By Guy Cipriano
The crowd clapped and pounded every inch of Rec Hall with a minute remaining.
Considering the wrestler on the mat, a rhythmic cheer seemed fitting.
Penn State freshman 141- pounder Garrett Scott glided around the circle with Michigan’s Kellen Russell, jockeying for position in a one-point bout.
Scott’s moves resembled the claps ” every one featured a purpose.
Scott prevented Russell from recording a takedown during that final minute to earn the biggest win of his young college career.
Triumphs such as the 4-3 victory over the fourth-ranked Russell are what many envisioned when Scott committed to Penn State in 2005. The win helped the Nittany Lions defeat Michigan 20-14.
In some ways, Scott (14-3) has arrived on schedule. In some ways, Scott has arrived later than expected.
He’s only two years removed from his high school career.
But his high school career wasn’t like many others.
He won three PIAA Class AA titles at Juniata Valley. He would have likely claimed a fourth if a violation of his charter school’s Internet use policy didn’t prevent him from participating in the state tournament as a senior.
The start of Scott’s college career was then delayed because he didn’t become a full-time student until 2007.
Scott’s status as a small-school wrestling icon attending a major program less than an hour from his hometown created some intriguing possibilities.
Yet when this season started, Scott figured loosely into the Nittany Lions’ plans.
His optimal weight was 141 pounds, the spot occupied by All-American Jake Strayer. Scott completed the weight certification process later than most teammates so he never participated in preseason wrestle-offs.
He then quietly started his college career as a 149-pounder at the East Stroudsburg Open on Nov. 18. Scott went 3-1, dropping a one-point decision to Harvard All-American J.P. O’Connor. At first, the open circuit appeared to be Scott’s only competitive avenue.
But Scott changed his entire season by winning the Nittany Lion Open on Dec. 2. He went 6-0 after cutting to 141, defeated Strayer 7-3 in the semifinals and wore a Penn State singlet, ending the possibility of a redshirt season.
A week later, Scott wrestled All-American Nathan Morgan and lost 6-3 during a dual meet at Oklahoma State.
Scott and Strayer then shared the starting spot for two months before engaging in what was expected to be a winner-take-all wrestle-off last week. The wrestle- off, which was delayed multiple times because of Scott’s hamstring injury and the death of Strayer’s grandmother, featured a murky conclusion. A rib injury forced Strayer to default and Scott received the starting spot against Michigan.
“Unfortunately, he got hurt,” Scott said. “He’s a good kid. I take nothing from him. I’m excited to take the spot.”
It’s unclear whether Scott has earned the spot for the rest of the season. Another wrestle-off is a possibility if Strayer’s injury heals.
“I don’t know where it’s going from here,” Scott said.
Scott, who has recorded five falls and two technical falls in 17 college bouts, received some impressive reviews after his performance against Russell, the top-ranked 141-pounder last month.
“Garrett is special,” senior 133-pounder Tim Haas said. “He just has it. When he’s on, and when he wants to win, he wins. To see him move the way he does and do the things that he does is huge for the team.”
Scott’s ability to defeat Russell despite a practice schedule interrupted by the wrestle-off and hamstring injury impressed coach Troy Sunderland.
“He hasn’t been able to practice a full, hard go,” Sunderland said. “For the amount of practice he got in, it was phenomenal to beat the kid he was able to beat.”
As others searched for adjectives to describe his performance and potential, the confident Scott handled his fate like somebody who always expected to be in his current position.
“I wanted to start from the beginning of the season,” he said. “I worked hard to get that spot and now I’m here. I just have to bust my butt in practice and get in top shape.”
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