Penn State Wrestling: Inside the Singlet – Wrestler Profiles for 174 and 184

Donovon Ball

Year: Junior
Weight: 184
Major: Finance
Hometown: New Cumberland, Pa.

Penn State Career

Entering his fourth year at Penn State, Ball has competed in a total of 51 matches while donning a blue and white singlet.

During his freshman campaign, Donovon saw action in 21 matches spanning between the Clarion Open, Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open, Patriot Open, Wilkes Open, Messiah Open, and Mat Town Open.

In the shortened 2021 wrestling season, Ball only took to the mat three times but he did get his first regular season dual meet start in Penn State’s dual against Northwestern.

Last year Ball got the nod at 184 in three Nittany Lion duals against Penn, Lehigh, and Rider. He also participated in the Journeyman Classic, Southern Scuffle, and several extra dual meet matches.

This current season, Donovon has seen a season high in dual meet appearances as he’s manned 184 in Penn State’s duals against Rider, Oregon State, Michigan State, Indiana, and Maryland. He also took to the mat in the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open, Black Knight Invite, and in an extra dual meet match.

Prior to Penn State

In high school, Ball laced up his wrestling shoes for Cedar Cliff High School in central Pennsylvania. There he compiled a career record of 123-38, was a four year starter, a four year letterman, and two time team captain.

Donovon was a four time sectional place winner, a three time district place winner, and his team won two District 3 Championships. Ball also placed in the PA state wrestling championships twice with a fifth place finish in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2019.

And he’s no slouch in the classroom either. Ball earned first-team PIAA All-Academic honors and at Penn State he’s been an Academic All-Big Ten recipient twice (2021 and 2022).

Donovon took up wrestling around the age of eight and it all started with his father, Gregory, taking him to an elementary novice practice at Cedar Cliff High School one Saturday morning. According to Gregory, wrestling was only something Ball would take part in to keep him busy between the football and baseball seasons.

"“He seemed to like it, but he had some friends there also and they seemed to like it so that made wrestling ‘fun’. So that’s what we did on Saturday mornings that winter. He probably wrestled in one or two tournaments. After graduating from those Saturday morning practices it was on to elementary practices which was three practices per week with a real schedule and real tournaments. He was never a ‘club’ wrestler nor did he ever wrestle all year. But when it was wrestling season it was wrestling season.” -Gregory Ball"

Away from the mat Donovon was also a standout football and baseball player at Cedar Cliff. Ball received several offers to play football in college and received offers to play baseball in college. But when Cael Sanderson and his coaching staff offered him a chance to wrestle, that’s all it took for Donovon to make his decision.

And away from sports, Ball enjoys gaming and hanging out with his friends.

But for someone who grew up playing four sports from a young age (Ball also played youth rugby), Ball didn’t have much time to pick up many hobbies or do much of anything else.