Penn State wrestling commits make NIKE's preseason high school All-American teams

Two Penn State wrestling commits are on NIKE’s preseason high school All-American team. Norwin, Pa., Class of 2027 recruit Landon Sidun is on the first team at 120 pounds. And, Class of 2026 signee Jayden James is on the second team behind Johnstown, Pa., Bishop McCort standout and Virginia Tech commit Melvin Miller.

“Landon Sidun’s sophomore season ended with an injury, but not before he rattled off titles at Beast of the East, Powerade, and Doc Buchanan in a 15-day window,” David Bray writes for FLO Wrestling. “His first match back came at Who’s Number One, where he knocked off Super 32 and California state champion Rocklin Zinkin. Sidun is a Penn State commit who’s hungry to complete a healthy junior season for Norwin this year.

“Virginia Tech commit Melvin Miller had a busy offseason following his second PIAA title. After reaching the U20 US Open and U20 World Team Trials mini tournament finals, Miller rattled off victories in the Fargo Finals, at Who’s Number One, and in the Super 32 finals. He could see second-team preseason All-American Jayden James at both Ironman and Beast of the East this season.”

James is joined in the Class of 2026 by Bishop McCort’s Sam Herring. Sidun, meanwhile, is in the Penn State Class of 2027 along with New York wrestlers Will Soto and Gavin Mangano plus fellow Keystone State standout James Whitbread of State College.

Soto is on NIKE’s honorable mention All-American list at 106 pounds, as are Mangano and Herring at 138.

The rest of today’s newsstand is below.

Penn State headlines of the day

PSU wrestlers in the latest rankings: Where are the Lions after the Black Knight Invite?: Pickel, BWI

Penn State football is done at Beaver Stadium this season; what happens now amid a $700 million renovation?: Pickel, BWI

Everything Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith said to start Rutgers week: Snyder, BWI

Impressions: Did Saturday night help Terry Smith’s cause to be the head coach at Penn State?: Fitz, BWI

Terry Smith’s sudden candidacy has complicated Penn State’s coaching search: McGonigal, PennLive

Quote of the day

“It is working now. We have simplified some things. But it’s like experience. The longer you do it, the better it’s going to come to you. Over the course of time you’re going to get better naturally. But I think we have simplified things and slowed it down and took away some of the third and fourth options to what can happen on the defense, and then just allowed our guys to just pin it back and go.

“I think Jim (Knowles) has done a really good job minimizing calls in the game plan. And I think it’s allowed our guys to really accelerate and play better.”

–PSU interim head coach Terry Smith on the Lions’ defense.