Two PSNK Wrestlers Qualify for NCWA National Championships

Penn State New Kensington placed two wrestlers in the NCWA National Championships, March 14-16 at the Allen Events Center in Allen, Texas.

Freshman John Doppelhauer and sophomore James Melnyk will represent the New Kensington campus in the individual championships. Both finished in the top six of the Mid-East Regional March 2.

Doppelhauer, the cornerstone of the campus' third-year wrestling program, is ranked 18th in the 285-pound weight class. His bracket features 80 of the top wrestlers from across the country. A product of Penn-Trafford High School, Dopplehauer came in third in the regional to earn his ticket to the nationals. The Jeannette, Pa., native was a solid performer all year, posting a 7-4 record, and a team best four pins.

Melnyk, a graduate of Schenley High School, received a wildcard invitation to the nationals. He is ranked 63rd in his weight class of 172 opponents. Melnyk arrived in Texas with a 4-8 mark, including three pins.

Under the direction of first-year head coach Derek Caldwell, the New Kensington Lions finished the team-portion of the season with a 7-13 record in dual competition. Caldwell has helped resuscitated a program that was dormant from 1975 to 2010. Wrestling was a staple of the campus athletic program in the early 1970s.

See Full Release http://www.nk.psu.edu/45242.htm