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Penn State Wrestling: Creating the Dream Team

By Chris Snyder

STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 13: The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team is introduced before a match against the Lock Haven Bald Eagles on November 13, 2015 at Recreation Hall on the campus of Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State won 50-0. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 13: The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team is introduced before a match against the Lock Haven Bald Eagles on November 13, 2015 at Recreation Hall on the campus of Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State won 50-0. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 23: Jason Nolf of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates as he gets his hand raised after winning the 157 pound title during the championship finals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 23, 2019 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 23: Jason Nolf of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates as he gets his hand raised after winning the 157 pound title during the championship finals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 23, 2019 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

157

Jason Nolf

Years: 2016-2019
Record: 117-3
Conf. Titles: 2
NCAA Titles: 3

Nolf’s Penn State career began with a strong freshman year in which he compiled a record of 33-2. This led to a runner-up finish in the 2016 B1G’s and a runner-up finish in the 2016 NCAA Championships.

If Nolf’s freshman year wasn’t impressive enough, his sophomore season was one of the most dominating seasons in Penn State Wrestling history. Jason put together a perfect 27-0 record with 14 falls, eight technical falls, and three major decisions. This adds up to bonus points in a ridiculous 93% of his matches.

This also included a bonus points bonanza in the 2017 NCAA Championships as Nolf claimed his first ever NCAA title by way of two technical falls, two major decisions, and one fall.

Nolf’s amazing season landed him as a finalist for the 2017 Hodge Trophy.

Jason’s 2018 season was following in the same footprints as the 2017 season. But in a late season dual meet against Rutgers, Nolf sustained a severe knee injury which put his entire 2018 season in jeopardy.

Jason did just enough to ensure he qualified for the NCAA’s by winning several matches in the B1G’s. Nolf then gutted his way through the knee injury and a difficult field at 157 to claim his 2nd straight NCAA Title.

Nolf then went on to cap his Penn State career by going a perfect 31-0 his senior season. This included his 2nd B1G Title, 3rd straight NCAA Title, and 4th straight All-American selection.

Outside of the injury loss against Rutgers in 2018, Nolf compiled a record of 84-0 in his final three seasons in Happy Valley. And I’ll take him every day of the week and twice on Sundays to anchor this team at 157.

Honorable Mention (in order)

Clyde Frantz

Years: 1969-1971
Record: 50-7-2
Conf. Titles: 3
NCAA Titles: 0 (3rd)

Dave Becker

Years: 1975-1978
Record: 67-14-4
Conf. Titles: 3
NCAA Titles: 0 (5th)

John Lange

Years: 1995-1998
Record: 79-38
Conf. Titles: 1
NCAA Titles: 0 (3rd)

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