Jan. 10, 2009
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa; January 10, 2009 - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 14, closed out a successful first day at the 2009 National Duals with a near upset of No. 11 Minnesota. Penn State came back from an early deficit to reel off five straight wins, but Minnesota held on for a 21-18 victory with a win in the final bout. The unseeded Nittany Lions went 2-2 on day one and are now guaranteed a top-eight finish. Penn State will wrestle No. 16 Boise State tomorrow at 10 a.m. for seventh place.
Unlike the three previous duals where the Lions bolted out to an early lead and then either held on or nearly pulled off the upset, this time it was the Gophers who got out to a fast start with their first three wrestlers, all ranked in the top eight, getting wins at 125, 133 and 141. The victories, including pins at 125 and 141, allowed Minnesota to bolt out to a 15-0 lead before the Nittany Lions started their comeback.
All-American Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.), ranked No. 2, got things started for Penn State with an 11-6 decision at 149. All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) then got a tough 6-5 decision at 157 to cut the Gopher lead to 15-6. Senior Mark Friend (Libertyville, Ill.) got a huge win for Penn State with a 4-3 upset over No. 18 Scott Glasser at 165. Freshman Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) followed with a quick pin at 174 and just like that, the Nittany Lions had tied the bout at 15-15.
With three bouts left, senior Jack Decker (Roseland, N.J.) took to the mat at 184 to face Minnesota's Sonny Yohn. Decker would prove up to the task, turning Yohn for three back points in the second period and rolling to a 4-1 win to put Penn State up 18-15. Minnesota picked up a decision at 197 to tie the bout at 18-18 and once again, junior heavyweight Stefan Tighe (Erie, Pa.) stepped to the mat with the dual on the line. Tighe, who posted a decision to clinch PSU's win over Michigan in the prior dual, fell shy of completing the upset win, however, dropping a 5-0 decision to Minnesota's Joe Nord. The decision allowed Minnesota to post a 21-18 win and avoid the upset.
The Nittany Lions are now 7-5 on the year and will face No. 16 Boise State tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. for seventh place. Penn State entered the tournament unseeded but have guaranteed themselves a place.
Penn State's next home dual is set for Friday, Jan. 30, when Minnesota comes to town for a 7 p.m. dual in Rec Hall. 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 18, #11 Minnesota 21
Saturday, January 10, 2009 - UNI Dome - Cedar Falls, Iowa
125: #8 Zach Sanders MINN pinned Brad Pataky PSU, WBF (6:42) 0-6
133: #4 Jayson Ness MINN dec. #12 Jake Strayer PSU, 9-5 0-9
141: #8 Mike Thorn MINN pinned Frank Molinaro PSU, WBF (6:02) 0-15
149: #2 Bubba Jenkins PSU dec. Joe Greygelko MINN, 11-6 3-15
157: #8 Dan Vallimont PSU dec. Tyler Safratowich MINN, 6-5 6-15
165: Mark Friend PSU dec. #18 Scott Glasser MINN, 4-3 9-15
174: #14 Quentin Wright PSU pinned Kaleb Young MINN, WBF 0:45) 15-15
184: Jack Decker PSU dec. Sonny Yohn MINN, 4-1 18-15
197: Chris McPhail MINN dec. Clay Steadman PSU, 2-0 18-18
HWT: Joe Nord MINN dec. Stefan Tighe PSU, 5-0
Final Score: #14 Penn State 18, #11 Minnesota 21
Attendance: 7,631
Records: Penn State 7-5, Minnesota 9-3
Up next: Penn State vs. #16 Boise State in seventh place bout, 10 a.m. tomorrow
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Nittany Lion sophomore Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) met No. 8 Zach Sanders at 125. Pataky was coming off a win over the 11th ranked 125-pounder in the country and, like each bout before, got a quick takedown to lead 2-1 less than :30 into the period. The talented Lion sophomore scored quickly off a reset with 2:00 left to up his lead to 4-1. This time, Sanders worked some magic on the edge of the mat and reversed Pataky. He then turned the Nittany Lion to his back for near fall points and began working the Nittany Lion sophomore for a pin. But Pataky managed to fight off his back for nearly 2:00 and, after all the fireworks, Sanders held a 6-4 lead after one period. Sanders chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 7-4 lead. Pataky continued to pressure the ranked Gopher but it was Sanders that forced the next scramble with a low single. Sanders worked his way underneath Pataky for a takedown at the 1:00 mark to move out to a 9-4 lead. Pataky escaped to cut the lead to 9-5 but Sanders pressure the Nittany more back points Lion into another takedown and an 11-5 lead. Sanders added a three-point near fall as the second period ended to take a commanding 14-5 lead (with riding time) into the third period. Pataky chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 14-6 deficit. Hoping to keep Sanders from notching bonus points, Pataky gained control of Sanders' left ankle and nearly got a key takedown. But Sanders was able to force a reset and then quickly took Pataky down to lead 16-6 with under 1:00 to wrestle. Sanders added three back points and then got the key pin at the 6:42 mark to give Minnesota an early 6-0 lead.
