Jordan Conaway appreciation thread

[jbkeller72]

I think Conaway deserves his own thread. Here's a 1x PIAA champ at 113 as a senior, gets a great win at the Dapper Dan, and comes to Penn State after initially committing to Liberty.
Wrestles up a weight at 133 as Jimmy redshirts and makes R12.
Sits behind Jimmy the next year in a Rasheed/ Morelli like competition for the spot.
Drops back down to 25 last year while Nico redshirts and AAs.
Back up to 33 this year and finishes higher on the podium.
Great, great career and got better every year. 2x AA and did whatever necessary for the team. And you always had to wrestle him hard for 7 minutes if you wanted to beat him, regardless of talent.

 

[nitlion6]

Great kid. So freaking easy to talk with.
Congrats on great career.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

No doubt - his name is up on that AA wall forever - or at least until the Zombie Apocalypse.

That and a part of 4 NC teams

 

[NittanyChris]

Love him. Kid busted his ass and selflessly did whatever the team needed. Endless gas tank often led to thrilling comeback wins while more "talented" wrestlers gassed in the third. Thank you Jimmy!

 

[Lion-around]

Love him. Kid busted his ass and selflessly did whatever the team needed. Endless gas tank often led to thrilling comeback wins while more "talented" wrestlers gassed in the third. Thank you Jimmy!

Lots to love about this great wrestler. His win over Graf and the big win over DiJulius, after falling behind, at the BJC this year are but two of my favorite wins by Jordan. We were fortunate to get him and I wish him nothing but continued success in all his future efforts (hope he keeps wrestling in those efforts).

 

[Cold Smoke]

I think Conaway deserves his own thread. Here's a 1x PIAA champ at 113 as a senior, gets a great win at the Dapper Dan, and comes to Penn State after initially committing to Liberty.
Wrestles up a weight at 133 as Jimmy redshirts and makes R12.
Sits behind Jimmy the next year in a Rasheed/ Morelli like competition for the spot.
Drops back down to 25 last year while Nico redshirts and AAs.
Back up to 33 this year and finishes higher on the podium.
Great, great career and got better every year. 2x AA and did whatever necessary for the team. And you always had to wrestle him hard for 7 minutes if you wanted to beat him, regardless of talent.

Great career Jordan. Heart of a LION!!!

 

[PSFox]

I think Conaway deserves his own thread. Here's a 1x PIAA champ at 113 as a senior, gets a great win at the Dapper Dan, and comes to Penn State after initially committing to Liberty.
Wrestles up a weight at 133 as Jimmy redshirts and makes R12.
Sits behind Jimmy the next year in a Rasheed/ Morelli like competition for the spot.
Drops back down to 25 last year while Nico redshirts and AAs.
Back up to 33 this year and finishes higher on the podium.
Great, great career and got better every year. 2x AA and did whatever necessary for the team. And you always had to wrestle him hard for 7 minutes if you wanted to beat him, regardless of talent.

Agree. He has done everything that was asked and never quit wrestling in a match.

 

[ejb25]

When he first committed, many were wondering how he would fit in the lineup with Nico and then Guilibon committing the next year. Eventhough he had "studs" ahead of him, he still become a 2x AA.

He's the perfect example of Cael's plan, of PA kids that weren't highly touted, but make the difference to a Championship team.

 

[psutim]

i was not over-awed when cael recruited jordan.it turns out however that a 4 time undefeated national champion knows more about wrestling than a former high school basketball player.i am so proud of how hard this young man has worked and how well he has represented our university. i always felt that whenever he went on the mat he had a legitimate shot to win even if he went in a decided underdog ( just ask graff from wisconsin about that).i don't know what his future plans are but i am sure that,with his work ethic, he will be very successful. thank you jordan and good luck. we are......!

 

[NittanyLion84]

i was not over-awed when cael recruited jordan.it turns out however that a 4 time undefeated national champion knows more about wrestling than a former high school basketball player.i am so proud of how hard this young man has worked and how well he has represented our university. i always felt that whenever he went on the mat he had a legitimate shot to win even if he went in a decided underdog ( just ask graff from wisconsin about that).i don't know what his future plans are but i am sure that,with his work ethic, he will be very successful. thank you jordan and good luck. we are......!

I hope you're not insinuating that Cael had clue, in regards to Conaway. I believe we have been told that Cael can't coach.

 

[El-Jefe]

Conaway could be legendary just for his recruiting story -- after Liberty dropped its program, he was talking with Nebraska coach Mark Manning when his father burst into the room and said "Get off the phone, I've got Cael Sanderson!"

Recruited at the same weight as Nico Megaludis, still forced his way into the lineup and made the podium twice. Not bad for a skinny, undersized HS 113. Five years ago,few would've predicted he'd have a better college career than Mason Beckman, but here we are and he did.

