By Guy Cipriano
LOCK HAVEN — Penn State has found a template to bring college-ready middleweights into its wrestling room.
Look one state west and search for Ohio state champions from schools that wrestle ambitious schedules.
Last year, the template brought the Nittany Lions David Erwin who went 23-8 as a true freshman competing at 165 pounds.
This year, the template has produced Dave Rella who claimed his first college title by going 4-0 during Saturday’s Mat-Town Open at Thomas Field House.
Coincidentally, Rella won his title at 165 pounds, the weight class Erwin abandoned after last season.
And Erwin?
He continued his redshirt season by cruising to the 184-pound title.
Rella and Erwin were the lone members of Penn State’s 20-wrestler unattached contingent to claim titles during the holiday tournament which was staged as an open for the first time in its history.
“This feels good, “Rella said. “There’s a lot of pressure off now. The first couple of weeks wrestling in the room you get banged up a little bit. I have been feeling good. I have my confidence back now.”
The similarities between Rella and Erwin are frightening.
Erwin arrived at Penn State after claiming two Ohio Division II titles at St. Paris Graham High School. Rella claimed two Ohio Division II titles at Walsh Jesuit.
In fact, Rella and Erwin wrestled twice during their high school careers. Erwin defeated Rella at the Beast of the East and Ironman tournaments during his senior season.
“He’s a tremendous asset to the program, “Erwin said.
“He works hard and he’s a great partner in the room. He’s a fun guy to be around, too.”
Still, it’s uncertain whether Rella’s true freshman season will resemble the one Erwin experienced.
Rella lost twice to Mark Friend during this month’s wrestle-offs. Friend, along with Penn State’s eight other established starters, didn’t compete Saturday. Friend went 3-0 and pinned returning All-American Deonte Penn of Edinboro during last weekend’s Pennsylvania Duals. Rella arrived at Penn State with the intention of starting this season so the losses to Friend were difficult to shake.
“I want to come in and start and really make an impact this year, “Rella said. “It’s really disappointing when you work hard…You can work as hard as you want, but if you’re not working on the right things, you’re not going to get too far.”
Instead of moping after wrestle-offs, Rella corrected mistakes — he said he focused on foot movement, handfighting and his work from the bottom position — and hit the open circuit. He finished third in East Stroudsburg last weekend before Saturday’s convincing title run. Rella defeated Buffalo’s Mike Ragussa 8-4 in the final. Rella’s open tour will continue next Sunday during the Nittay Lion Open where a meeting with Friend is a possibility.
The Nittany Lion Open represents the event where Erwin emerged as Penn State’s starting 165-pounder last season. Erwin won the tournament and made his dual meet debut five days later against Navy.
Open tournaments and freestyle events are Erwin’s only competitive options this season. Erwin and the coaching staff decided before this season to use 2006-07 as a primer for a move to either 174 or 184 next year. Erwin dominated his weight class Saturday, pinning Bloomsburg’s Jesse Hasseman in 39 seconds, pinning former Bald Eagle Area wrestler and current Lock Haven freshman Travis Stem and recording a major-decision victory over Old Dominion’s Jesse Strawn in the semifinals. Erwin capped his tournament with a 12-6 victory over Lock Haven’s Tom Kocher.
“Every time I compete I want to win, “said Erwin, who finished third in the Michigan State Open two weeks ago. “I’m not going to compete for a national title this year, but I’m going to try to win these open titles.”
Senior 157-pounder Nathan Galloway, junior 197-pounder Chad Unger and redshirt freshman heavyweight Stefan Tighe lost in the finals.
Galloway may have taken a step toward reclaiming his starting spot at 157. He was the only member of Penn State’s 157-pound quartet to win his opening bout. Galloway, who finished fourth in the wrestle-off, recorded three victories before losing to Lock Haven’s Seth Martin 6-3 in the final.
Sophomores Brad Pataky (3rd, 125), sophomore Jon Clemens (4th, 157) and Jack Decker (5th, 174) also placed in the top six of their respective weight classes.
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