Nov. 21, 2008
ITHACA, N.Y.; - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 14 in the nation, found the going rough at No. 4 Cornell on Friday night and fell 24-10. In a dual wrestled in front of over 4,200 fans, Cornell four straight close bouts after an opening loss to post the win. Penn State was led by talented freshman Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), who dominated No. 3 Mike Grey on his way to an 8-3 win over the returning All-American.
Junior All-American Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) got Penn State off to a rousing start, dominating Cornell's Grant Daffin on his way to a 16-7 major decision. But after that win, Penn State suffered four straight close losses in the heart of its line-up. All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 2 at 157, lost a hard-fought 4-0 decision to defending national champion Jordan Leen. Senior Mark Friend (Libertyville, Ill.) gave No. 1-ranked Mack Lewnes all he could handle but fell 7-2 at 165. True freshman Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) nearly upset his second straight All-American, but the 16th-ranked Nittany Lion fell 6-1 to No. 5 Steve Anceravage at 174. Senior Phil Bomberger (Port Royale, Pa.), ranked No. 13, suffered a 6-2 upset loss to No. 18 Justin Kerber at 184 and before Penn State could regroup it was down 12-4 heading into intermission.
After intermission, Cornell continued to roll with a pin at 197 before red-shirt freshman Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) nearly upset No. 10 Zach Hammond at HWT. Hammond still got a 7-6 victory and put Cornell up 21-4. Nittany Lion sophomore Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) picked up Penn State's second win of the night with a 9-6 decision over Cornell's Frank Perrelli at 125. Senior Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.) lost a close decision to No. 2 Troy Nickerson at 133 before Molinaro put together his strong performance with an 8-3 win over Grey, the All-American.
The loss was Penn State's first to Cornell since the 1999-2000 season. Penn State had defeated Cornell five straight times by a combined score of 132-53, including two lopsided wins last year. The Nittany Lions still hold a gaudy 55-12-3 edge in the all-time series between the two schools.
Penn State is now 0-2 on the year while Cornell moves to 1-0. The Nittany Lions will head to Binghamton, N.Y., on Sunday for the Sprawl and Brawl Duals. Penn State will tackle No. 24 Virginia at 10 a.m., No. 15 Edinboro at 12 p.m. and host Binghamton at 3:30 p.m.
Penn State returns to action in State College when it takes part in the 2008 Nittany Lion Open on Sunday, Dec. 7. Action begins at 8:30 a.m. and tickets can be purchased at the door. Penn State's next dual meet is set for Sunday, Dec. 14, when the Nittany Lions host West Virginia in Rec Hall. Action starts at 1 p.m. Fans can purchase season tickets by calling 814-863-1000 or 800-NITTANY. Season tickets are $32 for adults and $24 for youth. Single event tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youth. Penn State students get in FREE with a Penn State ID. All Penn State dual meets and post-season action can be heard live in the Centre Region on WRSC (1390 AM State College), WHUN (1150 AM Huntingdon) and live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of the All-Access package.
