’re going to realize that they can. Wrestling does that to you.”

GREELEY, Colo. – After spending nearly his whole life in a wrestling room, Jack Maughan has decided it’s time for a change.

And with that, an era has ended for Bears athletics.

Maughan this past season finished his 22nd year leading the Northern Colorado wrestling program, but he has announced his decision to step down from that leadership role and devote all of his energy to his duties as the athletic department’s director of development, which he has also held in a dual-role for a little more than a year.

Maughan, who has memories of being less than a year old and rolling around on a mat with his father, Bucky, a legendary wrestling coach at North Dakota State, says his decision is effective immediately.

“This was a really, really difficult choice for me and my family,” said Maughan, who also coached the men’s and women’s golf teams during his time at Northern Colorado. “I think the hardest thing for me, now that I’ve made my decision, is that I’m not the coach anymore. That’s a hard thing to come to terms with. It’s a position of respect, and you get such a good feeling about working with bright, great kids. I’ll certainly miss that.

ATHENS, Ohio – Ohio Wrestling welcomes Ryan Lang, who will become a volunteer assistant coach for the Bobcats.

Over five stellar competition years at Northwestern University, Lang compiled a 104-27 career record, going 39-9 in dual meets. A native of North Royalton, Ohio, Lang was a four-time Ohio state champion in high school.

In his first year he wrestled unattached, going 7-1 overall, including competing at the Michigan State Open. He won his first three career matches and posted an undefeated 4-0 record at the Cleveland State Open.

His freshman year was marked by a 28-10 overall record, including a 4-2 mark in the Big Ten. He only missed All-American status by one win this season. Being one of only three freshmen to crack the 20-wins barrier, he was a perfect 7-0 in nonconference dual meets. He also recorded eight major decision victories this year, with eight pins and two technical falls.

In his sophomore season, he posted a 22-7 overall record en route to earning his first career All-America honor. He finished fourth at the NCAA Championships this season and placed second at the Big Ten Championships. His sophomore campaign began with eleven straight wins. In November he was crowned Themat.com’s Wrestler of the Week and Big Ten Wrestler of the Week. He was ranked top-ten by all four major wrestling polls this season.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The Varsity “S” Club and Penn State wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson invite all Penn State wrestling alumni returning for the 2009 Homecoming weekend to join the current wrestling team and staff for a day full of Homecoming festivities.

On Oct. 17, before Penn State and Minnesota clash in Beaver Stadium, the Penn State wrestling team would like to open up a conditioning session for those returning former student-athletes as a chance to view the 2009 wrestling team and coaches. Following practice a tour of the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex will be given for all attendees.

With head coach Cael Sanderson making his debut appearance as a Nittany Lion and the transition of the coaching staff in full motion, there will be a meet and greet session for alumni to connect with the new faces of Penn State Wrestling. Food and beverages will be provided for the Penn State wrestling members and families during the meet and greet session.

The Schedule of Events goes as followed:
Open Conditioning Session at Lorenzo Wrestling Complex 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Tour of Lorenzo Wrestling Complex 10:40 a.m.- 11:15 a.m.
Meet and Greet with Coaching Staff 11:20 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
Penn State vs. Iowa Homecoming Football game 3:30 p.m.