Bellefonte's Port makes Edinboro next destination

Guy Cipriano

- gciprian@centredaily.com

Bellefonte's Mitchell Port recorded 22 pins as a junior, a sign he gets antsy on the wrestling mat.

CDT file photo

Mitchell Port, who will be a senior at Bellefonte, has made an oral commitment to wrestle at Edinboro.

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Here’s another sign Port doesn’t mess around:

He’s already decided his 2010 destination.

Port has ended the barrage of phone calls from college coaches by making an oral commitment to Edinboro.

Both parties seem primed to benefit from the early decision.

The Fighting Scots are securing one of Pennsylvania’s top recruits. After finishing 40-4 and placing fourth at the PIAA Class AAA Championships, Port captured the 119-pound title during this past April’s National High School Association Junior National Championships in Virginia Beach.

Port is securing an opportunity to wrestle for one of the nation’s top programs. Edinboro went 14-4-1 this past season and placed sixth at the NCAA Championships. Port, the nation’s 64th-rated recruit by InterMat, is the first member of Edinboro’s 2010 recruiting class.

“The coaches said they wanted to know early, so I decided committing early was the best thing,” he said Tuesday night.

Port selected Edinboro over Penn State, Lehigh Cornell and Maryland. Port visited Edinboro’s campus twice for camps over the past two years, including once earlier this summer. Port, whose recruiting process included a conversation with Penn State coach Cael Sanderson, said Edinboro has always been on his radar.

Edinboro, which has 7,700 students, is a small school with a big wrestling reputation.

The northwestern Pennsylvania program has captured seven straight Eastern Wrestling League titles while producing 24 All-Americans during coach Tim Flynn’s 12-year tenure. Two Fighting Scots — 125-pounder Paul Donahoe and 165-pounder Jarrod King — advanced to this past year’s NCAA finals, with King becoming the school’s fourth national champion.

“I think it’s a really nice fit for Mitchell,” Bellefonte coach Mike Maney said. “It’s a smaller campus and they have had great success with the guys they have brought in.”

Port’s decision also includes a personal connection. Flynn is the brother of Bellefonte assistant Pat Flynn. Pat Flynn has sat in the coaches’ corner for all of Port’s big bouts the past three years. Port engaged in his first serious conversation with Tim Flynn after a camp earlier this summer.

“I just feel comfortable around him,” Port said. “I know his brother and they kind of act the same.”

Port is the third Centre County wrestler in the past four years to commit to Edinboro. State College’s Kyle Fluke and Philipsburg- Osceola’s Mike Horton currently wrestle for the Fighting Scots. Fluke, a four-time PIAA placewinner, was the Fighting Scots’ starting 125-pounder before Donahoe entered the lineup. Horton, a heavyweight, is coming off a redshirt season.

Port enters his senior season 111-18. His junior year was his best as he won the difficult King of the Mountain Tournament, captured District 6 and Northwest Regional titles, and went 4-2 at the state championships. Port, a three-time state qualifier, also finished fifth in the state as a freshman 103-pounder.

Port, who hasn’t competed since winning in Virginia Beach because of a knee injury, will likely wrestle at 125 pounds this upcoming season. Port is projected to wrestle 133 pounds at Edinboro.

“He’s the type of kid who could be successful no matter where he goes,” said Maney, a two-time All- American at Lock Haven. “He has an outstanding work ethic. He’s there working out in the mornings before school. He’s committed to wrestling all year long. He just loves the sport. Some of his best wrestling is still ahead of him.”

Port is the fourth District 6 wrestler to make an early college decision. Central Mountain’s Andrew and Dylan Alton committed to Penn State in April and their teammate Jordan Rich committed to Bucknell last month.

Port will sign a national letter of intent during November’s early signing period.