Anspach entered the weekend's Big Ten duals with Northwestern and Iowa ranked No. 13 nationally, but has jumped to third after two impressive wins last week. The Nittany Lion heavyweight gave notice to his national prowess by beating the No. 4 and No. 6 ranked heavyweight wrestlers in less than 48 hours. Anspach downed No. 4 Dustin Fox, 5-2, on Friday night to help No. 13 Penn State beat No. 10 Northwestern, 25-8. The PSU senior recorded two takedowns in the first period and gave up only two escape points.
Two days later, Anspach downed No. 6 Matt Fields of Iowa, 4-2, in the Lions' 24-13 win over the sixth-ranked Hawkeyes. Anspach did not give up a takedown in the match once again and posted his lone takedown in the first period and added an escape point and a riding time point in the process. The two wins improved Anspach to 14-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten. This is Anspach's first career weekly honor.
The senior, who is petitioning the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility at season's end, missed two full seasons with injuries. One of Penn State's captains, Anspach is now ranked No. 3 nationally in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll. The honor is Anspach's first and the second in a row for head coach Troy Sunderland's Nittany Lions. Freshman Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) was honored last week.
Sunderland's Lions are off this coming week and then close out the dual match season with a road trip to Michigan and Michigan State on Friday and Sunday, Feb. 16 and 18.
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