Feb. 8, 2008
STATE COLLEGE, Pa.; February 8, 2008 - No. 10 Penn State, under the direction of head coach Troy Sunderland, posted a thrilling 20-14 win over No. 6 Michigan in front of over 4,000 fans in Rec Hall. With Penn State leading by three heading into the final bout, junior heavyweight John Laboranti (Pittston, Pa.) avoided a dual meet draw and clinched the win with a last second takedown in a 6-4 sudden victory decision.
Penn State bolted out to an early lead in the dual, winning the first three bouts in exciting fashion. Senior Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.) posted a 3-1 win at 125 and senior co-captain Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.) notched a critical 8-3 victory at 133. Then true freshman Garrett Scott (Alexandria, Pa.) brought over 4,000 Nittany Lion faithful to their feet with a stunning 4-3 win over No. 4 Kellen Russell of Michigan in the 141-pound bout. The three wins gave PSU and early 9-0 lead, but Michigan would come roaring back.
Defending national finalist Josh Churella posted a 9-3 upset win over No. 4 Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) at 149 before Nittany Lion Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 2 at 157, grabbed an 8-6 win over Michigan's Jeff Marsh. Down 12-3, Michigan's three strongest weights paid dividends as the Wolverines got a major from No. 3 Steve Tannenbaum at 165 before No. 4 Steve Luke escaped with a hard-fought 3-2 win over No. 17 David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) of Penn State at 174. No. 2 Tyrel Todd then got a major at 184 and the Wolverines had roared all the way back to take a 14-12 lead.
Nittany Lion All-American Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.) made Michigan's lead short-lived with a dominating 15-0 technical fall over No. 14 Anthony Biondo at 197. The five point win put Penn State up 17-14 and set up the final bout's fireworks. Laboranti took to the mat against Michigan's Chad Bleske, needing a win to secure the team victory while Bleske could force a draw in the dual with a win of his own. The bout was tied 4-4 after regulation with each wrestler getting a takedown and two escapes. With just :10 left in the sudden victory period, Laboranti gained control of Bleske's left ankle on the edge of the mat. As time wound down, Laboranti worked to pull the Wolverine into the circle and with just :03 left, pulled him in just enough to reach forward, control his right foot, and get the dual clinching takedown with just :01 left. The 6-4 sudden victory secured the 20-14 win.
Penn State moves to 11-5 on the year, 3-3 in Big Ten action, while Michigan falls to 15-5, 2-2. The Nittany Lions will welcome two Big Ten teams to Rec Hall next weekend. Michigan State visits Penn State on Friday, Feb. 15, in a 7 p.m. dual that will air live to a Big Ten Network national audience. Purdue then comes to Rec Hall on Sunday, Feb. 17, for a 1 p.m. match-up. Tickets for all regular season duals are on sale now at the athletic department ticket office in the Bryce Jordan Center. Single-dual tickets are $5 for adults and seniors and $3 for students 18 and under. Penn State students with a proper student ID are admitted free! Fans can call 814-863-1000 or 800-833-5533 to order single-dual or season tickets. All Penn State duals will be broadcast locally on WBLF 970 AM and WKVA 920 AM and streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com. All home duals will feature a live video webcast and live scoring at www.GoPSUsports.com as well.
#10 Penn State 20, #6 Michigan 14 Friday, February 8, 2008 - State College, Pa.
