| Sophomore Phil Bomberger posted a 5-1 decision over Mike Miller in Penn State??s 41-0 win over Rider in the semifinals of the Virginia Duals. |
HAMPTON, Va.; January 13, 2007 ?C The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, under the guidance of head coach Troy Sunderland, won all ten bouts to coast to a convincing 41-0 shutout win over Rider in the semifinals of the 2007 Virginia Duals. The victory, which included three technical falls and two major decisions, put the Nittany Lions into the Virginia Duals championship finals where they will meet No. 13 Edinboro.
The dual began at 125 where Nittany Lion junior Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.), ranked No. 2 nationally, met Rider??s Thomas Lorenzo. Giving early notice to his continued excellence, McKnight scored a takedown just nine seconds in to go up 2-0 early. After letting Lorenzo up, McKnight quickly added a second takedown at the 2:00 mark to go up 4-2 after a Lorenzo escape. Putting together a dominating first three minutes, McKnight tallied a total of three takedowns and forced Lorenzo into two stall warnings for a 7-3 lead and :56 in riding time. McKnight chose neutral to begin the second period. Eyeing a technical fall, the Nittany Lion junior put together four more takedowns to push his lead out to 15-6 with 1:36 in time heading into the final period. Lorenzo chose down to begin the third but gave up three quick back points as McKnight got the near-fall call. Up 18-7, McKnight inched closer to his technical fall with another takedown to go up 20-7 with 1:00 to wrestle. McKnight cut Lorenzo loose and, with :17 left, got a critical takedown to go up 22-8. He held Lorenzo down and, with the riding time point, posted a 23-8 technical fall to give the Nittany Lions an early 5-0 lead.
At 133, sophomore Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) put his No. 6 national ranking on the line against Brian Polashuk of Rider. Strayer went up early with a takedown at the 2:25 mark and began to build up a solid riding time cushion with strong work on top. After :39 seconds, Strayer cut Polashuk loose went on to post two more takedowns. By the end of the first period, the sophomore built up a 6-2 lead with 1:35 in riding time. Polashuk chose down to begin the second and was cut loose by Strayer, who quickly added a takedown to go up 8-3. Two more takedowns by Strayer gave the Nittany Lion a commanding 12-5 lead with 2:50 in riding time heading into the final period. Strayer chose down to begin the third, escaped and deftly took Polashuk down again to up his lead to 15-5. With a riding time point guaranteed, Strayer began looking for a technical fall. He managed two more takedowns to post a 21-8 major decision. Four team points put Penn State up 9-0.
Junior Bryan Heller (Fair Haven, N.J.) took on Don Fisch at 149. Fisch got an early takedown to go up 2-0, but Heller stormed back with a reversal and three near fall points to grab a 5-2 lead. Still in control, Heller added another three-point near fall and led 8-2 just 1:04 into the bout. Three more near fall points and Heller quickly had a commanding 11-2 lead with over two minutes of riding time. He turned the trick one more time to grab three more back points and at the end of the first period, Heller had a 14-2 lead with 2:33 in riding time. Fisch chose neutral to begin the third period and took Heller down again within :30 seconds of the period starting. But once again, Heller reversed the Bronc grappler and went up 16-4. One more three-point near fall and Heller had himself a 19-4 technical fall at the 4:03 mark. Penn State moved up 14-0 after three bouts.
At 149, red-shirt freshman Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) took on Rider??s Michael Kessler. Unlike the first three bouts, which featured plenty of early scoring, this one was a defensive struggle in the first period. Vallimont got on the board just before the end of the first three minutes, getting a nice takedown on the edge of the mat with just :02 left. The quick move gave him a 2-0 lead after one. Kessler chose down to begin the second, only to have Vallimont dominate from the top position and build up 1:48 in riding time. Kessler??s late escape did cut the lead to 2-1 after two periods. Vallimont chose down to begin the third period escaped to a 3-1 lead, just in enough time to keep a 1:01 advantage in riding time. Vallimont held Kessler at bay for the remaining seconds and went on to post a 4-1 decision, giving the Nittany Lions a 17-0 lead.
