Feb. 17, 2008
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -
The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 9 nationally, thrashed visiting Purdue 33-6 to close out its home schedule. The senior trio of Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.), Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.) and Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.) led the way for head coach Troy Sunderland as the Nittany Lions won nine of ten bouts to claim the victory.
 Senior Phil Davis majored Purdue's Logan Brown in his final Rec Hall performance.  | |
Davis, ranked No. 3 nationally, began the match with a dominating 16-5 major decision over Purdue's Logan Brown at 197. After Purdue's lone win at heavyweight, McKnight, ranked No. 10, got a major decision of his own, posting a 15-5 win over Purdue's Akif Erin at 125. Co-captain Haas then added his win, downing Boilermaker Sean Schmaltz 6-2 to put Penn State up 11-6, paving the way for the run-away victory.
No. 9 Garrett Scott (Alexandria, Pa.) got a pin at 141 to push Penn State's lead to 17-6 and the rout was on. No. 5 Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) downed No. 14 Jake Patacsil at 149, posting a 6-1 win in one of the dual's premier bouts. No. 3 Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) got a solid decision at 157 before Dave Rella (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) added a 13-4 major at 165. No. 16 David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) took care of No. 17 Nick Corpe in another key match-up, downing the ranked Boilermaker 8-4. No. 14 Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.) got the final win, posting an 8-6 victory at 184.
Beyond winning nine of ten bouts, the Nittany Lions racked up six bonus points to Purdue's three. Penn State moves to 13-5 on the year, and finished the Big Ten season with a 5-3 record. Purdue falls to 10-7 overall, 2-5 in conference action. The Nittany Lions will close out the 2007-08 regular season when they visit Lock Haven on Saturday, February 23, for an 8 p.m. match-up. All Penn State duals and post-season action will be broadcast locally on WBLF 970 AM and WKVA 920 AM and streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com.
#9 Penn State 33, Purdue 6
Sunday, February 17, 2008 - State College, Pa.
197: #3 Phil Davis PSU maj. dec. Logan Brown PU, 16-5 4-0
HWT: Chris Kasten PU pinned #16 John Laboranti PSU, WBF 6:29 4-6
125: #10 Mark McKnight PSU maj. dec. Akif Erin PU, 15-5 8-6
133: Tim Haas PSU dec. Sean Schmaltz PU, 6-2 11-6
141: #9 Garrett Scott PSU pinned Matt Redmond PU, WBF (1:28) 17-6
149: #5 Bubba Jenkins PSU dec. #14 Jake Patacsil PU, 6-1 20-6
157: #3 Dan Vallimont PSU dec. Nick Bertucci PU, 3-1 23-6
165: Dave Rella PSU maj. dec. Justin Fraga PU, 13-4 27-6
174: #16 David Erwin PSU dec. #17 Nick Corpe PU, 8-4 30-6
184: #14 Phil Bomberger PSU dec. A.J. Kissel PU, 8-6 33-6
Final Score: #9 Penn State 33, Purdue 6
Attendance: 2,862
Records: Penn State 13-5, 5-3 Big Ten; Purdue 10-7, 2-5 Big Ten
Up next: Penn State visits Lock Haven on Saturday, February 23, at 8 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
197: The dual began with one of the dual's highlight bouts. Making his final appearance in Rec Hall, three-time All-American Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.) faced Purdue's Logan Brown at 197. Davis entered the dual ranked No. 3 nationally. Brown had an early chance to score, lifting Davis' leg up to his shoulder, but Davis simply hopped back and stepped over Brown for a takedown of his own. Brown escaped after a :52 Davis ride to cut the lead to 2-1. After a reset, Davis notched a second takedown by finishing a single-leg, pulling Brown into the mat and gaining control of his other foot for a 4-1 lead with :37 left in the opening period. Davis gave up a penalty point for an illegal hold but still led 4-2 with 1:25 in riding time after one period. Davis chose down to start to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-2 lead. Davis then quickly added another takedown and cut Brown loose to lead 7-3 with 1:00 left in the period. A fourth Davis takedown with :21 left gave the Nittany Lion senior a 10-3 lead with 2:04 in riding time after two periods (Brown got a second stall call before the period ended). Brown chose down to start the final period, got called for an illegal hold and then escaped to an 11-4 deficit with 1:20 left to wrestle. Davis continued to manhandle the young Boilermaker, completing a strong double-leg and tossing Brown to the mat for a 13-5 lead (after a PU escape. Davis added one final takedown before the bout end and walked off with a 16-5 major decision in his final home bout as a Nittany Lion. The dominating major decision put Penn State up 4-0.
