A sixth Penn State wrestler is in the transfer portal; how did former Lions fare at NCAAs?
A sixth Penn State wrestler has entered the NCAA transfer portal in the days since the Nittany Lions clinched their fourth straight team title back on Saturday. A source tells Blue-White Illustrated that senior Aurelius Dunbar is seeking a new school to compete at during his final collegiate season. The Greencastle, Pa., native started his time in State College during the shortened 2020-2021 season. It means he has a fifth and final year of eligibility thanks to the extra one the given to all athletes impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. And, he will choose to use it elsewhere.
Dunbar is listed on the Lions’ roster at 165 pounds. After going 116-22 at Mercersburg Academy, where he was also a four-time National Prep All-American, he joined head coach Cael Sanderson’s team. Dunbar wrestled exclusively in open events in blue and white. He was 3-2 at the Southern Scuffle back in January of this year.
Six former Penn State wrestlers are now in the portal
Besides Dunbar, the other Nittany Lions who are in the transfer portal are Alex Facundo, David Evans, AJ Fricchione, Marco Vespa, and Gary Steen. Facundo was once a starter for the Lions at 165 pounds but took a medical redshirt two seasons ago and did not claim the 157-pound starting job this year. The rest have been backups for Penn State. But, that doesn’t mean they didn’t have an important role in the program.
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“I think being a part of this team is always special, and our coaching staff, and even guys, too, our practice partners, those guys are in the trenches I would say a lot more than we are because they do all the grunt work and the work that no one wants to do,” five-time NCAA champ Carter Starocci said last weekend. “It’s one thing getting up at 6 a.m. in the morning and having to cut weight and go through the motions, but you get to be out there competing, and those guys are up, and that’s it. They just kind of work us out.”
How did former Nittany Lions fare at nationals?
The six listed above — and any who join them in the future — will join a relatively small list of wrestlers who have transferred out of the Penn State program. Three of them competed at this year’s NCAA Tournament. Terrell Barraclough hit the All-American stand by finishing in fifth place at 165 pounds for Utah Valley. Michael Beard did not hit the medal stand at 197 pounds for Lehigh despite entering the tournament as the No. 5 seed. He lost to Penn State’s Josh Barr in the quarters, who ultimately went on to finish third. Last but not least, Maryland heavyweight Seth Nevills went 2-2 and also did not make the top eight to earn All-American status.