HWT: #18 John Laboranti
| 125: #10 Mark McKnight PSU dec. Michael Watts UM, | 3-1 | 3-0 |
| 133: Tim Haas PSU dec. Chris Diehl UM, | 8-3 | 6-0 |
| 141: Garrett Scott PSU dec. #4 Kellen Russell UM, | 4-3 | 9-0 |
| 149: #8 Josh Churella UM dec. #4 Bubba Jenkins PSU, | 9-3 | 9-3 |
| 157: #2 Dan Vallimont PSU dec. Jeff Marsh UM, | 8-6 | 12-3 |
| 165: #3 Eric Tannenbaum UM maj. dec. Michael Lorenzo PSU, | 13-1 | 2-7 |
| 174: #4 Steve Luke UM dec. #17 David Erwin PSU, | 3-2 | 12-10 |
| 184: #2 Tyrel Todd UM maj. dec. #14 Phil Bomberger PSU, | 16-5 | 12-14 |
| 197: #3 Phil Davis PSU tech. fall #14 Anthony Biondo UM, | 15-0 (5:58) | 17-14 |
PSU dec. (SV) Chad Bleske UM,
| 6-4 (SV) | 20-14 |
Final Score: #10 Penn State 20, #6 Michigan 14
Attendance: 4,682
Records: Penn State 11-5, 3-3 Big Ten; Michigan 15-5, 2-2 Big Ten
Up next: Penn State hosts Michigan State on Friday, February 15 in Rec Hall
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Nittany Lion senior Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 125, met Michigan's Michael Watts in the dual's first bout. Watts took the first shot of the bout, but McKnight countered the effort, worked himself behind Watts and forced a stalemate at the 2:24 mark. The quick offensive effort by Watts energized McKnight, who then quickly got in on Watts' legs after the reset and, after a scramble, nearly turned the Wolverine to his back. But Watts managed a stalemate at the 1:15 mark. With :45 left in the opening period, McKnight gained control of Watts' right foot and after a brief tangle on the edge of the mat, got the takedown with :18 left to go up 2-0. McKnight then managed to keep control of Watts, riding him out to carry the 2-0 lead into the second stanza. McKnight chose bottom to begin the next period but could not break free of Watts until the :40 mark. The escape gave him a 3-0 lead but Watts had 1:00 in riding time. Watts tried to get his first points late in the period with a solid shot but McKnight moved out of trouble to keep his 3-0 lead. Watts chose down to start the third period and it was McKnight's turn to put together a strong performance on top, keeping Watts under control until only :32 remained. Watts' escape cut McKnight's lead to 3-1, but that was all the scoring there would be. McKnight's 3-1 decision gave Penn State an early 3-0 lead.
133: Senior co-captain Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.) took on Wolverine Chris Diehl in the 133 pound match-up. Haas quickly broke out to a lead with a textbook double-leg takedown at the 2:34 mark. Diehl escaped to a 2-1 deficit after Haas worked up a :44 time advantage. Haas then used a single leg on the edge of the mat to go up 4-2 with 1:06 left in the period (after another Diehl escape). Looking to build on his lead, Haas completed another single leg, then lifted Diehl up and put him down to the mat for a 6-2 lead with :22 left. Haas then rode the Wolverine out to carry that lead into the second period. Diehl chose down to start the middle stanza and quickly escaped to a 6-3 deficit. Diehl got in deep on Haas' left thigh, but the Nittany Lion senior countered, worked behind Diehl and got a takedown of his own with 1:10 left in the period. Haas then rode Diehl out and lead 8-3 with 2:48 in riding time heading into the final period. Up by five, Haas chose down to begin the final stanza. Diehl then put together a strong ride, keeping control of Haas for the entire period, trying to turn the Nittany Lion to no avail. Haas' offensive fireworks in the first two periods gave the Nittany Lion senior a hard-fought 8-3 win and put Penn State up 6-0.
141: In one of the bout's most anticipated match-ups, Penn State true freshman Garrett Scott (Alexandria, Pa.) met Michigan freshman Kellen Russell at 141. Russell entered the bout with a 23-3 record and ranked No. 4 nationally. The talented duo spent the first seconds looking for scoring chances and it was Russell who got the first points with a quick grab of Scott's ankles on the edge of the mat. Scott quickly escaped to a 2-1 deficit after a reset with 1:55 left in the bout. Russell shot low on Scott, nearly gained control of the Lion and Scott countered with a near throw and takedown on the edge of the mat. But action moved out of bounds with :22 left, forcing a reset, and Russell led 2-1 after one period. Scott chose down to start the second period and nearly pinned Russell while escaping to a 2-2 tie. While not getting the call for the fall, Scott's action energized a packed Rec Hall. While Scott became the aggressor, Russell was able to play defense and keep the bout tied after two periods. Russell chose down to start the third period. A decision that would come back to haunt the Wolverine. After a brief struggle, Scott turned Russell to his back for two near fall points and, after another attempt to turn Russell, the Wolverine managed to escape, cutting Scott's lead to 4-3 with 1:14 left to wrestle. Russell worked hard for a final takedown to try and grab the lead, but Scott managed to hold the Wolverine off and post a thrilling 4-3 win. The victory gave the Nittany Lions a 9-0 lead after just three bouts.
