Others might not, but Penn State views itself as the state’s dominant wrestling school.
Others might not, but the Lehigh Valley views itself as the state’s dominant wrestling region.
Sounds like a perfect match?
Not quite.
Nazareth senior Tim Darling’s decision to commit to the Nittany Lions earlier this month ended a puzzling drought.
Darling represents the first PIAA Class AAA champion from the Lehigh Valley to commit to the Nittany Lions since Easton’s Jamarr Billman decided to begin his college career at Penn State. Billman committed to Penn State as a high school senior in 1996. He ended his career at Lock Haven.
Since then, the Lehigh Valley’s best wrestlers have flocked to programs such as Pittsburgh, Drexel, North Carolina State, and of course, Lehigh.
Don’t look for any former Lehigh Valley standouts on Penn State’s current roster.
There isn’t one.
Darling wants to thaw a frozen pipeline.
He wants wrestlers such as Easton junior Jordan Oliver to follow him to State College. Oliver has appeared in the state finals twice, and assuming he grows, he will be one of the nation’s top recruits next fall.
“I was hoping wherever I chose it would sway kids to that school, “said Darling, a two-time state champion who selected Penn State over Minnesota, Virginia Tech and Lehigh. “After my visit to Penn State, I fell in love with the place. I guess me going there could help bring other kids in. I would like to get Jordan Oliver on the team. That would be a big plus. I think a lot of kids from our area would like to come to Penn State.”
Penn State’s presence in the Lehigh Valley was a topic when Nazareth coach Dave Crowell met with Nittany Lion assistants John Hughes and Matt Dernlan during a clinic in Easton earlier this fall.
“We were talking for quite some time about how they haven’t had that many Lehigh Valley guys, “Crowell said. “Sometimes you just don’t know why. I know they make a concentrated effort in the area. That’s a very motivated staff. They will do anything within the rules to compete.”
Wrestling recruiting can be a fickle thing.
Perhaps Penn State’s needs haven’t aligned with the Lehigh Valley’s best wrestlers. Perhaps the 9.9 scholarship limit has narrowed options.
Or, perhaps, Lehigh Valley kids are different than ones closer to home.
Wrestlers from Easton, Northampton and Nazareth are ingrained with the idea of competing for Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks’ starting lineup could include as many three wrestlers from their own backyard.
“We’re so close to Lehigh, “Darling said, “and people just follow it a lot more.”
Penn State has staged some notable entries into the Lehigh Valley.
Bethlehem Liberty graduate John Fritz won a national title for the Nittany Lions in 1975. Fritz, who coached the Nittany Lions from 1993-98, finished as a PIAA runner-up twice.
Fritz, like everybody else, doesn’t know why there haven’t been more Lehigh Valley standouts at Penn State.
“Sometimes it just goes like that, “he said. “It’s a great area for high school wrestling.”
Darling will likely join a small group.
Only five PIAA champions from Lehigh Valley schools have lettered at Penn State. The group includes three-time All-American Andy Voit, a 1984 PIAA champion from Allentown Dieruff.
A future 197-pounder
Penn State appears to have solidified its future at one of the toughest weights to recruit.
The Nittany Lions also received a commitment from Blair Academy 215-pounder Jared Platt last week. Blair coach Jeff Buxton said Platt weighs “around 200 “pounds.
That makes Platt a good bet to replace current 197-pounder Phil Davis when his career ends after the 2007-08 season. Platt placed third at the rugged Beast of the East and Ironman tournaments last season.
“He’s one of our most improved kids, “Buxton said. “He went from being an above average high school wrestler his sophomore year into one of the best heavyweight recruits in the country. He really blossomed last year.”
Buxton said Platt also received interest from Ohio State, Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Cornell and Pennsylvania.
Platt is the first Blair Academy wrestler to commit to Penn State since Marat Tomaez, whose college career was interrupted by multiple injuries. Tomaez signed with Nittany Lions in 1999.
Former BEA wrestler a coach
West York High School hired former Bald Eagle Area wrestler Josh Millard as its head coach last week.
Millard placed fourth at 189 pounds in the 1997 PIAA Class AAA Championships and qualified for the NCAA Championships twice at Lock Haven.
West York went 2-14 in dual meets last season. The program has experienced success in the past. The Bulldogs have produced three PIAA champions and they recorded 18 wins during the 1993-94 season.
Guy Cipriano is a sports writer for the Centre Daily Times. He can be reached at 231-4643 or [email protected].
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