The Club Wrestling team heads out to Allen, TX (heard someone we know is from there) this week for the NCWA National Championships. They dominated their conference and look to win the D-2 National Title this year. NCWA men's wrestling is broken up into two divisions: D-1, typically programs that serve as the 'varsity' team on campus, and D-2, student-ran programs. D-1 and D-2 compete in the same brackets, and scoring is both done overall and by division. Scotty Stossel, 125 back-up, took 3rd at NCWA Nationals his freshman year before joining the NCAA squad.
Press release below:
We all know the third time’s the charm — and that’s never rang more true than for Coach Schoenberg and the young Penn State Club Wrestling team.
UNIVERSITY PARK - Though most might know State College to be home to the 6-time NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship squad and are familiar with the history being made by Cael Sanderson and company, the Club Wrestling team on the other side of campus has quietly made a name for itself. The program has gone from being an intramural team to a top-down roster with All-Americans, an undefeated season, several National Tournament placings, and a record 12 qualifiers for the 2017 NCWA Championships. Penn State plans to send each qualifier to Nationals over their spring break for the last piece of hardware they need: an NCWA National Title.
Club President and Coach Paul Schoenberg (184) won two highly illusive Mid-Eastern Conference titles this past weekend, both the individual and team title. Schoenberg also took home the MEC Coach of the Year award for his service to the Nittany Lions over his three years competing out of University Park. Following up to a weekend on top of the podium, the team took second both of their previous years in competition.
“I’ve seen this room go from being a storage space to home,” says Davon Clark, a non-competing member on the Club Wrestling team. “Paul and I came in at the same time and can remember wondering if there’s even going to be another season. Next thing you know, he’s taking a squad down to Allen with a legitimate shot at a title. It’s amazing.”
Amazing, indeed: the Nittany Lions were well out of reach in the team race, their 146.5 points blowing away runners-up and MEC powerhouse Temple University’s 80.5 points. A strong conference showing sets up Penn State for a run at the NCWA D2 Title, which they nearly lost to University of Florida last year, who is now a D1 team. The Penn State WC is currently ranked first in the D2 standings and was the highest D2 placer at the 2017 NCWA National Duals.
Accompanying Schoenberg to Nationals will be All-MEC wrestlers Max Spatola (125 - 2nd), Jabel Warren (141 - 4th), TJ Nelson (149 - 3rd), returning All-American Dan Ritz (149 - 2nd), Cody Houston (157 - 3rd), Josh Hammaker (157 - 4th), Thomas Hatzipavlides (165 - 2nd), and Forrest Rutledge (197 - 3rd). Also placing but not attending Nationals were Lion wrestlers Andrius Dunca (235 - 2nd), Tom Eustis (235 - 2nd), and Also Guisse (285 - 5th).
Press release below:
We all know the third time’s the charm — and that’s never rang more true than for Coach Schoenberg and the young Penn State Club Wrestling team.
UNIVERSITY PARK - Though most might know State College to be home to the 6-time NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship squad and are familiar with the history being made by Cael Sanderson and company, the Club Wrestling team on the other side of campus has quietly made a name for itself. The program has gone from being an intramural team to a top-down roster with All-Americans, an undefeated season, several National Tournament placings, and a record 12 qualifiers for the 2017 NCWA Championships. Penn State plans to send each qualifier to Nationals over their spring break for the last piece of hardware they need: an NCWA National Title.
Club President and Coach Paul Schoenberg (184) won two highly illusive Mid-Eastern Conference titles this past weekend, both the individual and team title. Schoenberg also took home the MEC Coach of the Year award for his service to the Nittany Lions over his three years competing out of University Park. Following up to a weekend on top of the podium, the team took second both of their previous years in competition.
“I’ve seen this room go from being a storage space to home,” says Davon Clark, a non-competing member on the Club Wrestling team. “Paul and I came in at the same time and can remember wondering if there’s even going to be another season. Next thing you know, he’s taking a squad down to Allen with a legitimate shot at a title. It’s amazing.”
Amazing, indeed: the Nittany Lions were well out of reach in the team race, their 146.5 points blowing away runners-up and MEC powerhouse Temple University’s 80.5 points. A strong conference showing sets up Penn State for a run at the NCWA D2 Title, which they nearly lost to University of Florida last year, who is now a D1 team. The Penn State WC is currently ranked first in the D2 standings and was the highest D2 placer at the 2017 NCWA National Duals.
Accompanying Schoenberg to Nationals will be All-MEC wrestlers Max Spatola (125 - 2nd), Jabel Warren (141 - 4th), TJ Nelson (149 - 3rd), returning All-American Dan Ritz (149 - 2nd), Cody Houston (157 - 3rd), Josh Hammaker (157 - 4th), Thomas Hatzipavlides (165 - 2nd), and Forrest Rutledge (197 - 3rd). Also placing but not attending Nationals were Lion wrestlers Andrius Dunca (235 - 2nd), Tom Eustis (235 - 2nd), and Also Guisse (285 - 5th).
