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Snyder to wrestle three times, eight others get two bouts at Nittany Lion WC 5 on Tuesday, February 23

by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials are only a few weeks away, and the Nittany Lion WC is helping get many of our nation's best wrestlers prepared by its extensive card for Nittany Lion WC 5 on Tuesday, Feb. 23 on its Rokfin channel.


To prepare for the upcoming Olympic Trials, some of the men's freestyle stars on the card will wrestle multiple matches.


2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Kyle Snyder will wrestle three bouts. Two-time World champion Kyle Dake will wrestle twice, as will 2017 World silver medalist Thomas Gilman. Also taking on two opponents are Gabe Dean, Zain Retherford, Nahshon Garrett, Vito Arujau, Zach Sanders and Sean Russell.


Snyder will take on 2020 Senior Nationals champion Gabe Dean, 2020 Senior Nationals runner-up Nate Jackson, as well as Scottie Boykin. Dake’s two opponents are Vincenzo Joseph and Jason Nolf, both who won multiple NCAA titles for Penn State.


A big match between top 65 kg wrestlers who were both NCAA champions for Cornell will feature Yianni Diakomihalis against Nahshon Garrett. U23 World champion Bo Nickal will take on Gabe Dean. 2018 World champion David Taylor will battle Max Dean.


There will be five female matches, including two Senior bouts and three matches featuring ranked high school wrestlers. 2018 World bronze medalist Mallory Velte will face Senior Nationals champion Jen Page, and Cadet World champion Ronna Heaton will battle Jane Valencia of Nittany Lion WC/Mexico.


A healthy card of Junior matches are also set up, including a battle between Cornell’s Josh Saunders and talented Shayne Van Ness, a Penn State recruit.


The Junior Bouts begin at 6:00 p.m. ET, with the Senior matches to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET


To watch, subscribe to www.rokfin.com/nlwc

NITTANY LION WC 5

February 23 at 6:00 p.m. ET



Matchups already announced (bout order not yet set)


David Taylor vs Max Dean

Vito Arujau vs Zach Sanders

Vito Arujau vs Sean Russell

Thomas Gilman vs Zach Sanders

Thomas Gilman vs Sean Russell

Yianni Diakomihalis vs Nahshon Garrett

Zain Retherford vs Nahshon Garrett

Zain Retherford vs Evan Henderson

Kyle Snyder vs Nate Jackson

Kyle Snyder vs Gabe Dean

Kyle Snyder vs Scottie Boykin

Bo Nickal vs Gabe Dean

Vincenzo Joseph vs Jevon Balfour

Vincenzo Joseph vs Kyle Dake

Jason Nolf vs Kyle Dake:

Women's Wrestling bouts

50 kg - Sage Mortimer vs. Rianne Murphy

63 kg - Elleni Johnson vs. Grace Stem

59 kg - Jane Valencia vs. Ronna Heaton

63 kg - Jen Page vs. Mallory Velte

66 kg - Ale Bonilla vs. Kendall Bostelman

Junior Bouts

Tyler Lillard vs. Erik Gibson

Gabe Arnold vs Aaron Ayzerov

Cole Rees vs TJ Stewart

Jim Mullen vs Chase Horne

Shayne Van Ness vs Josh Saunders

Nic Bouzakis vs Nico Nardone

Dalton Perry vs Kai Owen