His voice hoarse from another long day, Penn State senior 174-pounder James Yonushonis slumped onto the bleachers at the Lorenzo Wrestling Center last week and appeared comfortable.
“I needed a day off from working out, “Yonushonis said after spending 10 hours in a button-down shirt and tie.
Considering his fall schedule, the rest should help.
The former Philipsburg-Osceola standout has altered his training schedule because of a student-teaching assignment at Roosevelt Junior High School in Altoona.
He rises at 4:30 a.m. to squeeze in an early workout. Yonushonis then showers, throws on dress clothes and makes the 40-mile trip to Altoona.
He arrives at Roosevelt at 7 a.m. and finalizes teaching preparations. His school day ends at 2:30 p.m. An hour later, he hustles into practice.
Teaching has developed into an enjoyable task for Yonushonis. It helps that the majority of his students are attentive and respectful.
“They seem to like me and they seem to take well to what I’m teaching, “said Yonushonis, who teaches eighth grade social studies.
The student-teaching experience will help Yonushonis graduate next semester with a secondary education degree. When Yonushonis enrolled at Penn State in 2002, he wanted to follow former P-O coach Dave Caslow. The past four years has convinced Yonushonis to broaden his career search.
“When I was getting into college, he was starting to get up there in years he has been coaching, “Yonushonis said. “I figured he would be getting ready to retire when I started getting into teaching and coaching. I thought it would be cool if I went back to my high school and take over that job.”
“Since then, my eyes have been opened to more of the world. I’m not so sure that’s what I want to do anymore. I don’t know. I think wrestling is probably part of my future somehow.”
Wrestling has treated Yonushonis well in the past year. He enters this season as an All-American with desires of making a push toward a NCAA title.
Assistant coach Dave Hart, who experienced a similar student-teaching scenario during his college career, helps Yonushonis balance training needs with teaching obligations. Hart claimed a Big Ten title and placed third nationally as a senior in 1993.
“Coach Hart does a really good job of helping me get organized, “Yonushonis said. “I think we are on the right pace of where we want to be. Because student teaching is really busy and stressful, wrestling has become a lot of fun. I really enjoy it when I get into practice.”
Penn State coach Troy Sunderland hopes some of his younger wrestlers are observing Yonushonis this fall.
“That’s kind of what we do in terms of sacrifices to get our training in and that’s what more guys need to buy into, “Sunderland said. “Don’t tell me you don’t get enough time to get your rest, study and workout when you look at somebody like a James Yonushonis doing all this. He’s traveling to go teach, doing his lesson plans and setting up his workouts three, four, five days in advance. That’s what has made him so successful.”
No Scott
Freshman Dave Rella, Josh Rohler and Bubba Jenkins, three members of the hyped quartet the Nittany Lions lured to campus, will make their public debuts during Sunday’s wrestle-offs at Rec Hall.
But don’t expect to see the complete quartet in action.
Garrett Scott, a three-time PIAA Class AA champion from Juniata Valley, is not listed on the roster. Scott is currently enrolled as a part-time student.
“Time will tell, “Sunderland said. “Like I have said before, as a university and as a staff, we have done everything that we can do to help him. It’s just a matter of him taking advantage of opportunities and helping himself.”
If he takes advantage of those opportunities, could Scott join the team next semester?
“It’s a possibility, “Sunderland said.
Scott won a PIAA title as a freshman, sophomore and junior, but he missed last year’s championships because he violated his charter school’s Internet use policy. He projects as a 141-pounder.
Junior Bryan Heller is the leading candidate to start at 141 pounds. Heller qualified for the NCAA championships at 133 pounds as a freshman in 2004-05. Heller went 26-6 competing primarily in open tournaments last season.
“He has worked hard and he has paid his dues, “Sunderland said. “He’s going to have an opportunity to wrestle. Last year he got some time sporadically. At this point, he will be wrestling 141.”
Strong class
The NCAA early signing period begins Wednesday and Penn State has appeared to compose another solid recruiting class.
The Nittany Lions have received verbal commitments from Blair Academy 215-pounder Jared Platt, Nazareth 152-pounder Tim Darling, Southern (N.J.) 140-pounder Frank Molinaro and St. Peter Channel (Ohio) heavyweight Cameron Wade.
All four wrestlers are ranked second in their respective weights by Amateur Wrestling News. The quartet will likely place Penn State’s 2007 recruiting class into the nation’s top five for a second straight year.
Fall champions
Bald Eagle Area’s Kevin Struble and Quentin Wright claimed titles during last weekend’s Lock Haven Fall Classic. Struble defeated Brad Riggleman in the 215 finals while Wright defeated Mifflinburg’s Brett Snyder at 160.
State College’s Steve Bosak and BEA’s Grant Paswall placed second at their respective weights. Bosak lost to Mifflinburg’s Micah Bollinger at 150 and Upper Perkiomen’s Zack Kemmerer defeated Paswall at 145.
Kemmerer, a University of Pennsylvania recruit, defeated Paswall in last year’s PIAA Class AAA semifinals.
PIAA programs are permitted to begin official practice next Monday.
Guy Cipriano is a sports writer for the Centre Daily Times. He can be reached at 231-4643 or gciprian-centredaily.com.
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