133: Senior All-American Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.), ranked No. 12 at 133, met All-American Jason Ness. Ness entered the dual ranked No. 4. Ness got the first takedown at the 2:20 mark to take an early 2-1 lead. Ness then tripped Strayer up on the edge of the mat to up his lead to 4-1 with :145 left before action moved out of bounds. Strayer escaped to a 4-2 deficit after the reset and began looking for a takedown of his own. But Ness deftly countered a late Strayer shot to lead 6-3 heading into the second period. Strayer chose down to start the middle period and quickly escaped to a 6-4 deficit. Ness was relentless, however, and added a fourth takedown with :45 left to up his lead to 8-4. Strayer escaped with :14 left, cutting Ness' lead to 8-5 after two periods, but Ness had nearly 2:00 in riding time. Ness chose down to start the final stanza. Strayer put together a very strong ride, working Ness' riding time edge down below a minute before cutting him loose. Down 9-5, Strayer needed takedowns to get back into the bout, but Ness' defense was too strong and the Gopher deftly countered every Strayer move. Strayer would not manage to break through Ness' defense and the Gopher posted a hard-fought 9-5 win. Minnesota moved out to a 9-0 lead with the victory.
141: Red-shirt freshman Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) took on No. 8 Mike Thorn of Minnesota at 141, facing the third of three straight Minnesota wrestlers ranked in the top eight to start the match. Thorn got the first takedown early to lead 2-1 and then followed that up with a quick high double to up his lead to 4-1 with just over 2:00 left in the opening period. Thorn then put together a very strong ride, dominating Molinaro for the remainder of the period to carry the 4-1 lead (with 2:24 in riding time) into the middle stanza. Molinaro chose down to start the second period but could not work out from underneath Thorn for an escape. Thorn worked his way to a guaranteed riding time point and Molinaro got his with a stall warning as the strong Gopher grappler rode the Nittany Lion out. Leading 4-1, Thorn chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 5-1 lead with 1:40 left in the bout. He then quickly turned Molinaro to his back, catching the Lion with a swift move and pinning him at the 6:02 mark. The big win pushed Minnesota out to a 15-0 lead after only three bouts.
149: Undefeated All-American Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.), ranked No. 2 at 149, met Minnesota's Joe Grygelko with hopes of getting Penn State back into the dual. Jenkins got his first takedown at the 2:14 mark. With bonus points needed, Jenkins cut Grygelko loose after building up a riding time edge before going to work for another takedown. But the Minnesota wrestler played solid defense and kept the bout close heading into the second period. Leading 2-1, Jenkins chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. After a Grygelko stall warning, Jenkins got his second takedown, finishing off the move at the 1:00 mark to lead 5-1. Cutting Grygelko loose, Jenkins began pressing the Gopher and countered a Grygelko shot for a third takedown and a 7-2 lead with :15 left. This time, Jenkins rode his opponent out and led 7-2 with nearly 2:00 in riding time, heading into the third period. Grygelko chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 7-3 deficit. Jenkins faked high and shot low on Grygelko to notch another takedown and lead 9-4 after letting the Gopher up. A second Grygelko stall gave Jenkins a 10-4 lead at the 1:00 mark, but Grygelko stunned Jenkins with a takedown, the first against Jenkins in the tournament, to cut his lead to 10-6 and push thoughts of a major for Jenkins away. Grygelko would ride Jenkins out but the Nittany Lion All-American still posted a convincing 11-6 decision. The win put the Lions on the board, cutting the UM lead to 15-3.
157: Junior All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) took to the mat at 157 against Minnesota's Tyler Safratowich. Vallimont, ranked No. 8 nationally, wasted no time in taking a lead on Safratowich, using a textbook double leg to take a 2-1 lead just seconds into the bout. Safratowich nearly took the lead back with a takedown on the edge of the mat, but the Nittany Lion scrambled out of trouble and forced a reset with :48 left. Safratowich, however, gained control of Vallimont's left ankle after the reset and notched a takedown. Vallimont escaped with :15 left to tie the score at 3-3. With the score tied, Safratowich chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-3 lead. But Vallimont answered with a high shot at the Gopher's right thigh, forcing a scramble in front of the Gopher bench. Vallimont then steadily worked his way around and through the Gopher to notch the takedown at the 1:03 mark to retake a 5-4 lead. Safratowich then escaped to tie the score at 5-5 with :48 left. Tied at 5-5 heading into the final period, Vallimont chose down to start the last session and escaped to a 6-5 lead with 1:33 left to wrestle. With :50 left, Safratowich lunged low at Vallimont's feet and forced another prolonged scramble in front of the Gopher bench. The Lion All-American managed to force a stalemate and a reset with :21 left. Vallimont then tied Safratowich up for the final seconds to post a hard-fought 6-5 win. The victory cut Minnesota's lead to 15-6.
