Dan Vallimont Class: Senior Hometown: Lake Hopatcong, N.J. High School: Jefferson Twp. Height / Weight: 5-7 / 157 Experience: SR

Junior Dan Vallimont had some internal trepidation heading into his sophomore season, and for good reason. He emerged as a force during his freshman year at 149 pounds, going 22-12 and finishing just one win shy of becoming an All-American. But the plan was for him to move up to 157. A new, bigger weight class and a whole new crew of potential opponents lay in front of him. Well, no worries about Dan. Vallimont put forth a stunning sophomore campaign that saw him lead Penn State with a 32-3 record, become an All-American for the first time and, in the process of taking third at the 2008 NCAA Championships, down the defending national champion. Vallimont returns for his junior year with his sights set firmly on the national crown that eluded him last year. Heads into junior year with 54-15 career record and 100 dual meet points.

Lion Career:

2007-08: Went 2-0 at wrestle-offs...majored Maryland's Brian Letters in first dual at 157 on 11/11....went 7-0 with a pin and four majors to win the 2007 Nittany Lion Open crown....5-4 win over #20 Newly McSpadden of Oklahoma State helped Penn State post 21-18 win in Stillwater...12-3 major over Cornell's Drake Hovis to help PSU down Cornell 35-10 on 1/4...at National Duals, majored #20 Seth Garvin of Chattanooga 15-7, downed #18 Chris Oliver of Nebraska 11-6, 13-1 major over Cornell's Drake Hovis, strong 7-4 win over #5 Cyler Sanderson to spark Penn State's 22-16 win over Iowa State...beat Ohio State's Jason Johnstone on 1/13...downed #16 Ryan Morningstar of Iowa in dual on 1/20...beat Johnstone again, this time 5-3 in Columbus on 1/25....strong 8-5 win over #9 Brandon Becker of Indiana on 1/27....first loss of the season was a close 6-3 decision to #1 Mike Poeta of Illinois on 2/3...beat Michigan's Jeff Marsh 8-6 on 2/8...majored MSU's John Fulger (15-3) on 2/15....Vallimont's 32-3 record was a team-best for wins and all three of his losses were to Illinois' Mike Poeta.
Big Ten Championships (3-1, 2nd, Big Ten Runner-Up, National Qualifier): Second seed at 2008 Big Ten Championships...three straight wins to start tournament...downed Ohio State's Jason Johnstone, No. 16 Ryan Morningstar of Iowa and No. 15 Jeff Marsh of Michigan...lost to No. 2 Mike Poeta of Illinois in title bout.
NCAA Championships (5-1, 3rd, All-American): Vallimont cemented his spot as one of the nation's top 157-pounders with a superb 5-1 showing at the 2008 NCAA Championships...the No. 3 seed, placed third at the event...only loss was a heart-breaking 6-5 defeated to No. 2 seed Mike Poeta of Illinois in the national semifinals...came back to down No. 1 seed and defending national champion Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro and No. 4 seed Brandon Becker of Indiana to claim third place...Vallimont also beat No. 11 seed Tyler Sherfey of Boise State.

2006-07: Posted a 22-12 overall record...went 12-7 in duals and 5-3 in Big Ten action...2-0 in pins and picked up 44 dual match points in first year as starter...went 5-1 at the 2006 Nittany Lion Open to take second place at 149...downed No. 8 Trevor Chinn 3-1 in Penn State's win over Lehigh on 12/8...went 3-1 at the Virginia Duals...dropped hard-fought 8-6 decision to No. 8 Tyler Turner of Wisconsin in his Big Ten debut on 1/19...beat No. 16 Lance Palmer of Ohio State 4-2 on Jan. 26 for first Big Ten dual win and followed that up with a 9-3 win over No. 10 Troy Tirapelle of Illinois two days later, giving him two wins over two ranked Big Ten wrestlers in the same weekend...recorded major over Northwestern's Vince Colletti on 2/2 and won fourth straight Big Ten bout with 6-3 victory over Iowa's Alex Grunder on 2/4...majored MSU's Jeff Wimberly on 2/18 (15-2)...entered the national rankings on 1/30...sixth seed at Big Ten tournament but wrestled to a fourth place finish...was the #12 seed at the 2007 NCAA Championships....wrestled to his seed by going 3-2 and advancing to the `round of 12,' one win shy of All-American status...ended year ranked No. 12 by the NWCA. Named to Amateur Wrestling News' All-Rookie Team.
Big Ten Championships (3-2, 4th, National Qualifier): Seeded sixth....went 3-2 to place fourth and earn trip to nationals in first year as starter...opened with 9-3 loss to Ohio State's Lance Palmer, who was ranked No. 16 at the time...rebounded with three straight wins in consolations, including pin of MSU's Jeff Wimberly, 6-1 decision over No. 17 Troy Tirapelle and a 5-4 win over No. 10 Tyler Turner of Wisconsin...fell to Palmer again in the consolation finals.
NCAA Championships (3-2, `Round of 12'): Seeded 12th at nationals as a freshmen and went 3-2 to wrestle to his seed...finished just one win shy of All-America status...majored North Dakota State's Ryan Adams 11-2 in NCAA debut...fell to #5 seed and eventual national champion Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro 10-2...downed Boston's Michael Roberts (10-6) and Missouri's Joshua Wagner (10-6) in first two consolation bouts...upset by Indiana's Matt Coughlin in `Round of 12'.

2005-06: Red-shirt season...went 5-5 in unattached action...0-1 in pins.

High School/Personal: Posted a career record of 134-9...78-0 through his junior and senior years in high school to win consecutive New Jersey state titles...posted a 39-0 record as a senior...ranked No. 2 in the nation at 140 pounds in both W.I.N. Magazine and Wrestling USA... finished third at National High School Coaches Association Senior Nationals...named captain of the All-State team twice...an accomplished freestyle wrestler. .. won 140-pound junior division state title in New Jersey...MAWA Eastern National Champion in 2002, 2003 and 2004...gold medalist at the AAU Disney Duals (2004).

CAREER STATISTICS