Jan. 23, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 14 in the nation, opened up the 2009 Big Ten dual meet season with a 17-17 tie at No. 21 Indiana. Head coach Troy Sunderland's squad was buoyed by sophomore Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.), who downed the defending National Champion at 125, and senior Jack Decker (Roseland, N.J.) notched a technical fall at 184 to lead the Nittany Lions.
Pataky got things started in a fine fashion for the Nittany Lions, notching the only takedown in a 4-3 win over Indiana's Angel Escobedo, the defending National Champion. Pataky entered the bout ranked No. 19. Senior All-American Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.), ranked No. 11 at 133, followed with a win at 133 and red-shirt freshman Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) won at 141 to put Penn State up 9-0 early.
Defending National Runner-Up Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) then posted an 8-3 win at 149. Jenkins, ranked No. 2, was hobbled early on in the bout but still dominated, notching three takedowns to none for his Hoosier opponent to post the win, giving the Nittany Lions a 12-0 lead. Indiana got on the board with a four-point technical fall from No. 12 Kurt Kinzer at 157. Nittany Lion All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 8 at 157, moved up to 165 and suffered a 4-1 upset loss to Indiana's Paul Young, cutting the Lion lead to 12-7. True freshman Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 14 at 174, was upset by No. 17 Trevor Perry in overtime and Penn State's once 12-0 lead was down to 12-10.
It was the senior Decker who stopped the IU comeback, notching a 15-0 technical fall at 184 with a series of three point turns. The win pushed Penn State out to a 17-10 lead with just two bouts remaining. Indiana got a major at 197, cutting the Lion lead to 17-14 and setting up the critical bout at heavyweight, where Penn State freshman Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), met Indiana junior Nate Everhart. Everhart would fight his way to a 5-3 decision and Penn State managed a 17-17 tie.
Penn State is now 7-6-1 on the year, 0-0-1 in conference duals. Indiana is 13-2-1, 0-0-1 in the loop. The Nittany Lions head to West Lafayette, Ind., tonight to prepare for tomorrow afternoon's battle with No. 25 Purdue. Penn State visits the Boilermakers for a 2 p.m. dual on Saturday.
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 17, #21 Indiana 17
Friday, January 23, 2009 - Assembly Hall - Bloomington, Ind.
| 125: #19 Brad Pataky PSU dec. #4 Angel Escobedo IU, 4-3 | 3-0 |
| 133: #11 Jake Strayer PSU dec. Matt Ortega IU, 8-5 | 6-0 |
| 141: Frank Molinaro PSU dec. Scott Kelly IU, 8-6 | 9-0 |
| 149: #2 Bubba Jenkins PSU dec. Nick Walpole IU, 8-3 | 12-0 |
| 157: #12 Kurt Kinzer IU tech. fall (4-pt.) Colby Pisani PSU, 23-8 (7:00) | 12-4 |
| 165: Paul Young IU dec. #8 (at 157) Dan Vallimont PSU, 4-1 | 12-7 |
| 174: #17 Trevor Perry IU dec. #14 Quentin Wright PSU, 3-1 (sv) | 12-10 |
| 184: Jack Decker PSU tech. fall Eric Cameron IU, 15-0 (6:08) | 17-10 |
| 197: Matt Powless IU maj. dec. Clay Steadman PSU, 12-3 | 17-14 |
| HWT: Nate Everhart PSU dec. Cameron Wade PSU, 5-3 | 17-17 |
Final Score: #14 Penn State 17, #21 Indiana 17
Attendance: 458
Records: Penn State 7-6-1, 0-0-1 Big Ten; Indiana 13-2-1, 0-0-1 Big Ten
Up next: At No. 25 Purdue, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
- 125: Sophomore Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.), ranked No. 19 nationally, took on defending National Champion Angel Escobedo of Indiana, ranked No. 4, at 125 in one of the dual's most anticipated match-ups. Pataky used a solid double-leg shot at Escobedo's knees to record the first takedown of the match just seconds into the bout. Pataky was trying to keep Escobedo from fleeing the mat when he got hit with a stall warning and a reset was called. Escobedo then took an extended injury timeout before action resumed. Escobedo escaped to a 2-1 deficit after the reset. Pataky was the aggressor for during the entire period, forcing the All-American back towards the edge of the mat and keeping control of the action. Pataky took a shot at Escobedo's thighs but the IU junior countered to force a stalemate on the edge of the mat. Trailing 2-1, Escobedo chose down to begin the second period. Pataky maintained control of the Hoosier long enough to build up a riding time advantage but he got hit with a second stall warning in the process, tying the score at 2-2. Escobedo then escaped to a 3-2 lead and action returned to the middle of the mat with 1:10 left in the second period. Another low double leg by Pataky forced a scramble in the center circle. Pataky worked to get the takedown and Escobedo worked to tie him up himself. But time ran out and Escobedo carried the 3-2 lead into the final period. Pataky, with 1:07 in riding time, chose down to start the final period and quickly escaped to a 3-3 tie while maintaining his 1:00 time advantage. Neither wrestler mounted a threat for the first minute. Pataky looked to tie Escobedo up, fighting off the Hoosier's efforts and forcing him out of the circle. With :30 left, Escobedo mounted a furious rally, trying to use a high throw to send Pataky to the mat and notch a winning takedown. But Pataky was able to stave off the efforts, fighting through a mad Escobedo scramble in front of the Penn State bench as time expired. The thrilling 4-3 win over the defending NCAA Champion gave Penn State an early 3-0 lead.
