By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State wrestling squad added a total of 16 new faces to its roster and all but one of these athletes are true freshman for the 2011-'12 season.

After an exciting 2010-'11 season that saw the Nittany Lions' win the program's first Big Ten Championship and the 2011 NCAA National Championship, this year's team has some big shoes to fill.

The national champions graduated five tenured wrestlers at the end of last season, and the Lions are looking to use a few of these rookie athletes in their title defense.

Morgan McIntosh is one of these several fresh grapplers that have been added to the mix. The new Nittany Lion spent his summer preparing for his first year in college and also competed in the 2011 USA Junior Greco-Roman & Freestyle Nationals.

McIntosh said that when he was trying to decide what school to attend this fall, his decision became much easier after his first visit to Penn State where he met head coach Cael Sanderson.

"He's an awesome guy - he's probably the main reason why I decided to come here," said McIntosh. "I can't wait to watch him in the World Trial."

The Santa Ana, Calif. native said that he will be working hard at getting faster and stronger before the start of the season, trying to wrestle at the 197 spot. McIntosh is ready to go.

"I can't wait," said McIntosh. "It's going to be so fun and I'm just so excited to be here right now. I just get to train and follow all of these guys here and the All-Americans and the coaches, it's just going to be a great experience."

Another new Nittany Lion had a slightly different opinion of coach Cael.

"Cael's okay," joked incoming freshman Nico Megaludis. "No, Coach Cael is awesome and all of the coaches, it's unbelievable how much they know and how great they are. They know their stuff to say the least."

Megaludis comes to Penn State from just outside of Pittsburgh in Murrysville, Pa. The lightweight freshman spent his summer in State College taking classes and training with other Penn State wrestlers, discovering just how unique the Nittany Lion program really is.

"It's awesome," said Megaludis. "[There are] a lot of jokesters, I love it you know we have a lot of fun. It's not just wrestling, wrestling, wrestling - it's enjoying it so, it's really nice."

Having only spent a few months in Happy Valley, Megaludis already seems to understand the tradition of winning that surrounds Penn State wrestling.

"I like to wrestle the full seven or however long the match is," said Megaludis. "I like to have a high pace and hopefully it will lead to some national titles so that's the goal."