By Guy Cipriano
UNIVERSITY PARK — Nathan Galloway’s wrestling career will not end at Penn State.
Galloway, a three-time PIAA Class AAA champion at State College High School, requested and received a release to pursue competition opportunities with other programs. Galloway, a 157-pounder, has just one semester of eligibility remaining.
Galloway’s father, Jack , said Nathan will publicly give his reason for seeking a transfer at a later date. Jack added that a “host of schools, “including two Big Ten programs, have expressed interest in adding Nathan for the spring semester.
“Nathan is excited about pursuing his career elsewhere, “Jack said Tuesday afternoon.
Penn State coach Troy Sunderland said he “didn’t want to get into much detail “about Galloway’s decision.
“We thank him and his family for everything they have done for the program, “Sunderland said. “We wish him well. I don’t want to speculate on anything.”
True freshman Bubba Jenkins will take over as the Nittany Lions’ starting 157-pounder. Jenkins, who started the season at 149 pounds, made his Penn State debut by going 3-1 at last weekend’s Virginia Duals.
Galloway went 90-54 and qualified for the NCAA championships three times as a Nittany Lion. He never achieved All-American status wearing a Penn State singlet.
Galloway entered his senior season ranked 17th at 157 pounds in the National Wrestling Coaches Association/InterMat poll.
Still, he held a loose grip on his starting job.
He went 0-2 and finished fourth at his weight during the team’s public wrestle-off in November.
Galloway’s absence in the starting lineup didn’t last long. Sophomore Jason Lapham started against Clarion and Pitt-Johnstown during the Pennsylvania Duals on Nov. 19.
Galloway returned to the starting lineup during the Nittany Lions’ 27-9 victory over Edinboro and lost to Matt Hill 5-1 in the sudden-victory period. Hill pinned Jenkins during the Fighting Scots’ 19-17 victory in the finals of the Virginia Duals.
Galloway went 0-4 in dual meets during the fall semester. He lost to Lehigh’s David Nakasone in overtime on Dec. 8. Two days later, he opened a dual meet against Hofstra by sending James Strouse to his back with a cement mixer. Strouse recovered from the move to record a 10-6 victory.
Galloway’s Penn State career ended with a 9-3 loss to Lock Haven’s Seth Martin on Dec. 15. Coincidentally, Galloway pinned Martin in the 2002 PIAA finals to become Centre County’s only three-time state champion.
Galloway is 14-7 this season. He also lost to Martin in the finals of the Mat-Town USA and Nittany Lion Opens.
Galloway is scheduled to graduate in May with an Information Sciences and Technology degree. As of Tuesday, Galloway was still enrolled in classes at Penn State, Jack said. Galloway needs to complete three credits to obtain his degree.
Galloway’s success at State College made him one of the nation’s most sought after recruits as a high school senior. He selected Penn State over Michigan State, Illinois and Virginia Tech during the early signing period.
After receiving national wrestler of the year as a high school senior, Galloway went 30-15 as a true freshman. He qualified for the NCAA championships, but missed the event because of a neck injury that required surgery. He used 2003-04 as a redshirt season before recording a career-high 31 wins during 2004-05.
Galloway went 15-16 and finished 2-2 at the NCAA championships as a junior. He went 5-4 in his two NCAA tournament appearances at Penn State.
Galloway was the centerpiece of the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class in 2002. The 12-wrestler class also included State College graduates Jeremy Hart and Matt Storniolo.
Hart ended his career last year while Storniolo transferred to Oklahoma before the 2004-05 season. Storniolo is currently the nation’s second-ranked 149-pounder.
NOTES: Sunderland said freshman 157-pounder Josh Rohler has been dismissed from the program for “violating a team rule. “Rohler, a three-time Ohio state placewinnner, went 14-10 in open competition. He was rated the nation’s 15th best recruit according to InterMat when he signed with Penn State in November 2005…Sam Eck, the 2006 PIAA Class AAA 171-pound champion from District 4 Jersey Shore High School, joined the Nittany Lions on Tuesday. Eck, who placed fifth at 160 as a junior, attended the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport this past fall. He is projected to wrestle at either 174 or 184 pounds. Lightweight Adam Smetana, who attended District 7 Mars High School, also joined the team Tuesday.
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