- 133: All-American Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.), ranked No. 11 at 133, met Indiana's Matt Ortega, who entered the bout with a 19-5 record. Strayer wasted no time in gaining control of Ortega's right leg with a high single. The senior then battled his Hoosier foe for half a minute before getting the takedown at the 2:19 mark to take an early 2-0 lead. An Ortega escape cut Strayer's lead to 2-1. Strayer continued to work Ortega's right leg and added another takedown at the 1:10 mark to lead 4-2 after another Ortega escape. Strayer added a third takedown as the period ended, tripping a scrambling Ortega to the mat to lead 6-2 after one period. Strayer chose down to start the middle stanza and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. Ortega countered a Strayer shot and nearly turned the Lion to his back. But the All-American fought off his back and only gave up a takedown. Strayer then escaped with :45 left to lead 8-4. Strayer nearly added another takedown with :15 left, but Ortega managed to work his way out of bounds. Trailing 8-4, Ortega chose down to start the third period and escaped to cut Strayer's lead to 8-5. Strayer shot high on Ortega, then slid down low and worked his way into control of the Hoosier's right leg once again. Ortega worked to force action off the mat, but Strayer pulled him onto the mat and continued to work the Hoosier for a takedown. A stalemate was called but only :23 remained in the bout. Strayer then wound out the clock to post a solid 8-5 win and keep Ortega from reaching the 20-win mark. The victory put Penn State up 6-0.
- 141: Red-shirt freshman Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) took to the mat at 141 to face IU's Scott Kelly. Molinaro notched the first takedown, taking an early 2-0 lead on the Hoosier senior with a solid double-leg at the 2:41 mark. Molinaro then put together a strong ride, maintaining control of Kelly for 1:31 before he cut Kelly loose. Molinaro then immediately used a swift double-leg to take a 4-1 lead with just under a minute left and the Lion freshman began working for back points. Kelly got hit for one stall warning and Molinaro rode the Hoosier senior out to lead 4-1 with 2:33 in riding time after the opening period. Kelly chose down to start the second stanza and Molinaro let him loose to lead 4-2 seconds into the middle period. Molinaro continued to set the pace, trying to force the tempo. But Kelly was able to hang on top, winding the clock down and managing to end the period. Leading 4-2, Molinaro chose down to start the final stanza and was cut loose to a 5-2 lead. The Lion freshman then quickly gained control of Kelly's right thigh and forced Kelly to try and escape the mat. Kelly was hit with a second stall and Molinaro led 6-2 with 1:45 left. Molinaro fought off a high Kelly shot but Kelly regained control of Molinaro and notched his first takedown, cutting the Lion's lead to 6-4. Kelly cut Molinaro loose with :45 left and then battled his way to a second takedown to cut the lead to 7-6. But time ran out on the late Kelly flurry and, with the riding time point, Molinaro posted a hard-fought 8-6 win. The victory gave Penn State a 9-0 lead after the first three bouts.
- 149: 2008 National Runner-Up Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.), ranked No. 2 at 149, met Indiana's Nick Walpole in the next bout. Walpole entered the bout with 21 wins on the year. Jenkins notched the first takedown, tripping Walpole to the mat for an early 2-0 lead. But Jenkins had to call for a quick injury timeout, forcing a reset in the center circle, where Walpole escaped to a 2-1 deficit at the 2:10 mark. Walpole was called for a stall warning as Jenkins forced action to the edge of the mat. With Jenkins hobbled a bit, Walpole looked to gain control of the Lion All-American's shoulders. But Jenkins countered a Walpole shot and nearly notched a takedown at the :46 mark before action moved out of bounds. Jenkins countered another Walpole shot and notched a huge takedown in front of the Penn State bench with just :11 left. Walpole managed to escape to a 4-2 deficit before the period ended. Jenkins chose down to start the second stanza and steadily worked his way up to his feet. He notched the escape to lead 5-2 with 1:20 left. Jenkins nearly completed a mixer with :35 left, but Walpole managed to roll through and keep the bout alive. Down 5-2, Walpole chose top to start the final period, hoping to turn Jenkins for back points. Jenkins, however, was steady, working his way out for an escape at the 1:36 mark to lead 6-2. Riding time, at this point, was not a factor. Walpole gained control of Jenkins' right thigh with 1:00 left, but Jenkins countered, worked his way around behind the Hoosier junior and got his third takedown to lead 8-2 with :35 left. Walpole escaped after the reset, cutting the lead to 8-3. Jenkins, wrestling at times on just one leg, continued to shoot, countering Walpole shots and rolling to the 8-3 win. The victory put the Nittany Lions up 12-0.
