Penn State Wrestling: Inside the Singlet – Wrestler Profiles for 197 and 285

Seth Nevills

Year: Senior
Weight: 285
Major: Security and Risk Analysis
Hometown: Clovis, Calif.

Penn State Career

Before enrolling at Penn State, Nevills wrestled in 21 matches between 2018-2019 as an unattached competitor. These matches were spread out between the Roadrunner Open, Clarion Open, Franklin & Marshall Open, Edinboro Open, and Mat Town Open.

Then in Seth’s true freshman year, he remained busy by taking part in 17 total matches. Nevills won titles in both the Mat Town Open and Wilkes Open before breaking into the Nittany Lions’ starting lineup during the 2019-2022 season.

In the following two seasons, Nevills suited up for an additional 10 matches and in the current year he took part in matches in both the Central Michigan and Maryland dual meets.

Working hard in the classroom, Seth was an Academic All-Big Ten recipient in 2021.

Prior to Penn State

In high school Seth was a force to reckon with on the mat when he wrestled for Clovis High School in California. There he compiled a 169-1 record and earned a staggering seven varsity letters in wrestling.

Nevills was a four year captain, won four straight California state titles, and was instrumental in Clovis High School winning a state team title.

It seems almost impossible, but during Seth’s junior season, not only did he go undefeated, he pinned every single opponent he faced. After going on this incredible run, Nevills changed up his wrestling strategy leading into his senior campaign and he wanted to focus more on takedowns and techniques. This would help him become a more well-rounded wrestler rather than the pinning machine he focused on being his junior year.

Seth’s training and strategy-shift paid off his senior year as he again went undefeated and won his fourth straight California state title. Oh, and he still pinned everyone that year as well!

"“I know it’s a new generation but it’s the only kid I’ve ever had where kids who wrestled him wanted to take a selfie with him after the match. That’s the level of respect and dominance.” -Coach Adam Tirapelle"

Wrestling runs in the blood of the Nevills family as all of Seth’s brothers are collegiate wrestlers. Zach wrestled for Stanford between 2014-2017, Nick was a Nittany Lion from 2015-2019 where he was a two time All-American, and A.J. started out his career at Fresno State and is now a current wrestler at South Dakota State.

Not surprisingly, Seth was also an outstanding offensive lineman on the gridiron. Understanding leverage, possessing great footwork, and being incredibly strong for your size are synonymous with both successful wrestlers and offensive lineman. And this also played a role in his commitment to Penn State.

In a Rivals article Nevills talks briefly about his recruiting, “I mean, there are a few schools that (tried to recruit him) but not too much. Everybody already kind of thought I was going to Penn State. Then football was in there for a little bit. It was fun for my sophomore and junior year but I always loved wrestling more and that’s what I want to do and my goals are all for wrestling.”

It probably didn’t hurt that all-time Nittany Lion great Jason Nolf and older brother Nick coached him during his junior year in high school and throughout the California state championships.

Seth used to visit Penn State during the summers when Nick first got there and he immediately fell in love with it. And because of this he didn’t put a lot of consideration into other schools, but he kept his options open. Despite his amazing record in high school, Nevills wasn’t heavily recruited as Nick and A.J. were already at Penn State. Most schools assumed his mind was already made up.

And seriously, seeing Happy Valley in the summer and having a chance to be coached by one of the best wrestlers in the world and being in the best wrestling room in the country? Who wouldn’t say “Yes” to that?

Even though Nevills played football up until his junior year in high school, he still showed a high propensity for the sport as he joined the Nittany Lion Football Team as a walk-on in early August of 2021.