David Erwin Class: Junior Hometown: Urbana, Ohio High School: St. Paris Graham Height / Weight: 6-0 / 174 Experience: SR

Junior David Erwin will look to make that illusive step to the NCAA tournament this year after a quick exit at the Big Ten Tournament in 2007-08. The talented Ohio-native has amassed nearly 50 wins in two years as a starter and will look to parlay that extensive experience into not just a trip to nationals, but a legitimate run towards All-America stats. Ranked among the nation's top 174 pounders last year, Erwin is a dangerous and explosive competitor who has shown the ability to wrestle with the best in the nation.

Lion Career:

2007-08: Went 0-2 at wrestle-offs...swept to 174 title at MSU Open on 11/11, going 5-0 with two majors and an injury forfeit win over No. 8 Nick Hayes of Northwestern...claimed Mat-Town Open title on 11/24 with a perfect 4-0 record at 174, including 9-8 win over teammate Mark Friend in finals...lost 8-0 to #4 Brandon Mason of Oklahoma State on 12/9...beat #8 Steve Anceravage of Cornell 6-4 to help spark PSU to a 35-10 win on 1/4....was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week on 1/9...at National Duals, dropped 12-6 decision to #12 Lloyd Rogers of Chattanooga, lost close 5-4 bout to #5 Brandon Browne of Nebraska, close 4-3 loss to #8 Steve Anceravage of Cornell, beat Iowa State's Aron Scott (7-5)...majored Buckeye Alex Picazo on 1/13...pinned Ohio State's Alex Picazo (1:27) in dual on 1/25...majored Indiana's Trevor Perry (13-3) on 1/27....dropped hard-fought 6-5 decision to #12 Nich Hayes of Northwestern and 6-5 decision to #17 John Dergo of Illinois on 2/1 and 2/3...close 3-2 loss to #4 Steve Luke of Michigan on 2/8...downed #17 Nick Corpe of Purdue on 2/17.
Big Ten Championships Erwin went 0-2 in the 2007-08 Big Ten Tournament, falling to Indiana's Trevor Perry and Purdue's John Dergo.

2006-07: Red-shirt season....went 14-2 as an unattached wrestler.

2005-06: Posted an outstanding 23-8 record as a true freshman...placed fourth at ESU Open and won the Nittany Lion Open, going 6-0 in the process...spent first term wrestling in open tournaments but performance dictated he move into the starting line-up...made dual debut with 7-1 win over Navy's John Jarred, followed by a 9-4 win over Penn's Jeff Zannetti...went 3-2 at the Reno Tournament of Champions...downed No. 11 Steve Anceravage of Cornell (6-3) to help PSU beat the Big Red 27-9 in January...made Big Ten dual debut with 15-7 major over Michigan State's Greg Goidosik in Rec Hall...also grabbed Big Ten dual wins over Eric Luedke of Iowa (4-3), Max Dean of Indiana (6-4 sv), Nathaniel Augustson of Ohio State (18-5 major) and Dan Bedoy of Purdue (12-2 major)....injury early on in Big Ten Championship opener vs. Luedke led to 6-3 defeat and an early exit...10-2 in duals and 5-1 in Big Ten duals...3-2 in matches decided by a fall and a team-best 9-0 in majors...also 1-0 in technical falls...named to Amateur Wrestling News' All-Rookie Team as a first teamer.
Big Ten Championships (0-2, DNP): Erwin went 0-2 in his first Big Ten Tournament, getting injuried in the first period of his loss to Iowa's Eric Luedke...fell to Wisconsin's Jake Donar in consolations.

High School/Personal: Erwin was a two-time Ohio State Division II champion and was ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the nation by W.I.N. Magazine and No. 2 in the nation by Wrestling USA and Intermat at 160 pounds...went 45-1 as a senior...had a career record of 160-23...a four-time district champ and captain of St. Paris Graham High School for two years. .. helped his team to five consecutive state titles...an Honorable Mention ASICS All-American...earned FILA Cadet All-American Honors in 2002 and was a Western and Central Regional Champion at the USA Junior level in 2003...selected to compete in the 2005 Dappper Dan Duals (Team USA vs. Pennsylvania and Team USA vs. Texas)...Erwin is the son of Doug and Shirley Erwin. His brother Matt, 25, wrestled for VMI. Erwin also has two sisters, Missy, 25; and Nikki, 23.

CAREER STATISTICS