 Senior Mark McKnight majored Purdue's Akif Erin in his final home dSenior Mark McKnight majored Purdue's Akif Erin in his final home dual meet as a Nittany Lion.ual meet as a Nittany Lion. | |
HWT: Junior HWT John Laboranti (Pittston, Pa.), ranked No. 16 in the country, faced Purdue's Chris Kasten. Laboranti got the bout's first takedown just :50 into the bout to lead 2-1 early on. The duo then battled evenly for the next minute-plus, with neither man finding a real chance to score. With :41 left, Laboranti got hit with his first stall warning. With :15 left, Laboranti shot low on Kasten and slipped, allowing Kasten to step around the Nittany Lion and get a takedown of his own. Laboranti hustled out from the bottom, however, to tie the score at 3-3 with an escape as the period ended. Laboranti then chose down to begin the second period but could not break free of a strong Kasten ride. Laboranti then gave up a stall point and trailed 4-3 with 1:00 left in the bout. After Kasten got hit with a stall warning, Laboranti continued to struggle underneath and the Purdue sophomore rode him out to lead 4-3 with 1:52 in riding time after two periods. Kasten chose down to start the third period and Laboranti cut him loose to a 5-3 deficit. Needing multiple takedowns, Laboranti quickly got one with a swift ankle pick and, after cutting Kasten loose again, trailed 6-5 with 1:40 left to wrestle. Laboranti looked to score again but Kasten managed to force a scramble that ended up with Laboranti on his back. Kasten first got two near fall points and then pinned the Nittany Lion at the 6:29 mark for an upset victory that put the Boilermakers up 6-4.
125: Wrestling in his final dual meet in Rec Hall for the Nittany Lions, senior Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.) met Purdue's Akif Erin at 125. McKnight entered the bout ranked No. 10 nationally. McKnight was aggressive from the start, looking for openings but not breaking through Erin's defensive style early on. McKnight finally got on the board with a nice under hook that led to a takedown and a 2-0 lead with :51 left in the opening period. The Nittany Lion senior then put together a nice rice and turned Erin for a three-point near fall and led 5-0 with :50 in riding time after one period. McKnight chose down to start the middle stanza and quickly escaped to a 6-0 lead. Another high single leg led to another McKnight takedown and an 8-0 lead with 1:08 left in the second period. Erin finally escaped to an 8-1 deficit after McKnight barely missed on a cradle attempt. Trailing 8-1, Erin chose down to start the final period and McKnight let him up as the Nittany Lion began working for bonus points. Less than five seconds later, McKnight added another takedown and led 10-3 after cutting Erin loose. Less than :30 after that, the Nittany Lion senior put himself up 12-3 with yet another takedown. Erin escaped to a 12-4 deficit, but McKnight was relentless and added another takedown to lead 14-5 with :20 left (after cutting Erin loose again). McKnight scrambled for another takedown as time expired but action moved off the mat. Still, a 15-5 major for McKnight gave the Nittany Lions an 8-6 lead.
 Senior Tim Haas downed Purdue's Sean Schmaltz in his final home dual as a Penn Stater. | |
133: Co-captain Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.) took to the mat at 133 in what may have been his final home dual as a Nittany Lion. Haas faced Purdue's Sean Schmaltz. The duo tangled evenly early on in the bout, with neither man gaining an advantage or finding a real chance to score. After a scoreless first period, Schmaltz chose down to begin the second stanza and escaped to a 1-0 lead. The duo continued to battle evenly in the second period, with Haas shooting low and Schmaltz looking to score with upper body moves. But neither man managed any scoring until a driving Haas double-leg at the :28 mark gave the Nittany Lion senior a 2-1 lead. Haas then rode Schmaltz out to carry the one-point lead into the third period. Haas chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Haas countered a short Schmaltz shot, got in on the Boilermaker's right thigh, and drove him to the mat for another takedown and a 5-1 lead with 1:10 left. The Nittany Lion senior then put together a very strong ride, building up enough riding time to get a bonus point before Schmaltz escaped to a 5-2 deficit with just :25 left. Haas posted a strong 6-2 win (with the bonus point) to thrill the Nittany Lion faithful. The decision put Penn State up 11-6 and meant that all three Penn State seniors honored on Senior Day got wins.
141: Nittany Lion freshman Garrett Scott (Alexandria, Pa.), ranked No. 9 at 141, met Purdue's Matt Redmond. Scott got his first takedown by stepping behind Redmond to lead 2-0 at the 2:29 mark. He then began working Redmond from up top, looking for a chance to turn the Boilermaker. Scott turned Redmond in short order, getting the quick pin at the 1:28 mark and putting Penn State up 17-6.
149: In perhaps the dual's marquee match-up, Penn State sophomore Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) put his No. 5 ranking to the test against No. 14 Jake Patacsil of Purdue. Jenkins got the bout's first takedown, working in on Patacsil and finally getting the points at the 2:17 mark. Patacsil, who defeated Northwestern's Ryan Lang two nights earlier, escaped to a 2-1 deficit at the 1:30 mark and action continued in the middle of the mat. Patacsil got hit for two quick stall warnings as he simply hung on Jenkins' wrist. The point put Jenkins up 3-1 with :40 left. Patacsil, down 3-1, chose top to start the second period, looking for a chance to turn Jenkins for back points. But Jenkins managed to roll through each effort and nearly notched a defensive pin in the process. After a reset, Jenkins finally broke free of Patacsil's grip on the edge of the mat and escaped to a 4-1 lead. Patacsil shot low after a reset and gained control of Jenkins' right thigh, but the Nittany Lion sophomore fought off the move and forced a stalemate with just :10 left. Jenkins, holding a 4-1 lead after two periods, chose neutral to start the third period. Patacsil shot again early in the third period, but Jenkins stepped to the side and worked his way behind Patacsil to get a takedown of his own in the center of the mat. The strong move gave Jenkins a 6-1 lead with 1:00 left. Jenkins then rode Patacsil out to post a decisive 6-1 win over the 14th-ranked Boilermaker. The win gave the Nittany Lions a 20-6 lead.
