We all remember the electric moment when Jordan beat Graff in a Rec Hall dual. That was probably the crowning moment of his PSU career. But, today I happened to glance at the 2015 125 pound brackets and saw Conaway's name in the bracket, so I looked up his results. He lost 2nd round to Gilman 3-1 SV1 but then battled back to place 8th. What I particularly didn't remember was who he beat in the consolations: Parker from Lehigh 9-5, Lizak 7-3 and Terao 8-5, before losing to Nahshon Garrett. That's a pretty impressive string of wins! I always enjoyed watching Conaway. He always gave it 100% and never stopped battling, often pulling out clutch wins late over good wrestlers. I remember chatting a bit with him at the PSU social after those NCAA's. He's also a fine young man, and that's probably the most important!
Jordan Conaway
- Thread starter tomsc
- Start date
Get rid of Nebraska, I've got Cael Sanderson on the phone!
That story never gets old.
That story never gets old.
I dunno man, not to take anything away from Jordan and Nico, but I think Jason and DT are in that conversation too....
All of our elite guys had HUGE tanks, that 15 minute match with Sorenson (while rumored to be under the weather) sticks out in my mind.
Im not trying to take anything away from any of our studs … they had great tanks for sure. But Nico wrestled a double OT match in NCAA semi's as a freshman against Perrelli, came off the mat & did the interview with Quint …. and wasn't breathing heavy. never saw anything like it and he was a TRUE freshman
Click here for the article that includes the Manning-Sanderson story.
The article does not have the actual “hang up” quote, but it does have:
“Along with Megaludis and defending 197-pound national champion Morgan McIntosh, Conaway helps make up one of the most successful senior classes in Penn State history.”
The Room gave Nico a gas tank for the ages. The other studs did not have the same Room experience as Nico.
The Room gave Nico a gas tank for the ages. The other studs did not have the same Room experience as Nico.
Too soon
Quite a few of our wrestlers during the Cael era had great gas tanks. Add Nick Lee to the list.
AntKnee always impressed me for a big guy, he would be looking for a extra TD with 15 seconds left in a match.
Kinda like DT did against one of the top 5 P4P wrestlers in the world, and it was only a 6 minute match. #JustSayin
One of the best gas tanks I ever saw for a PSU wrestler was 1984 NCAA Champ Carl DeStefanis.
Obligatory Conaway's Dad story: Sitting in front of him at Scuffle. Conversation in the group around us led to his discovery that I had a kid at Penn State. He said, "You don't look old enough to have a kid in college."
I've loved that man ever since.
I've loved that man ever since.
I had forgotten about Carl's great gas tank. I do remember loving to watch him wrestle. He was so slick on his feet! And a very nice guy too. I remember being at the NCAA championships in 1984 and seeing both DeStefanis and Lynch win NCAA titles (that was only the second time that PSU claimed 2 individual crowns up 2012 when Taylor, Ruth and Molinaro won 3 titles). Also, PSU had 7 AA's in 1984 including the 2 champs--quite a good team that year!
Carl was inducted into the Downstate NY Chapter Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018. This is a chapter of the National Wrestling HoF. And as others have said, he's a nice guy, always representing Penn State well.
While I wouldn’t go so far as to crown Nico, he would certainly be in the discussion. I remember watching he and Zanetta go at it for over 9 minutes in a dual meet before Nico scored a TD in the 2nd SV. Nico was a true freshman.
Obligatory Conaway's Dad story: Sitting in front of him at Scuffle. Conversation in the group around us led to his discovery that I had a kid at Penn State. He said, "You don't look old enough to have a kid in college."
I've loved that man ever since.
I semi remember that. Lots of Daves there in addition to you.
This. We have had lots of studs with lots of gas tanks but Carl was truly the Energizer Bunny. Didn't hurt that he wrestlers John Fritz in practice nearly every day and Coach Fritz could still go all day when he wanted to and never gave Carl an inch!
I was at the 1984 National Finals also. I believe Princeton hosted and it was held at Medowlands. Some great talent won titles. If I recall Nate Carr and Kenny Monday won titles. The heavyweight match was history. It was last time unlimited weight class wàs offered. Tab Thacker, who I think weghed around 350-400 pounds beat Gary Albright from Nebraska?
Similar threads
