Dirk Cowburn Class: Freshman Hometown: Coudersport, Pa. High School: Coudersport Weight: 165/174 Position: 165/174 Experience: FR

Red-shirt freshman Dirk Cowburn heads into the 2011-12 season ready to challenge for a starting spot in the Nittany Lion line-up. Cowburn is coming off an outstanding season as a red-shirt last year.

Lion Career
2010-11:
Cowburn posted a 16-2 overall record as an unattached red-shirt last year in open tournaments...was 5-1 in pins and 2-0 in majors...won the East Stroudsburg Open title, placed second at Nittany Lion Open (losing in finals to third-ranked Josh Asper of Maryland).

2009-10:
First year collegiate action.

High School/Personal
Dirk was ranked No. 6 at 160 by Intermat and mont the top 50 ranked overall recruits in the country (at any weight). Cowburn was a two-time PIAA state champion, having claimed the 152 pound title as a junior and a sophomore. Last year, Cowburn went 42-2 and took second in the state. As a junior, he went 30-2 to claim the title and as a sophomore he went 38-0. Cowburn went 146-7 during his four year career at Coudersport High School. An outstanding freestyle and Greco wrestler as well, Cowburn won the 2007 Cadet National title in Greco-Roman and took second in freestyle at that event. In 2008, Cowburn placed second at the 2008 Junior Nationals in Greco as well. Dirk is the son of Dan and Darla Cowburn of Coudersport, Pa.