Connellsville native Jarrod King has been given another chance, and he is making the most of it.

King, a redshirt senior at Edinboro University, received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA in the summer. He won an NCAA Division I title a year ago at 165 pounds, and is seeded No. 2 at the same weight in the tournament this year, which begins today in Omaha, Nebraska.

"Jarrod returned for another shot at a championship," Edinboro coach Tim Flynn said. "He is healthy, strong and ready to go."

King's collegiate career began at Oklahoma. He transferred to Edinboro after spending three injury-filled seasons with the Sooners. He missed so much time in two of those seasons because of different injuries that the NCAA gave him another year of eligibility.

"Jarrod has certainly made the most of his final year," Flynn said. "He has a chance to become Edinboro's first two-time NCAA champion."

King is one of five returning NCAA champions. The others are Cornell's Troy Nickerson, Michigan State's Franklin Gomez, Iowa State's Jake Varner, and Iowa's Brent Metcalf.

Nickerson is the defending champion at 125. Gomez is the defending champ at 133. Varner is a three-time finalist and defending champ at 197. Metcalf, a two-time finalist who won in 2008, was a runner-up last year.

Edinboro, Pitt, and Penn State each have six entries. King is Edinboro's only seeded wrestler.

Penn State has four wrestlers seeded among the top 12 in their weight class, including two All-Americans: Dan Vallimont and Frank Molinaro. Vallimont, the No. 6 seed at 165, placed third in Division I at 157 in 2008, but failed to place last year after moving up to 165. Molinaro is No. 5 at 149 after placing eighth at 141 last year.

Also seeded for Penn State are: Cyler Sanderson, No. 4 at 158; and Dave Erwin, No. 11 at 184.

Two of Pitt's six entries are seeded. Penn-Trafford graduate Ryan Tomei is seeded No. 8 at 285, while Tyler Nauman is No. 10 at 141.

"We've had at least one All-American the last three years," Pitt coach Rande Stottlemyer said. "We're hoping the momentum we picked up by winning the EWL title will carry over to the NCAA tournament."

West Virginia has three entries, including Greensburg Salem graduate Donnie Jones, who is making a third NCAA appearance at 165 pounds.

Clarion has two entries, including three-time qualifier Hadley Harrison, who is entered at 157.

Maryland's Steve Bell, a Connellsville's graduate, is a returning All-American. Bell placed sixth a year ago at 133 and returns at the same weight as the No. 9 seed.

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