| #14 Penn State 10, #4 Cornell 24 Friday, November 21, 2008 - Ithaca, N.Y. | ||
| 149: #2 Bubba Jenkins PSU maj. dec. Grant Daffin COR, | 16-7 | 4-0 |
| 157: #5 Jordan Leen COR dec. #2 Dan Vallimont PSU, | 4-0 | 4-3 |
| 165: #1 Mack Lewnes COR dec. Mark Friend PSU, | 7-2 4-6 | |
| 174: #5 Steve Anceravage COR dec. #16 Quentin Wright PSU, | 6-1 | 4-9 |
| 184: #18 Justin Kerber COR dec. #13 Phil Bomberger PSU, | 6-2 | 4-12 |
| 197: Cam Simaz COR pinned Clay Steadman PSU, | WBF (4:38) | 4-18 |
| HWT: #10 Zach Hammond COR dec. Cameron Wade PSU, | 7-6 | 4-21 |
| 125: Brad Pataky PSU dec. Frank Perrelli COR, | 9-6 | 7-21 |
| 133: #2 Troy Nickerson COR dec. Tim Haas PSU, | 5-2 | 7-24 |
| 141: Frank Molinaro PSU dec. #3 Mike Grey COR, | 8-3 | 10-24 |
| Final Score: #14 Penn State 10, #4 Cornell 24 | ||
| Attendance: 4,239 | ||
| Records: #14 Penn State 0-2, 0-0 Big Ten; #4 Cornell 1-0 | ||
| Up next: At Sprawl and Brawl Duals, Sunday, Nov. 23, Binghamton, N.Y.; vs. #24 Virginia at 10 a.m., #15 Edinboro at 12 p.m. and host Binghamton at 3:30 p.m. | ||
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
149: Nittany Lion All-American Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.), ranked No. 2 at 149, took to the mat against Cornell's Grant Daffin. Jenkins wasted little time in taking a 2-0 lead with a takedown just ten seconds into the bout. Jenkins cut Daffin loose and began looking for a second takedown. After nearly completing a cement mixer, Jenkins worked his way around behind Daffin for the takedown with 1:40 left, taking a 4-1 lead. Jenkins then put together a very strong ride, building up a solid riding time edge while looking for an opening to turn Daffin to his back. Jenkins' hard work on top forced Daffin into an initial stall warning and allowed the Lion junior to ride Daffin out and carry a 4-1 lead (with 2:16 in riding time) into the middle stanza. Daffin chose down to begin the second period and Jenkins allowed him to escape. Jenkins then quickly took Daffin down again and cut him loose to lead 6-3 with just over 2:20 left in the period. The Nittany Lion junior added a fourth takedown to up his edge to 8-4 after cutting Daffin, quickly snapped in on the Big Red's right thigh to get another takedown and led 10-5 after cutting Daffin loose once more. Jenkins added a sixth takedown at the :42 mark and led 12-5. This time, the Nittany Lion junior rode Daffin out to lead 12-5 with a guaranteed riding time point in hand. Jenkins chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 13-5 lead with 1:22 left in the bout. Daffin got his first takedown at the :30 mark, but Jenkins quickly moved around behind the Cornell grappler to reverse him and take a 15-7 lead. The riding time bonus point gave Jenkins a 16-7 major decision and put the Nittany Lions up 4-0 early.
157: Fellow Penn State All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), also ranked No. 2, met the first of two former NCAA 157-pound Champions he was set to meet on Penn State's weekend in New York. Cornell's Jordan Leen, ranked No. 5 and last year's national champ, was Vallimont's first foe in what could be a very rugged weekend for the Penn State junior. In the dual's marquee match-up featuring two of the nation's best 157-pounders, the duo spent the first half of the opening period looking for a scoring opportunity. Leen took a couple shots low at Vallimont's right ankle, but each time the Nittany Lion junior stepped away from trouble and kept the bout scoreless. Tied 0-0 after one period, Leen chose down to begin the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Neither wrestlers could make a dent in the other's defense until Vallimont got in deep on Leen's right thigh with :32 left. The Nittany Lion sophomore nearly finished the move for a takedown, but action was stopped due to a dangerous hold and the bout went to the third period with Leen holding a 1-0 lead. Trailing 1-0, Vallimont chose neutral to start the third period. He initially got in on Leen's right ankle again and once again, Leen managed to work his way into danger, thus forcing another reset. After a prolonged blood timeout for a cut on Leen's head, Vallimont once again got in on Leen's right thigh. This time, Leen countered the move by stepping over Vallimont and got the first takedown of the bout to lead 3-0 with 1:09 left to wrestle. Vallimont could not work out from Leen's strong ride and, with a riding time bonus point, posted a hard-fought 4-0 win. The victory cut Penn State's lead to 4-3 and seriously damaged Penn State's upset hopes.
165: Penn State senior Mark Friend (Libertyville, Ill.) met the nation's No. 1 ranked 165-pounder in Cornell's Mack Lewnes. Friend and Lewnes battled evenly through the first period, until the Nittany Lion senior got in deep on Lewnes' right thigh. But the top-ranked Lewnes forced a stalemate and kept the bout scoreless with :30 left in the period. Lewnes worked his way into Friend's hips and nearly got his first takedown, but Friend managed to fight off the effort and keep things scoreless after one period. Friend chose down to start the second period. Friend feverishly tried to escape, nearly working out from Lewnes' control a number of times, only to have action move off the mat. The Nittany Lion senior could not manage to escape and, while keeping the bout tied 0-0, faced a 2:00 riding time edge. Lewnes chose down to begin the third period and quickly reversed the Nittany Lion to take a 2-0 lead. Friend worked to escape once more, but Lewnes maintained control long enough to secure the riding time point. Friend escaped to a 2-1 deficit with :28 left. Lewnes got the bout's first takedown at the :18 mark and led 4-2 after a quick Friend escape. Lewnes added one more takedown as the bout ended and, with the bonus point, posted a 7-2 win. The victory gave Cornell a 6-4 lead.