157: Sophomore Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), sporting a lofty No. 3 ranking, met Nick Bertucci at 157. Continuing his aggressive style from Friday night, Vallimont worked to break through Bertucci's defensive style. Vallimont scrambled for a takedown midway through the first period, but Bertucci managed to back away from each Vallimont attempt. The Lion sophomore's aggression nearly paid off with a takedown as the period ended, but Bertucci managed to stay off his back and keep things scoreless after three minutes of wrestling. Vallimont chose down to start the second period and steadily worked himself out from Bertucci's grasp at the 1:05 mark to take a 1-0 lead. Trailing by one, Bertucci chose down to start the final period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Vallimont continued to be the aggressor and Bertucci continued to step away from each Vallimont shot. Vallimont finally broke through Bertucci's defense with a takedown at the :42 mark, taking a 3-1 lead. Vallimont then proceeded to ride Bertucci out to post a hard-fought 3-1 win and improve his team leading record to 24-1. The decision gave Penn State a 23-6.
165: Penn State sophomore Dave Rella (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) met Purdue's Justin Fraga at 165. After a scoreless minute, Rella used a forceful double-leg to put Fraga to the mat and lead 2-0 at the 1:50 mark. Fraga escaped :39 later and action resumed in the middle of the mat. Fraga shot low but Rella countered, stepped aside the Boilermaker and got a takedown of his own to up his lead to 4-1 (with 1:04 in riding time) after the opening stanza. Rella chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. Rella then countered another quick Fraga shot and took the Boiler down to lead 7-2 after a quick Fraga escape. Down by five, Fraga chose down to start the final period and escaped to a 7-3 deficit. Another counter by Rella led to another takedown and a completed cradle. Rella picked up three back points at the 1:00 mark and nearly pinned Fraga in the process. Fraga escaped to a 12-4 deficit with :43 left, but the damage was done and Rella posted a very convincing 13-4 major decision, putting Penn State up 27-6.
174: In a battle of ranked grapplers at 174, Penn State's David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio), ranked No. 16, took on No. 17 Nick Corpe of Purdue. Corpe had the first scoring chance of the highly anticipated bout, gaining control of Erwin's ankle just seconds into the bout. But the Nittany Lion sophomore forced a stalemate and kept the bout tied. Corpe once again gained control of Erwin's left ankle with 1:20 left and once again Erwin forced a stalemate. The Nittany Lion sophomore then used a diving single-leg to take a 2-0 lead with :28 left, forcing his way into Corpe's left thigh and completing the takedown on the edge of the mat. Corpe quickly escaped to a 2-1 deficit after a reset and the first period ended with Erwin holding a one point lead. Erwin chose down to begin the middle stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Energized after his first period success, Erwin used the same move to go up 5-1 with another takedown at the :54 mark. A Corpe escape cut Erwin's lead to 5-2 after two periods of wrestling. Corpe chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 5-3 deficit with 1:31 left to wrestle. Corpe had a scoring chance shortly thereafter, shooting for Erwin's right thigh. But the Nittany Lion sophomore worked himself around Corpe and got his third takedown to lead 7-4 after a Corpe escape with :30 left in the bout. Erwin had, however, assured himself a riding time bonus point and posted a thorough 8-4 win. The victory put Penn State up 30-6.
184: Junior Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.), ranked No. 14 at 184, met Boilermaker A.J. Kissel. Bomberger went for a double-leg midway through the first period and slid up to gain control of Kissel's midsection and get a go-ahead takedown. Kissel escaped to a 2-1 deficit with just over a minute left to wrestle. A standard Bomberger double-leg with :20 left gave the Nittany Lion junior a 4-1 after the first period. Kissel chose top to start the second period, looking for a turning opportunity. While Kissel did ride Bomberger for the first part of the period, Bomberger steadily worked himself to his feet on numerous occasions, not giving Kissel any real chance to turn him. Bomberger nearly escaped with a made scramble as the period ended, but Kissel maintained control to wind out the clock. Bomberger chose neutral to start the third period and then added yet another takedown with 1:35 left to wrestle. Kissel escaped to a 6-2 deficit with 1:20 left to wrestle. Bomberger gave up a stall point with :38 left, cutting his lead to 6-3. But the Nittany Lion junior was undaunted, notching another double leg takedown to up his lead to 8-4 after a Kissel escape. Kissel then got his first takedown at the :12 mark, but it was too little, too late. Bomberger posted the 8-6 win to give Penn State a 33-6 final victory.