Black Knight Invite gives Penn State wrestlers like David Evans chance to show off talents
The Black Knight Invite has become a staple in Penn State’s wrestling schedule.
The Nittany Lions have consistently dominated the open tournament due to having several teammates square off in the finals of weights.
Tournaments like this allow some of Penn State’s non-starters a chance to show what they can do.
“It’s a great opportunity for everyone to get matches. We’re taking two or three at a few weights,” coach Cael Sanderson said Thursday during media availability. “It gives the guys a chance to kind of wrestle in the same bracket, and see where they are. It’s just different than going head to head in here (practice room).”
David Evans is one of those guys that has been stuck behind a well-established starter since joining the program three years ago.
The redshirt junior sat behind Roman Bravo-Young at 133 pounds for the first two years. Last year, and currently, Evans is behind Beau Bartlett at 141 pounds.
He has put together a 20-6 record, with a bulk of that action coming in open tournaments. Evans did compete in an extra match in the Indiana dual last year, winning 6-2 over Luke Baughman.
In last year’s Black Knight Invite, Evans took on Bartlett in the 141 finals, and lost 3-1 in sudden victory.
“It’s easy to lose focus, especially when you’re not the guy. I do my best to stay focused,” Evans said Thursday. “Friends and family keep me motivated. This is kind of my family at the same time. Those guys definitely motivate me to just keep working and keep looking ahead.”
As for what has been a difference in his wrestling from last year to this year, Evans said it’s his mindset.
Previously he would look up his opponents’ rankings and how good they were, which in turn kept him from wrestling his matches. Now, he’s just focused on his wrestling and believing in himself.
Evans also looks at how his teammates are competing to trust the process.
“They go out there, and they do their thing. Penn State is kind of feared just by the name,” he said. “You see Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks always pushing the pace. They’re always kind of breaking guys. I definitely do my best to go out there, push the pace, get to my offense and not wrestle to their (opponent’s) level. I just do my thing.”
Evan’s new mindset couldn’t have been more prevalent than in the season opening Journeymen Collegiate Classic last Sunday in Bethlehem.
He opened the round-robin style tournament by taking on Penn’s CJ Composto. At the time, Composto was ranked No. 6 in the country.
The pair traded escapes, and went into sudden victory tied 1-1. With just under one minute remaining in the sudden victory period, Evans snapped off the takedown for a 4-1 win.
“I see everybody battling those top 10-15 guys. Whenever I go to compete, I definitely get excited when I see those ranked kids in my bracket,” he said on Thursday. “I get some good and close matches, and see what I can do against those kids.”
Black Knight Invite
When: 10 a.m. Sunday
Where: Christl Arena, West Point, N.Y.
Radio: WIBF (103.7 FM & 104.3 FM)
Online: Radio, Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com; Video, FloWrestling (Paid subscription)
Brackets: FloWrestling
Twitter: @byncobler, @pennstatewrest
| Nittany Lions expected to compete |
| 125: No. 20 Robert Howard (1-2), Gary Steen (2-1), Braeden Davis (3-0) |
| 133: No. 3 Aaron Nagao (0-0), Baylor Shunk (0-3), Sean Wang (1-2) |
| 141: No. 2 Beau Bartlett (3-0), David Evans (2-1), Tyler Kasak (0-0) |
| 149: Connor Pierce (2-1), Imran Heard (0-0) |
| 157: No. 1 Levi Haines (3-0) |
| 165: No. 17 Mitchell Mesenbrink (3-0), Terrell Barraclough (3-0), Matt Lee (2-1) |
| 174: Brian Borden (0-0) |
| 184: Donovon Ball (1-2), Josh Barr (3-0) |
| 197: Lucas Cochran (0-0) |
| 285: None |