174: Penn State true-freshman Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 16 at 174, met the first of three potential ranked foes of the weekend when he took on No. 5 Steve Anceravage of Cornell, a returning All-American. Looking to build upon his win over a returning All-American last weekend, Wright took the action to Anceravage, acting as the aggressor early on. Wright nearly got the bout's first takedown with an ankle pick, but Anceravage stepped out of trouble to keep the bout scoreless. A flurry on the edge of the mat nearly resulted in a takedown for Wright as the first period ended, but Anceravage worked his way out of trouble. Tied 0-0, Wright chose down to start the second period. Anceravage rode Wright hard for the entire period and kept things scoreless heading into the third stanza. Anceravage chose down to begin the third period and Wright let him loose to a 1-0 lead. Down by one and looking at giving up a riding time point, Wright pressured the Cornell senior, looking for a scoring opportunity. The Nittany Lion freshman saw his chance with a high throw, but Anceravage worked his way out and around Wright for his own takedown and a 3-1 lead (after a Wright escape). Anceravage then iced the bout with a solid takedown with just over :20 left and, with the riding time point, posted a hard-fought 6-1 win. The victory put Cornell up 9-4.
184: Penn State senior Phil Bomberger (Port Royal, Pa.), ranked No. 13 at 184, met Cornell's Justin Kerber, ranked No. 18. Kerber got the bout's first takedown to lead 2-1 with over 2:00 left in the opening period. Bomberger looked to answer with his own takedown, nearly finishing off a double-leg at the 1:10 mark to take the lead. But Kerber was able to work his way off the mat and keep his one point advantage. Bomberger once again looked to his double-leg and once again, Kerber was able to keep from giving up the takedown. Trailing 2-1, Bomberger chose down to begin the second period. Kerber continued Cornell's strong performance from the top position and kept Bomberger on the mat until the 1:10 mark. Bomberger managed to escape to a 2-2 with and did not give up the riding time point (Kerber had a 0:59 advantage). Kerber show in at Bomberger's waste and the Nittany Lion tried to move aside and use a throw to counter the move. But the Cornell grappler finished his move off for a takedown and a 4-2 lead after two periods. Kerber chose down to start the third period and Bomberger cut him loose. Bomberger began attacking the Cornell grappler, but Kerber's defense allowed him to counter every Bomberger double-leg and keep his lead. The riding time bonus point allowed Kerber to post a 6-2 upset win and put the Big Red up 12-4.
197: With starter Andrew Haile out for Penn State, red-shirt freshman Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) made his Penn State dual meet debut against Cornell's Cam Simaz at 197. Simaz drew first blood with a takedown on the edge of the mat at the 2:10 mark. Steadman escaped to a 2-1 deficit at the 1:50 mark and began looking for his own takedown but could not dent Simaz' defense. Trailing 2-1, Steadman chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 2-2 tie at the 1:30 mark. Steadman got in on Simaz thigh and looked to score, but Simaz countered the move for a takedown and a 4-2 lead. Simaz then turned Steadman to his shoulders and, after a brief tussle, pinned the Nittany Lion freshman at the 4:38 mark. The pin put Cornell up 18-4.
