PSU set to test lineup changes

By Chris Weeden
Collegian Staff Writer

So far the No. 21 Penn State wrestling team has grappled with an unfamiliar fact.

Mediocrity.

The Nittany Lions (4-4, 0-2 Big Ten), though still ranked in the top 25 according to this week’s USA Today/NCWA NCAA Division I Coaches’ Poll, are coping with injuries, forcing coach Troy Sunderland to make some changes in the lineup following some wrestle-offs for starting jobs earlier in the week.

One change comes at 165-pounds, where Jarrad Turner won the starting job from a slumping Steve Troup.

“I think we are stronger for the changes we have made and will make, “Sunderland said. “It’s going to take the kids a little bit of time to adjust to some of the changes made in the lineup and the situations they’re in.

“As long as we don’t have any, knock on wood, further injuries in the weight classes we’re in now and made some adjustments, this is probably the strongest lineup we can put out there.”

But this situation is far from optimal despite the changes that have been made.

“I’m not comfortable with where the team is, but we have to get our best lineup and continue to give them everything so they continue to develop and be as successful as possible, “Sunderland said.

This change came a day after being swept by No. 4 Michigan and Michigan State to open the Big Ten schedule.

“We let them know that this is not the expectation of a Penn State wrestler, “Sunderland said. “I felt that some were sharp and did the job they needed to do and others can improve and need to improve. We got our message through in our workouts Monday and Tuesday.”

So with these untested tweaks made, the Lions will head to the Cliff Keen/NWCA National Dual Championships and face No. 10 Oklahoma, the seven seed for the tournament.

Last year, No. 6 Penn State defeated No. 13 Oklahoma 20-14, but this time the Lions will be the underdogs.

And the Sooners also feature the No. 1 wrestler, Sam Hazewinkel, at 125-pounds, while the Lions will put Adam Smith (No. 16) out against him. Smith defeated Hazewinkel last year but now things are different. Smith is coming off his first dual-meet loss of the season against Michigan State.

The weekend is set up such that the top eight teams will face each other — they receive random draws against the lower ranked teams. Penn State, being outside the elite eight, could have faced any of these teams, so the Lions caught an early break by drawing the seven seed.

“I guess we got lucky. We could’ve gotten a tougher draw, “Sunderland said. “We have a lot of the same matchups from last year and hope to have some of the same results.”