March 20, 2008
St. Louis, Mo.; - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team had a successful 5-2 run in the first session of the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships. The three-day event began today with pigtails and the first round. All four seeded Penn Staters got wins and senior Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.) upset the No. 12 seed at 125 for Penn State's fifth win.
McKnight posted a 5-1 win over 12th seeded Tyler Shinn of Oklahoma State to get Penn State's session off to a rousing start. True freshman Garrett Scott (Alexandria, Pa.) got a pin in his NCAA tournament debut at 141 and Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.), the No. 2 seed at 197, began his march with a quick pin at 197.
Third-seeded sophomore Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) got a win in his first bout at 157 and sophomore Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) got a major decision at 149. Jenkins is the No. 6 seed. Penn State's only losses were Dave Rella (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), who lost a tough 3-1 decision to the tournament's 12th seed at 165; and junior Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.), who was pinned by the 12th seed at 184.
All seven Penn Staters will be in action tonight as the winners move on to the second round and Penn State's other two grapplers head to consolation competition. Action continues tonight at 6:30 (Central), here in the Scottrade Center. The three day event runs through Saturday night's finals.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Senior 125-pounder Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa.), making his fourth trip to nationals, took on 12th-seeded Tyler Shinn of Oklahoma State in his Thursday morning match-up in round one. McKnight shot early, nearly finishing off a quick two-point move to start the bout, but Shinn fought off the move and kept things scoreless early on. The duo battled evenly throughout the period, with McKnight finishing a single leg as the period ended but not gaining control of Shinn's other ankle to get any points. Tied 0-0, Shinn chose down to start the second period and was promptly turned to his back and nearly pinned by McKnight. McKnight worked hard for the fall for over a minute and, while not managing to pin the 12th seeded Cowboy, moved out to a 3-0 lead while building up a 1:40 riding time edge. Shinn's escape cut McKnight's lead to 3-1 heading into the final period. McKnight chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. Shinn battled to get in on McKnight and close the gap with a takedown, but the Lion senior was equal to the task, keeping the Cowboy at arm's length and maintaining his lead with ease. The Nittany Lion senior was able to maintain his lead and posted an impressive 5-1 upset victory over the 12th seeded Shinn. McKnight's victory moves him into the second round tonight against Iowa's Charlie Falck, the No. 5 seed in the tournament.
141: True freshman Garrett Scott (Alexandria, Pa.), the 12th seed at 141, met Wyoming's Carter Downing in his NCAA tournament debut. Downing brought a superb 21-5 record with him into the tournament. Scott wasted no time in taking a lead, getting his first takedown just five seconds into the bout. The true freshman then began to put together a very strong ride, looking for an opportunity to turn the Cowboy wrestler for early back points. Downing, however, got underneath Scott and reversed the Nittany Lion to tie the bout at 2-2 with one minute to wrestle. With eight seconds left, however, Scott used his back to force Downing back towards the mat and got a reversal and two back points to lead 6-2 heading into the second period. Up by four, Scott chose down to start the third period and swiftly notched another reversal to up his lead to 8-2. He then completed a cradle and pinned Downing at the 3:32 mark, getting his first NCAA victory in fine fashion and moving into the second round. Scott will face No. 5 seed Manuel Rivera of Minnesota tonight.
149: Sophomore Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.), the 6th seed at 149, took on Navy's Bryce Saddoris in round one. Jenkins fought off an early Saddoris shot and then took the Midshipmen down for a 2-0 lead at the 2:00 mark. Saddoris escaped to a 2-1 deficit and then worked in on a high single leg, looking to take Jenkins down to grab a lead. But Jenkins forced a stalemate with :18 left and carried his 2-1 lead into the second period. Saddoris chose down to begin the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Jenkins, however, then gained control o f Saddoris' shoulders and worked his way behind the Navy grappler to take a 4-2 lead with 1:18 left in the middle period. Saddoris again escaped, cutting into Jenkins' lead. After an injury timeout, Jenkins scored immediately off the reset to up his lead to 6-4 (after a Saddoris escape) and then added a fourth takedown with just :02 left in the period to lead 8-4 after two stanzas. Jenkins chose down to start the final period and escaped to a 9-4 lead. The 6th seeded Lion then added another takedown with 1:10 left to up his lead to 11-5 with just under a minute left. Jenkins added a two point throw and two back points in the bout's final seconds to post a convincing 15-5 major decision. Jenkins will now face 11th seeded Ryan Lang, the defending national runner-up from Northwestern, in the second round tonight.