HWT: Nittany Lion Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) battled No. 10 Zach Hammond of Cornell in the match-up at heavyweight. Hammond opened up a 2-0 lead with a quick takedown. The Cornell senior then rode the Nittany Lion freshman until the 1:38 mark, when Wade escaped to a 2-1 deficit. Wade battled the tenth-ranked grappler even for the rest of the period and trailed 2-1 after the opening stanza. Wade chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 2-2 tie at the 1:38 mark. Wade pressured the Cornell senior for the rest of the period, but Hammond's defense allowed him keep the bout tied at 2-2 after two periods. With a 1:28 riding time edge, Hammond chose neutral to start the final period. He used a low ankle pick to work his way into a second takedown and a 4-2 lead a the 1:30 mark. Wade then escaped to cut the lead to 4-3 with 1:08 left in the bout. The Nittany Lion freshman shot low on Hammond, but the Cornell grappler countered and notched another takedown to lead 6-4 (after a Wade escape). Wade worked hard and at the final buzzer, got his takedown as the bout ended, briefly tying the score at 6-6. But Hammond's riding time advantage gave Cornell the 7-6 win and a 21-4 lead.
125: Nittany Lion sophomore Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) took to the mat against undefeated freshman Frank Perrelli of Cornell. Perrelli got the first takedown of the bout, taking a 2-0 lead early in the first period. Pataky escaped with just under two minutes left and notched his first takedown at the 1:40 mark. The talented Lion sophomore then turned Perrelli for three near fall points and a 6-2 lead midway through the period. Pataky put together a smothering ride, working from the top to turn Perrelli once again. But the Cornell grappler managed to escape to a 6-3 deficit with :15 left in the period. Up 6-3, Pataky chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 7-3 lead at the 1:31 mark. Perrelli used a strong double leg to take Pataky down and cut his lead to 8-5 after Pataky quickly escaped. Trailing 8-5, Perrelli chose down to begin the final period. Pataky nearly turned Perrelli for a quick pin, but the Big Red wrestler rolled out of trouble and forced a reset, with Pataky still in control at the 1:43 mark. Perrelli escaped to an 8-6 deficit at the 1:30 mark. Pataky had a 1:10 edge in riding time. Perrelli looked to get in on Pataky's upper leg, but the Nittany Lion sophomore kept him from gaining any control. Pataky managed to hold on for a 9-6 win (with the riding time point), cutting Cornell's lead to 21-7.
133: Senior co-captain Tim Haas (Camp Hill, Pa.) met Cornell's Troy Nickerson. Nickerson is ranked No. 2 at 125, but moved up to 133 for tonight's dual. Neither wrestler found any traction early on in the bout. Pataky nearly drew first blood at the :26 mark, but Nickerson was able to move out of bounds to force a reset and keep the bout scoreless after three minutes of action. Haas chose neutral to begin the second period. Once again, each wrestler worked the shoulders, looking for a chance to score. Haas was hit with his first stall warning at the 1:05 mark. Using a solid shoulder throw, Haas nearly turned Nickerson to his back on the edge of the mat with just :15 left, but Nickerson was able to keep his shoulders up and roll out of bounds. Tied 0-0, Nickerson chose down to begin the third period and turned an attempted Haas lift into a reversal and a 2-0 lead with 1:44 left in the bout. But Haas countered with his own reversal to tie the score at 2-2 at the 1:12 mark, only to be reversed again by Nickerson with 1:07 left to wrestle. Nickerson then put together a strong ride, keeping control of Haas for the remainder of the bout and securing a bonus point. The 5-2 win put the Big Red up 24-7.
141: Red-shirt freshman Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) met No. 3 Mike Grey of Cornell at 141 pounds. Molinaro was fast and aggressive throughout the opening period, getting a go-ahead takedown at the 1:56 mark to take an early 2-0 lead over returning All-American. Molinaro then put together a very strong ride, keeping control of Grey long enough to build up a 1:22 riding time edge. Grey escaped to a 2-1 deficit after a reset, but the Nittany Lion freshmen continued to be the aggressor for the remainder of the period. Up by one, Molinaro chose down to begin the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Molinaro gave up a technical point while trying to avoid a Grey takedown and led 3-2 at the :30 mark. But the Nittany Lion freshman was still the aggressor and, with just :20 left, used a quick double leg at Grey's waste to gain control. With :08 left, Molinaro got the takedown and added two back points to lead 7-2 (with a riding time edge heading into the third period). Grey chose down to begin the third period and Molinaro was hit with another illegal hold call, cutting his lead to 7-3. The talented Lion freshman put together a rugged ride, clinching the bonus point. Grey could not break free as Molinaro overpowered the All-American for the entire period. The dominating performance gave Molinaro an 8-3 win and made the final score 24-10.