UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; May 11, 2007 -- Twelve of Penn State's top wrestlers leave for Romania on Sunday for a ten day trip to the Eastern European country and the FILA Junior World Championships. Head coach Troy Sunderland and assistant coach John Hughes will accompany the team on the trip.

The entire line-up will compete in a number of exhibitions in Romania while qualified grapplers will take part in the FILA Junior World Championships in Pitesti, Romania, on May 18-20. The team will then return home on May 22.

The following wrestlers will be making the trip:
125 -- Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.), junior, 23-11 last year, national qualifier
125 -- Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.), sophomore, redshirted this year
133 -- Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.), junior, redshirted this year
133 -- Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.), sophomore, 27-8, 2007 All-American
149 -- Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), freshman, 22-12, national 'round of 12'
157 -- Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.), freshman, 23-12, national qualifier
165 -- Dave Rella (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), freshman, 21-13
174 -- Dave Erwin (Urbana, Ohio), sophomore, redshirted this year
184 -- Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.), sophomore, 8-14
184 -- Mike Ward (Mayfield, Ohio), freshman, 14-11
197 -- Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.), junior, 28-5, 3X All-American, 2006 Runner-Up
HWT -- Aaron Anspach (Columbia, Pa.) senior, 22-4, 2007 Runner-Up, awaiting sixth year of eligibility

The Nittany Lions are coming off a 14-5 2006-07 season that saw them finish third in the Big Ten dual meet season, fourth at the Big Ten tournament and crown three All-Americans at nationals. Penn State averaged nearly 3,500 fans per home dual this year, the highest average in years, fourth highest nationally and less than 300 per event out of second place.