True freshman Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) met Bronc Rob Morrison at 157. Continuing to thrill many of his hometown fans, who made the short trip in from Virginia Beach to Hampton, Jenkins took Morrison down and quickly added three back points to lead 5-1 at the 1:30 mark (after a Morrison escape). Jenkins added a second takedown to go up 7-1. Jenkins turned Morrison once more for three back points to up his lead to 10-2 with 1:51 in riding time after three minutes of wrestling. Jenkins chose down to start the middle period and quickly reversed Morrison to lead 12-3. Another takedown just seconds after allowing Morrison to escape and the true freshman had a technical fall in his sight. Down 14-3 and facing nearly three minutes of riding time, Morrison chose top to start the final period, hoping to turn Jenkins and avoid a lop-sided loss by getting a pin. But Jenkins methodically worked his way out from Morrison??s control to escape to a 15-3 lead with 1:32 to wrestle. Morrison put the technical fall out of reach for Jenkins with a takedown at the 1:00 mark. Jenkins reversed the Bronc wrestler for two more points and assured himself of a solid 18-6 major decision. The Nittany Lions fifth straight win gave them a 21-0 lead.
At 165, another Penn State true freshman, Dave Rella (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) met Rider??s Dave Miller. After a minute of early work, Rella tossed Miller to the mat for a quick takedown and nearly got the pin. Miller fought off the move but two back points had Rella up 4-1 early (after a Miller escape). Rella continued Penn State??s dominance by adding two more takedowns before Morrison bowed out with an injury default at the 2:34 mark. Rella led 8-2 at the time of the default. The six points gave Penn State a 27-0 lead.
Senior All-American James Yonushonis (Philipsburg, Pa.), ranked No. 6 in the country, took on No. 14 James Umbehauer of Rider at 174. The Nittany Lion captain was looking to avenge an upset loss to Umbehauer in the semifinals at Midlands in December. The first period went by without either ranked grappler getting any points. Tied at 0-0, Yonushonis chose down to begin the middle stanza and escaped to a 1-0 lead at the 1:23 mark. Yonushonis got the first takedown of the bout at the :25 mark to go up 3-1 after an Umbehauer escape. The Nittany Lion senior carried that two point lead into the final period. Umbehauer chose down to begin the third period and quickly escaped to cut the lead to 3-2 at the 1:33 mark. Yonushonis got in on Umbehauer??s left ankle off a reset, but the Bronc grappler fought through the move to force another reset with 1:06 to wrestle. Yonushonis would not allow Umbehauer in offensively, using his outstanding defense to post an outstanding 3-2 win. The seventh straight victory put Penn State up 30-0.
At 184, Penn State sophomore Phil Bomberger (Port Royale, Pa.) took the mat against Rider??s Mike Miller. Bomberger forced the tempo early on, but Miller did a fine job of fighting off three solid Bomberger scoring attempts. The bout remained scoreless throughout the entirety of the first period and Miller chose down to start the second. The Bronc escaped in five seconds to a 1-0 lead. Bomberger was again the aggressor, but the Penn State sophomore could not break through Miller??s defense. With :11 left, however, Bomberger got in on Miller??s ankles and finally got his takedown. The quick move gave Bomberger a 2-1 lead after two periods. He chose down to start the final stanza and escaped to a 3-1 lead at the 1:32 mark. Not looking to play defense win, Bomberger continued his offensive efforts, getting in on a nice single leg on the edge of the mat with 1:00 to wrestle. Miller managed to fight off the move and force a reset, but Bomberger quickly countered a Miller shot to ice the bout with another takedown and post a 5-1 decision. The three points put Penn State up 33-0.
