The Penn State Mont Alto Wrestling team made history on Sunday at the PSUAC/USCAA Championships. The team left Rec Hall at University Park as PSUAC champions and fourth in the USCAA. They dominated the PSUAC conference in the regular season and then again at the championships.
"Overall, I was very happy," Head Coach Bruce Kocsis comments. "We accomplished what we set out to do and this win was the icing on the cake."
This was the first time Mont Alto took first in the PSUAC and wrestling just came back to campus two years ago.
Freshman James Hughes (Chambersburg, PA) was not only impressive for Mont Alto but also for the PSUAC. Hughes was the only wrestler in the PSUAC to be a champion in his 133 lbs. weight class in the USCAA.
Mont Alto had five of their ten wrestler's win their weight classes in the PSUAC and four took second. Too add to that, nine of the 10 wrestlers were named PSUAC All-Conference.
Although one may think that after winning the PSUAC and finishing fourth in the USCAA the wrestling season would be over. That is not the case. Mont Alto Wrestling is not yet done.
"We are hoping to keep everyone healthy for the NCWA Mid-East Qualifier, which is held at Penn College," Coach Kocsis adds. "We are looking to place in each weight class to qualify for nationals. Our goal is to send nine wrestlers to Allen, Texas for the NCWA Nationals."
The NCWA Mid-East Qualifier will be held March 1st, 2014.
PSUAC Team Rankings
1. Mont Alto – 97.5
2. Du Bois – 82.5
3. Penn College – 60.0
4. Fayette – 33.5
5. Greater Allegheny – 13.5
6. Beaver – 6.0
Mont Alto Results in the PSUAC
133 lbs.
First place: James Hughes
Second place: Daniel May
141 lbs.
First place: Andrew Mellott
149 lbs.
First place: Tyler Warner
157 lbs.
Second place: Nick Grimm
Third place: Diantra Landry
165 lbs.
First place: Clay Kocsis
184 lbs.
First place: Alec Warner
235 lbs.
Second place: Rayem Ali
285 lbs.
Second Place: Jaron Burke