Dec. 4, 2005

University Park, Pa. - Senior Ron Howard reeled off six wins in the 184-pound bracket of the Penn State Nittany Lion Open on Sunday (Dec. 4) to finish sixth overall. Junior David Gilkey added three strong wins of his own, while sophomore Mike Hurley and freshman Chuck Koz tallied two each.

After opening up with a pair of decisions in the championship bracket, Howard dropped a close 2-1 decision to Justin Dobies of North Carolina. The Viking captain rallied in the consolation bracket, however, scoring four-straight wins - including a fall of Kutztown's Brett Wade in 1:30 - to advance to the fifth-place match where he bowed out via medical forfeit.

Howard placed in open competition for the second time this season after finishing as the 184-pound champion at the Ashland Open on Nov. 19.

Gilkey went on a dominant run in the 174-pound championship bracket of the tournament, reeling off three-straight impressive wins to advance to the quarterfinals. He registered an 18-3 technical fall in the opening round over Nick Fastuca of Pitt-Johnstown, recorded a fall of the Marines' Sean Smith at 1:22 and scored a 16-15 decision over North Carolina's Maciag before bowing out in the consolation bracket.

Hurley tallied a pair of strong wins at 141 pounds to advance to the quarters as well, earning a 9-4 decision over Dominic Sabia of Kutztown before pinning Jochen Granja of VMI in 1:33. Koz added another respectable showing with a pair of wins at 174.

"We're pulling everything together," head coach Jack Effner said. "This was an awesome tournament with a lot of excellent competition. It was great to put our wrestlers through that kind of environment and give them a taste of good Division I wrestling."

The Vikings return to the mat on Saturday (Dec. 10) when they battle Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Nittany Lion Open Results

125
Toby Seger (Clarion) FALL Joe Wornoff (CSU), 4:47

133
Josh Keefe (UTC) FALL David Armstrong (CSU), 3:08
Lou Ruggirello (UNA-Old Dominion) MFOR David Armstrong (CSU)

141
Mike Hurley (CSU) DEC Dominic Sabia (Kutztown), 9-4
Mike Hurley (CSU) FALL Jochen Granja (VMI), 1:33
Alex Krom (UNA-Maryland) DEC Mike Hurley (CSU), 3-2
Frankie Gayeski (Lehigh) MFOR Mike Hurley (CSU)

Lief Gilsdorf (Army) DEC Dan Castillo (CSU), 5-0
Joe Ciampoli (Pitt.) DEC Dan Castillo (CSU), 5-0

157
Zac Fryling (UNA-WVU) DEC Victer Crenshaw (CSU) 9-4

165
Josh Ging (CSU) DEC Adam Underwood (VMI), 5-2
Robert Johnston (Navy) DEC Josh Ging (CSU), 3-1
Brendan Casey (Edinboro) MFOR Josh Ging (CSU)

Jack Decker (UNA-PSU) FALL Nate Kmetz (CSU), 3:20

174
Jay Borschel (VT) FALL JT Miller (CSU), 3:39
JT Miller (CSU) FALL Dustin McCabe (VMI), 2:09
Dave Sullivan (ESU) DEC JT Miller (CSU), 5-0

Chuck Koz (CSU) DEC Dan Zander (Penn), 5-3
Carlos Ponce (LHU) DEC Chuck Koz (CSU), 5-1
Chuck Koz (CSU) DEF Chris Tripp (Army)
Alton Lucas (UNA-Hofstra) FALL Chuck Koz (CSU), 1:26

David Gilkey (CSU) TF Nick Fastuca (UNA-UPJ), 18-3
David Gilkey (CSU) FALL Sean Smith (Marines), 1:22
David Gilkey (CSU) DEC Alex Maciag (UNC), 16-15
RJ Boudro (MSU) MD David Gilkey (CSU), 11-1
Keith Gavin (Pitt.) FALL David Gilkey (CSU), 1:27

184
Ron Howard (CSU) DEC Mike Ward (UNA-PSU), 3-1
Ron Howard (CSU) DEC Mike Metzger (LHU), 9-3
Justin Dobies (UNC) DEC Ron Howard (CSU), 2-1
Ron Howard (CSU) FALL Brett Wade (Kutztown), 1:30
Ron Howard (CSU) DEC Ben Hepburn (LHU), 3-2
Ron Howard (CSU) FOR Brian Lamay (Lehigh)
Ron Howard (CSU) DEC Chad Martin (Army), 5-2
Luke Calvert (Army) MFOR Ron Howard (CSU)
Ron Howard - 6th place

Taylor Moore (Cornell) MD Roman Dolgov (CSU), 10-0

285
Rashard Goff (CSU) DEC Terry Tate (Edin.), 4-2
Aaron Anspach (PSU) DEC Rashard Goff (CSU), 9-3
Scott Buhman (VMI) DEC Rashard Goff (CSU), 6-1