 

[erie lion]

No team wins a National Championship without a hard working selfless contributor like JC. Great example of what college athletics is all about. Very appreciative of his efforts at PSU and hope nothing but the best for this young man.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

Will never forget Jordan's first huge win on Jan 18, 2013 when he knocked off #3 ranked Tyler Graff of Wisconsin at Rec Hall - came from way back in the second half of the match by just grinding Graff down, the place went absolutely nuts, absolutely nuts....the kids been a crowd favorite ever since because of who he is. Funny how people remember wrestlers like Jordan and James English, not because they were the greatest ever, but because of "who they were" and "what they were about". Reminded me of what a coach said when I was a kid growing up in Western PA about how you played football and wrestled -- never give up, never give in; to the final whistle win or lose.

 

[JBott]

Congratulations Jordan! You had a great career at PSU and should be a role model for all up and coming wrestlers! Good Luck and God Bless.......

 

[lionlover]

I think Conaway deserves his own thread. Here's a 1x PIAA champ at 113 as a senior, gets a great win at the Dapper Dan, and comes to Penn State after initially committing to Liberty.
Wrestles up a weight at 133 as Jimmy redshirts and makes R12.
Sits behind Jimmy the next year in a Rasheed/ Morelli like competition for the spot.
Drops back down to 25 last year while Nico redshirts and AAs.
Back up to 33 this year and finishes higher on the podium.
Great, great career and got better every year. 2x AA and did whatever necessary for the team. And you always had to wrestle him hard for 7 minutes if you wanted to beat him, regardless of talent.

CONGRATULATIONS on an EXCELLENT wrestling performance at PSU!

 

[caliPSUfan]

Just wanted to drop in and congratulate JC on his second AA honor and an outstanding career at PSU! He'll be tough to replace on the mat and I imagine even tougher to replace as an inspirational leader!

 

[amalone]

If not for Jordan Conaway... one of my most memorable moments at Rec Hall would not exist. If not for Jordan Conaway... I wouldn't feel a swell of pride built up in me at the mere mention of his name. If not for Jordan Conaway... I wouldn't think so much of James English and how I felt after David Taylor came up to him and hugged him after his big win at Nationals versus prior Nat. Champ... Kendric Maples of Oklahoma. If not for Jordan Conaway... New Oxford would be a far flung place next to where I live that no one would invest many thoughts about. Well... there's a two time All-American from New Oxford and I'm very, very proud to know and say it's Jordan Conaway.

If exceeding expectation was an art form... it's maestro on the mat... would be Jordan Conaway. If I begin to sound like Jeff Byers... please stop me.

Cael stated after the Michigan dual that Jordan was the type of young man you'd want your daughter to be married to. Well... we were married to the memories he created and that will... last a lifetime. What a wonderful, selfless, beam of light... a young man who gave it all to Penn State. Would never back down, never gave up,... as in ever, who when the chips were down, fought like a warrior in every match. (i.e. Tyler Graff, vs George DiCamillo of Virginia at the Southern Scuffle this year) To say you love Penn State wrestling... is to say you LOVE the great young men that come in and exceed our wildest expectations and become a Jordan Conaway. Love the kid and all he brought to the wrestling mat. He brought... everything... every match. Great young man of character and uncommon humility.

If every wrestlers heart was as big as Jordan Conaway's...

 

[dunkej01]

JC is the kind of kid that will go out in the world, do well but never be far from the program in my opinion.

His motor and his 3rd period come backs will be bantered about and future wrestlers will unfortunately be compared against him. But that comparison is actually respect being paid and rightfully so to JC.

As I said in another thread along side his memorable matches, I will most remember for the smile he ALWAYS displayed in his interviews. He gets what makes Cael, HV and this team special, and he ALWAYS rewarded us with his smile. Awesome kid!

 

[jrd23psu]

Jordan Conaway is everything that everyone who contributes to this board wishes they were.

Unimpeachable character. Insane work ethic. Never say die attitude.

We all wish we were as good at life as Jordan.

 

[21Guns]

This is the kind of guy that Cael's teams ALWAYS HAVE. A Jordan Conaway, or a James English, and on and on....

Giant hearted, great character, wins agains anyone with equal talent and occasionally against a wrester with even better talent. Comes through in the clutch, and provides stability and valuable points when we need them.

Great kid, but then again, every kid on this team is a great kid.

 

[gtown mike]

When I was in high school, our team used to go to the Clarion wrestling camp every summer. Jordan's dad was an instructor there, and was always a favorite of ours. It was great when he became New Oxford's Head Coach. They were in our league and their program really needed a shot in the arm. It's clear for me to see why Jordan represents himself, his family, his team and his University so well. Congrats Jordan. There are and will be bigger names that will occupy a PSU singlet, but few will match your heart and guts. Thank you for your contributions to the program!

 

[21Guns]

He is the consummate Penn State/Cael Sanderson wrestler, which, just by saying that, is the biggest compliment you can make.