149: In another marquee match-up, Nittany Lion sophomore Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) put his No. 4 ranking at 149 on the line against defending national runner-up Josh Churella, who entered the bout ranked No. 8. Churella had the first scoring chance of the match, getting control of Jenkins' left leg and nearly completing a cradle. But Jenkins scrambled, first out of the cradle and forced a stalemate without giving up any points. A reset was called with :43 left in the opening period and Churella once again gained control of Jenkins' right leg. But the Nittany Lion sophomore was strong, breaking free on the edge of the mat and sending keeping things scoreless after one period. Churella chose down to begin the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. After Jenkins got called for a stall warning, Churella worked in for a strong double leg takedown to take a 3-0 lead. But Jenkins quickly reversed the Wolverine and cut the lead to 3-2 with :31 left. Churella escaped to up his lead to 4-2 and then, quickly took Jenkins down to push his lead to 6-2 with :22 left. The Wolverine All-American then rode Jenkins out to carry the 6-2 lead into the final period. Down by four, Jenkins chose down to begin the third period and quickly escaped to a 6-3 deficit. Needing multiple takedowns, Jenkins shot quickly on Churella. But Churella countered, moved behind Jenkins and got a takedown of his own to go up 8-3. He then kept control of Jenkins for the remaining minute-plus and posted a strong 9-3 win with the riding time point. The decision gave Michigan its first points, cutting Penn State's lead to 9-3.
157: Penn State's Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 2 at 157, took on Michigan's Jeff Marsh in the next bout. Vallimont was coming off his first loss to No. 1 Mike Poeta of Illinois last Sunday while Marsh was coming off an upset win over Poeta two days prior to that. Vallimont quickly turned on the offense, taking a 2-0 lead with 2:22 left with a strong double leg takedown. Marsh escaped with 2:00 left to wrestle. A minute later, Vallimont added a second takedown to up his lead to 4-2 after a Marsh escape. Down by two, Marsh chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-3 deficit. But Vallimont continued his offensive onslaught, adding another double leg takedown to lead 6-4 (after another Marsh escape). Marsh countered a Vallimont shot and got a takedown of his own with just :15 left to tie the bout at 6-6 after two periods. Vallimont chose down to start the final stanza and, after a brief tussle, escaped to a 7-6 lead with 1:20 left in the bout. After a reset, Vallimont worked to ice the bout by completing a takedown. But during the process, Marsh got called for an illegal hold and Vallimont posted a hard-fought 8-6 win. The victory put Penn State up 12-3 heading into intermission.
165: With starter Dave Rella (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) out with a slight injury, freshman Michael Lorenzo (Bellefonte, Pa.) made his Penn State dual meet debut at 165 against No. 3 Eric Tannenbaum. Tannenbaum looked to be the aggressor early and opened up an early lead with a takedown at the 2:29 mark. Lorenzo cut the lead to 2-1 with an escape at the 1:52 mark. Tannenbaum added another takedown at the 1:12 mark, upping his lead to 4-1. The Wolverine All-American then turned Lorenzo to his back for three near fall points before riding the Nittany Lion freshman out. Down 7-1, Lorenzo chose down to start the second period. After a minute of work, Tannenbaum turned Lorenzo again for three more back points and tried to pin the Nittany Lion, working fully for :30 to try and pin him. But Lorenzo would not go down without a fight, not giving up the fall. Up 10-1 with a bonus point assured, Tannenbaum chose neutral to begin the third period and quickly took Lorenzo down to up his lead to 12-1 with 1:30 left to wrestle. Tannenbaum need another near fall to try and grab a technical fall, but once again, Lorenzo would not allow the All-American to turn him. Lorenzo fought hard off the bottom against huge odds and gave up only a 13-1 major decision to the fourth-ranked Wolverine. The major cut Penn State's lead to 12-7.
174: Penn State sophomore David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio), ranked No. 17 at 174, met No. 4 Steve Luke. Luke broke out to an early 2-0 lead with a quick takedown at the 2:25 mark. But Erwin escaped with 1:40 left to cut the lead to 2-1 and began working for a takedown of his own. With :50 left, Erwin shot low on Luke's left ankle and gained control for a few seconds, but Luke managed to kick out of the situation and hold his lead. A furious scramble as the period ended nearly resulted in a takedown for each wrestler, but no one scored and Luke kept his 2-1 lead heading into the second period. Up by one, Luke chose down to start the middle stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Erwin was equal to look for the entire period, matching Luke's tempo and looking for an opening of his own. But neither man would give up a takedown and Luke held a 3-1 lead after two periods. Erwin chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 3-2 deficit. Luke nearly took Erwin down to up his lead to 5-2, but the Nittany Lion sophomore scrambled out of trouble and kept things close with 1:20 left in the bout. Needing one takedown to grab a stunning upset, Erwin could not break through Luke's defense over the bout's last seconds. While forcing the Wolverine into a stall warning, time ran out on Erwin's efforts and Luke escaped with a hard-fought 3-2 victory.