165: Senior Mark Friend (Libertyville, Ill.) took to the mat at 165 for Penn State, facing Minnesota's Scott Glasser, ranked No. 18 in the nation. The duo battled hard for the first minute-plus with neither man giving an inch or an opening. But Glasser would draw first blood with a takedown at center mat with just under a minute left, taking a 2-0 lead. He then rode Friend out to carry that lead into the second period. Glasser chose down to start the second period. But Friend was able to control the Golden Gopher and eventually break him down to his stomach. Friend then began scrambling on top, looking for a chance to turn Glasser and take the lead. Glasser, however, managed to escape to a 3-0 lead with :30 left only to have Friend notch his first takedown with :27 left. The move cut Glasser's lead to 3-2 and Friend then proceeded to ride Glasser out for the remainder of the period. Down 3-2 to the ranked grappler, Friend chose down to start the final period. Friend looked for an escape to tie the bout, but Glasser dominated action from the top, forcing Friend into a first stall warning. Glasser nearly turned Friend, but the Nittany Lion senior worked his way out of trouble, scrambled underneath the ranked grappler and notched a stunning reversal with :20 left. The move gave Friend a 4-3 lead, which he held onto with a furious ride-out. The upset win cut Minnesota's lead to 15-9.
174: Penn State true-freshman Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 14 at 174, met Minnesota's Kaleb Young. Looking to help complete the comeback, Wright simply snapped in on Young's shoulders, took him to his back :20 into the bout and spent another :25 getting the pin. The fall, at the 0:45 mark, allowed Penn State to tie the bout at 15-15.
184: Nittany Lion senior Jack Decker (Roseland, N.J.) met Minnesota's Sonny Yohn at 184. The duo battled evenly for the entirety of the opening period with neither man finding an opening to score. After a scoreless first period, Yohn chose down to start the second period. Decker, however, took advantage of the decision and put together a nice ride, nearly turning Yohn to his back for near-fall points. While the Gopher managed to scramble out of trouble once, he did not the second time as Decker used his legs and a left arm to turn Yohn for three back points. Decker rode Yohn out and led 3-0 with 2:00 in riding time heading into the final stanza. Decker chose down to begin the final period, hoping to turn Yohn once more. But this time Yohn would manage to escape and cut Decker's lead to 3-1. But Decker had secured the riding time point in the process. Yohn mounted no serious threat over the bout's final seconds and Decker went on to post a convincing 4-1 decision. The win, Penn State's fifth straight, gave the Nittany Lions an 18-15 lead.
197: Red-shirt freshman Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) met Minnesota's Chris McPhail at 197. Neither wrestler managed to find an opening over the first half of the period, but McPhail nearly got in deep enough on Steadman at the 1:30 mark. Steadman, however, was able to fight his way to a stalemate and a reset at the 1:11 mark, keeping the bout set at a scoreless tie. Tied at 0-0, McPhail chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Steadman nearly got his first takedown by countering a McPhail shot with :40 left, but the Gopher managed to slide out of bounds to hold onto his slim1-0 lead. Down 1-0, Steadman chose down to start the final period. The young Nittany Lion battled hard to break free of McPhail's ride. But the Gopher was able to avoid a near defensive pin and ride Steadman out to post a 2-0 win (getting the riding time point). The decision tied the bout at 18-18.
HWT: Penn State's Stefan Tighe (Erie, Pa.) took on Joe Nord at heavyweight, with the match once again on the line. Tighe, who came through for Penn State with a win over Michigan, gained control of Nord's left ankle at the 1:30 mark, looking to take an early lead. But Nord managed to work his way out of bounds and force a reset with 1:22 left. Neither man managed another real scoring chance and action moved to the second period tied 0-0. Nord chose down to start the second stanza. While Tighe was able to ride Nord for :53, he was hit with a first stall warning in the process. Nord escaped to a 1-0 lead and then quickly took Tighe down to lead 3-0 with :40 left. The Gopher then rode Tighe out to lead 3-0 after two periods. Tighe chose neutral to start the final stanza but ran out of gas down the stretch and could not take Nord down. Nord added another takedown as the bout ended as well. The Gopher's 5-0 win helped Minnesota avoid the upset and post the 21-18 win.