Wrestling: Lineup notes ahead of Keystone Classic tournament

For Cael Sanderson, it's not the who, it's the how.

The Penn State wrestling coach has no intention of comparing Sunday's upcoming Keystone Classic Open at The Palestra in Philadelphia to the Southern Scuffle or any other in-season tournament. It's the next competition on the schedule and he'll be watching how his top-ranked Nittany Lions wrestle, not necessarily who.

"It's competition and it's against good, solid, quality competition," Sanderson said about the all-day Sunday event. "It's not the Scuffle but there's good competition there. I couldn't even tell you which weight classes are the most competitive.

"I'm just worried about our guys getting better today, being better tomorrow. When we show up at the Keystone, it doesn't really matter who we wrestle. We expect the same thing – our best effort and an open mind-set to improve. I'm not worried about who we're wrestling as much as how we're wrestling."

The Keystone Open will provide a tournament setting, a better test of endurance with possible multiple matches. Teams competing with Penn State are Drexel, Appalachian State, Duke, Franklin & Marshall, Harvard, Rider, Sacred Heart, VMI and the host Quakers from the University of Pennsylvania.

"Every weight's a little bit different, but we've really enjoyed the tournament the past couple of years we've been there and I know our fans enjoy it," Sanderson said. "UPenn does a nice job with it. There should be some solid competition and the more we wrestle, the more we're going to figure out what we need to work on to continue to move forward."

TWO GUYS AT 125 Sanderson said as many as 20 wrestlers will make the trip to South 33rd Street in Philadelphia on Sunday.

Justin Lopez, a sophomore from Yonkers, New York, will compete at 125 along with last Sunday's starter, Devin Schnupp. Brody Teske and Gavin Teasdale, more celebrated 125-pounders on the Lions' roster, will not compete, although Sanderson said it was possible that maybe some prospective redshirts would make the trip just for the experience.

He said that Schnupp earned the 125-pound spot over Lopez.

"They'll have a chance to wrestle again maybe this weekend; they both need to step it up a little bit," Sanderson said. "Those guys should be excited for that opportunity.

"I mean Teasdale's planning on wrestling, Teske wants to wrestle. We have a lot of great options there that we're excited about it. And I'm just saying in general. Those guys are planning on wrestling this year but still we want to be patient and let things play out and that's what we're going to do. We've done it before and we'll do it again."

TO BE DETERMINED Two other weight classes in which the lineup is not etched in stone are 149 and 285. Sanderson said he was still uncertain if Brady Berge, who recently won a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships and has been on a weight descent plan to 149, would compete.

"He's (Berge) wrestling hard, he's made weight, but you want to do the right thing for the kid in the long run," Sanderson said. "It's not a race to see how quickly we can get him out there. Part of the challenge is being ready to be at our best at the end of the season."

The same goes for heavyweight and the battle between Nick Nevills and Anthony Cassar, up this season to 285 from 197. Cassar started against Kent State; Nevills has recovered from off-season shoulder surgery.

"We just have to see how things play out and just be patient," Sanderson said. "I don't know if we're going to wrestle Nevills this week at the tournament. There's a good chance he'll wrestle. But we just want to make sure he's ready."

THEY SAID IT "We have an amazing schedule this year and everything going forward is preparing us for the next match and the match after that.''—Shakur Rasheed, 184 pounds.

"I’m a lot more comfortable, especially with the experience I’ve had over the last year. I guess we’ll see if it makes a difference. I feel like I’m more experienced. In the room I feel a little bit better. We’ll see. It allows you to stay more relaxed. You’re focusing on the right things. You know what to look for from your opponent. You know what to look for in yourself.''—Nick Lee, 141 pounds.

according to GoPSUSports.com...

125 Devin Schnupp So. Lititz, Pa./Warwick 0-1

Justin Lopez So. Yonkers, N.Y./Yonkers 2-2

133 Roman Bravo-Young Fr. Tucson, Ariz./Sunny Side 1-0

Scott Stossel Sr. Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny 0-0

141 No. 4 Nick Lee So. Evansville, Ind./Homeschool 1-0

Dominic Giannangeli Jr. Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional 1-2

149 Jarod Verkleeren Fr. Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield 1-0

No. 15 Brady Berge Fr. Mantorville, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville 0-0

Luke Gardner So. Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville 4-2

157 No. 1 Jason Nolf Sr. Yatesboro, Pa./Kittanning 1-0

Bo Pipher So. Paonia, Colo./Paonia 2-2

165 No. 1 Vincenzo Joseph Jr. Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic 1-0

174 No. 2 Mark Hall Jr. Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley 1-0

Mason Manville Fr. Lorton, Va./Wyoming Seminary 3-2

184 No. 4 Shakur Rasheed Sr. Coram, N.Y./Longwood 1-0

Francisco Bisono Jr. Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge 0-0

197 No. 1 Bo Nickal Sr. Allen, Texas/Allen 1-0

James Hoeg Fr. Mattituck, N.Y./Mattituck 1-2

285 Anthony Cassar Sr. Rocky Hill, N.J./Montgomery 1-0

No. 2 Nick Nevills Sr. Clovis, Calif./Clovis 0-0