Defending national runner-up Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 197, met Rider??s T.J. Morrison, who entered the bout ranked No. 15. Looking to keep hopes of a shut-out alive, Davis put the first points on the board with a takedown at the :30 mark. The Nittany Lion junior rode Morrison out to lead 2-0 after one. Davis chose down to start the second and quickly got out for a 3-0 lead. Davis, like the entire Penn State line-up in the dual, continued to apply offensive pressure. Morrison, however, fought off every Davis shot. The Bronc grappler chose down to start the third period but could not break free of Davis?? dominating efforts up top. Davis put together a very strong ride for the entirety of the period and posted a 4-0 decision (including the riding time point. The win put the Nittany Lions up 36-0.
Senior heavyweight Aaron Anspach (Columbia, Pa.), coming off an upset loss against Bloomsburg in Friday??s quarterfinals, took on Peter Reid in the dual??s final match-up. Anspach entered the bout ranked No. 13 nationally. Two quick takedowns had Anspach up 4-2 just 1:00 in. Looking to secure the team shut-out, Anspach notched a total of six takedowns in the first period alone and led 12-5 after one period. Reid chose down to begin the second period and escaped to cut the lead to 12-6. Anspach stepped aside of a Reid ankle pick and scored a takedown of his own to move up 14-6, which is how the second period ended. The Nittany Lion senior chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to a 15-6 lead. A quick takedown and three back points gave Anspach a 20-6 lead and put a technical fall within reaching distance with 1:12 to wrestle. Anspach allowed Reid up and then finished off the bout with a swift takedown to post a 22-7 technical fall at the 5:58 mark. Five more team points helped Penn State post a 41-0 shutout.
In winning all ten bouts, Penn State collected 11 bonus points off three technical falls, two majors and an injury default. The shut-out was Penn State??s second of the season, marking the first time since 1992-93 that the Nittany Lions have notched two shut-outs in one campaign (Penn State shutout Bloomsburg and Lehigh by identical 39-0 scores that year on its way to a 22-0-1 record).
Penn State moves on to face Edinboro in the championship finals. The Fighting Scots, who Penn State defeated 27-9 in the Pennsylvania Duals earlier this year, downed Kent State 25-12 in their semifinal win.
Penn State??s next action after the Virginia Duals will be a two-dual road swing to open up Big Ten action. Penn State will visit Wisconsin for an 8 p.m. Eastern match on Friday, Jan. 19, and then head to Minnesota for 3 p.m. Eastern dual on Sunday, Jan. 21. Penn State??s next home dual is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 26, when Ohio State comes to Rec Hall. All Penn State duals will be heard live on WBLF AM and WKVA AM as well as streamed for free at GoPSUsports.com. Season and single-match tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Penn State ticket office at 814-863-1000 or 800-833-5533 for more information. Fans can also get tickets at GoPSUsports.com. This year??s season ticket prices are $24 for adults and $18 for students. Single dual prices are $5 per event for adults and $3 per event for youth.
No. 10 Penn State 41, Rider 0 Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007 ?C Virginia Duals ?C Hampton, Va. 125: #2 Mark McKnight PSU tech. fall Thomas Lorenzo RU, 23-8 (7:00) 5-0 133: #6 Jake Strayer PSU maj. dec. Brian Polashuk RU, 21-8 9-0 141: Bryan Heller PSU tech. fall Don Fisch RU, 19-4 (4:03) 14-0 149: Dan Vallimont PSU dec. Michael Kessler RU, 4-1 17-0 157: Bubba Jenkins PSU maj. dec. Rob Morrison RU, 18-6 21-0 165: Dave Rella PSU Inj. Def. Dave Miller RU (2:34 ?C Rella led 8-2) 27-0 174: #6 James Yonushonis PSU dec. #14 Doug Umbehauer RU, 3-2 30-0 184: Phil Bomberger PSU dec. Mike Miller RU, 5-1 33-0 197: #5 Phil Davis PSU dec. #15 T.J. Morrison RU, 4-0 36-0 HWT: #13 Aaron Anspach PSU tech. fall Peter Reid RU, 22-7 (5:58) 41-0 Records: Penn State 9-1, Rider 4-4 Next up for Penn State: Vs. Edinboro, 8:30 p.m. this evening, 8:30 p.m.