184: Junior Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.) took to the mat at 184 against Michigan's Tyrel Todd. Bomberger entered the bout ranked No. 14 while Todd had a lofty No. 2 ranking. Bomberger broke out to an early 2-0 lead on the Michigan All-American with a strong double-leg takedown at the 2:16 mark. Todd escaped to a 2-1 deficit after a reset and then Todd took a 3-2 lead after a scramble in the middle of the mat, securing the takedown with 1:32 left in the opening period. Bomberger then escaped to a 3-3 tie with 1:04 left in the opening period and action moved back to the center circle. Bomberger shot at Todd's right thigh but Todd countered the move, worked behind Bomberger for a go-ahead takedown at the :35 mark. A ride out gave Todd a 5-3 lead with :56 in riding time after the first period. Todd chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 6-3 lead. But Todd was undaunted, getting a fourth takedown on the edge of the mat to lead 8-4 lead after letting Bomberger up. Bomberger once again shot and Todd countered the move for a 10-4 lead. Three near fall points later and Todd led 14-3 with just under 1:00 left in the second period. Todd then rode Bomberger out to carry the 14-3 lead into the final period. Down by 11, Bomberger chose down to start the final period but could not break free of Todd's strong work up top until only :25 left. Bomberger shot low for a takedown to avoid a major, but Todd once again scored off a counter move, worked behind Bomberger and got the final points as time expired. The 16-5 major decision gave Michigan its first lead of the night, a 14-12 edge heading into the final two bouts.
197: Three-time All-American Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 3 at 197, met No. 14 Anthony Biondo of Michigan. Biondo took the first shot, but Davis countered and got the bout's first takedown with 1:56 left. With a 2-0 lead, Davis began looking for back points and, after a brief tussle, turned the ranked Wolverine for three near fall points and a 5-0 lead with 1:00 left. Then, in typical Davis fashion, the Nittany Lion finished a cradle and picked up three more points, nearly pinning Biondo in the process. Up 8-0 with nearly 2:00 in riding time, Davis chose down to start the second period. Biondo managed to maintain control of Davis for more than half the second period, keeping control of the Nittany Lion until Davis reversed the Wolverine with :25 left to take a 10- lead. Davis then rode Biondo out to hold that lead, with :54 in riding time, heading into the final period. Biondo chose top to start the third period, hoping to keep out of Davis' grasps and avoid a pin. But once again, Davis stood up, worked behind Biondo and reversed the Wolverine to take a 12-0 lead with 1:35 left. With 1:23, Davis turned Biondo once again for three near fall points and posted a 15-0 technical fall at the 5:58 mark. The five points allowed Penn State to retake the lead, 17-14, with one bout left.
HWT: Penn State junior John Laboranti (Pittston, Pa.) put his No. 18 ranking on the line at HWT against Michigan's Chad Bleske. With Laboranti needing a win to secure the dual meet and Bleske needing a win (or more) to force a tie (or steal a win), it was the Nittany Lion who was the early aggressor. Laboranti nearly got a go-ahead takedown on the edge of the mat a minute in, but Bleske fought out of trouble. With 1:00 left, Laboranti shot low and Bleske's feet, but the Wolverine stepped aside and behind the Lion big man to get a takedown of his own and lead 2-1 after the Laboranti escape. Neither man scored again and the Wolverine led 2-1 after one. Bleske then chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. With 1:40 left, Laboranti got in on Bleske's right leg and forced a furious scramble. After :30 of work, Laboranti go the tying takedown with 1:05 left, knotting the score at 3-3. Bleske escaped to a 4-3 lead after a reset and action continued in the center circle. Trailing 4-3 after two periods, Laboranti quickly escaped to a 4-4 tie with :40 left and began looking for the dual clinching takedown. Laboranti forced Bleske back to the edge of the mat over the last 1:30 but could not break through the Wolverine's defense. With neither wrestler scoring, the bout remained tied after three periods and went to a sudden victory period tied 4-4. With :10 left, Laboranti worked in on Bleske's ankle on the edge of the mat and pulled the Wolverine in. Looking to get the left ankle to complete the takedown, the Nittany Lion junior pulled Bleske in and got the dual winning takedown with just :01 left. The 6-4 SV decision gave Penn State a 20-14 win over No. 6 Michigan.
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