157: Big Ten Runner-Up Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), the 3rd seed at 157, met Chattanooga's William Garvin in his opening match-up. Vallimont quickly got out on top of Garvin, getting a takedown :32 into the bout to lead 2-0 early on. Garvin escaped shortly thereafter and the bout moved to the center circle with Vallimont up 2-1. Vallimont quickly shot low on Garvin, gaining control of the Moc's right leg, but Garvin forced a stalemate at the 1:10 mark. Garvin then took a 3-2 lead with a solid takedown on the edge of the mat, getting both Vallimont's ankles with :42 left in the period. The Lion sophomore then worked his way around behind Garvin, looking for a reversal. But time wound out and the Chattanooga grappler had a 3-2 lead after one period. Vallimont chose down to start the second stanza and quickly reversed Garvin to retake a 4-3 lead. A Garvin escape tied the score at 4-4 with 1:30 left. Vallimont continued to shoot on Garvin, but the Moc's defense was solid as he kept the score tied for the rest of the period. Garvin chose down to start the final period and quickly escaped to a 5-4 lead. But Vallimont was not to be denied, stepping around the side of Garvin after a quick shot to take a 6-5 lead with 1:40 left. Needing a strong ride to keep the Moc down, Vallimont maintained his position until the 1:05 mark, where a Garvin escape tied things at 6-6. But Vallimont continued to pressure the Moc, getting in on another high single. But Garvin countered and nearly scored a stunning takedown as the period ended but time ran out. In the first sudden victory period, Vallimont avoided the upset with a double-leg takedown to grab an 8-6 SV win with just :22 left in the extra session. Vallimont moves into the second round tonight against talented Central Michigan grappler Steven Brown tonight.
165: Sophomore 165-pounder Dave Rella (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) took on 12th seed Jarrod King of Edinboro in the first round. The two grapplers battled evenly through a hard-fought first period, with each man having slight opportunities but no one breaking through for any points. Tied 0-0, Rella chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 1-0 lead with 1:11 left in the middle stanza. King, however, immediately gained control of Rella's right leg and finished off a solid takedown with just :22 left to take a 2-1 lead. Rella nearly escaped to tie the score as the period ended, but time ran out and Rella trailed 2-1 heading into the final period. King chose down to start the final period and escaped to a 3-1 lead with 1:45 to wrestle. Needing a takedown to tie the bout, Rella began pressuring the Fighting Scott grappler forcing action to the outer circle. Rella's constant pressure was not enough as the Fighting Scot grappler continued to work towards the outside of the mat, slowly winding the clock down. With :08 left, Rella had his last best shot to tie the bout, but King managed to back away once again and post a hard-fought 3-1 win. Rella's loss sends him into the consolation b racket tonight where he will face Hofstra's Ryan Patrovich.
184: Junior 184-pounder Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.) met Oklahoma State's Jack Jensen, the 12th seed. Jensen set the early tempo, working action from the middle of the mat to the outer circle. Bomberger, however, had the first real shot to get some points, nearly completing a nice single leg on the edge of the mat. But Jensen managed to force a stalemate with 1:10 left and keep the bout scoreless. Tied 0-0, Jensen chose down to start the second period and quickly moved over Bomberger to turn the Nittany Lion junior to his back. Bomberger fought hard for nearly :30, but Jensen got the pin at the 3:36 mark. The loss sends Bomberger into tonight's consolation round tonight where he will face 5th seeded Joshua Weitzel of Oklahoma, who was upset in the opening round.
197: Two-time Big Ten Champion Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa.), looking to become only the fourth four-time All-American in Penn State history, entered the tournament as the 2nd seed at 197. Davis' quest for his elusive national crown began with a first round meeting with CS-Bakersfield's Riley Orozco. Davis got in early on Orozco's right leg, finishing off the takedown at the 1:56 mark to lead 2-0 early. The Nittany Lion co-captain then began working for a pinning combination on top, looking to complete a cradle and get a pin. Davis swiftly locked Orozco up, turned him near the edge of the mat and got the pin, Penn State's second of the opening round, at the 1:47 mark. Davis moves into the second round tonight where he will face Purdue's Logan Brown.
Penn State Agate (All # are tournament seeds)
125 -- Mark McKnight (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette), Sr.
Tournament Record: 1-0 - Overall Record now: 14-9
Rd. 1: W, 5-1 dec. #12 Tyler Shinn, Oklahoma State
Rd. 2: vs. #5 Charlie Falck, Iowa, tonight
141 - Garrett Scott (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley), #12 seed, Fr.
Tournament Record: 1-0 - Overall Record now: 19-5
Rd. 1: WBF over Carter Downing, Wyoming (3:32)
Rd. 2: vs. #5 Manuel Rivera, Minnesota
149 - Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial), #6 seed, So.
Tournament Record: 1-0 - Overall Record now: 23-5
Rd. 1: W, 15-5 maj. dec. Bryce Saddoris, Navy
Rd. 2: vs. #11 Ryan Lang, Northwestern, tonight
157 - Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Jefferson Twp.), #3 seed, So.
Tournament Record: 1-0 - Overall Record now: 28-2
Rd. 1: W, 8-6 (sv) dec. Seth Garvin, Chattanooga
Rd. 2: vs. Steven Brown, Central Michigan
165 - Dave Rella (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit), So.
Tournament Record: 0-1 - Overall Record now: 15-15
Rd. 1: L, 1-3 dec. #12 Jarrod King, Edinboro
Cn. Rd. 1: vs. Ryan Patrovich, Hofstra, tonight
184 - Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa./Juniata), Jr.
Tournament Record: 0-1 - Overall Record now: 19-9
Rd. 1: LBF vs. #12 Jack Jensen, Oklahoma State
Cn. Rd. 1: vs. #5 seed Josh Weitzel, Oklahoma, tonight.
197 - Phil Davis (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg), #2 seed, Sr.
Tournament Record: 1-0 - Overall Record now: 22-1
Rd. 1: WBF over Riley Orozco, Cal-State Bakersfield (1:47)
Rd. 2: vs. Logan Brown, Purdue, tonight.