- 157: Penn State sent red-shirt freshman Colby Pisani (Ridgway, Pa.), a reserve 141/149-pounder, to the mat at 157 to take on Indiana's Kurt Kinzer, ranked No. 12 nationally. Pisani was moving up two weights to make his dual meet debut. The young Lion was aggressive out of the box, nearly completing on a flurry of early shots. But the ranked Kinzer fought through each one and kept things scoreless. Kinzer then notched his first takedown at the 2:20 mark to take a 2-0 lead. Pisani escaped, shot and nearly rolled Kinzer to his back, but was countered by the Hoosier and fell behind 4-1 with 1:25 left. Kinzer put together a strong ride, working to turn Pisani. But the Nittany Lion freshman maintained his position and Kinzer led 4-1 (with 2:11 in riding time) after one period. Kinzer chose down to start the second stanza and escaped to a 5-1 lead. Kinzer quickly took Pisani down, cut him loose, and led 7-2. Kinzer added a fourth takedown and another cut to lead 9-3 with :38 left in the second stanza. Pisani got called for a stall warning. He then shot low on Kinzer, nearly gaining control of his ankle, but the Hoosier countered and worked around for another takedown to lead 11-3 with 2:34 in riding time to start the final stanza. Pisani chose down to start the third period and was allowed out to an 11-4 deficit. Kinzer quickly added another takedown and led 13-5 after a Pisani escape. Kinzer added four more takedowns and picked up a stall point as well to roll to a 23-8 four-point technical fall (a wrestler must get back points to receive a five-point technical fall and Pisani did not give up any near fall points). The four point TF at the 7:00 mark (with riding time) cut Penn State's lead to 12-4 heading into an extended intermission.
- 165: All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 8 at 157, made the move up to 165 for the rest of the season where he took on Indiana's Paul Young. Young, who entered the bout with a gaudy 22-7 record, quickly came at Vallimont, nearly taking an early 2-0 lead with a high shot. But Vallimont managed to fight off the move and force a reset with 2:30 left. Vallimont shot low on Young, but the Hoosier countered and gained control of Vallimont's shoulders, keeping the bout scoreless with 1:16 left. Vallimont got in on Young's leg with a high single, but this time it was the Hoosier who fought his way out of trouble to keep things scoreless after one period. Vallimont chose down to start the second stanza and escaped at the 1:29 mark to lead 1-0. Neither wrestler mounted a serious challenge for the remainder of the period and Vallimont carried the slim 1-0 lead into the final period. Young chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Young gained control of Vallimont's right ankle and began working his way for a go-ahead takedown. The Hoosier finally got the points, and a 3-1 lead, with just :45 left in the bout. Vallimont then found himself unable to escape and Young went on to post a 4-1 upset victory, cutting Penn State's lead to 12-7.
- 174: In one of the dual's marquee match-ups, Nittany lion true freshman Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) met Indiana's Trevor Perry. Wright entered the bout ranked No. 14 at 174 while Perry was ranked No. 17. Wright took a couple early shots on Perry, but the Hoosier grappler managed to block them off and keep things scoreless early on. Wright shot low once again and once again Perry worked his way around to a counter, nearly getting his own takedown. But Wright scrambled and worked his way to a near takedown himself before action moved out of bounds with 1:10 left. Neither wrestler found an opening for the rest of the period and the bout moved to the second stanza tied 0-0. Wright chose down and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Wright continued to shoot for Perry's lower legs, but the Hoosier was able to block off the shots with high defense and keep from giving up the takedown. Like the first period, the second period's final minute saw neither wrestler with a chance to score and Wright led 1-0 heading into the final period. Perry chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. Wright continued to shoot low and Perry continued to play high defense, looking to score on counter throws. But Wright was in no danger of giving up any points at any time and action moved to a first sudden victory period. Perry shot low on Wright and, after a short tussle, notched the winning takedown just :32 into the bout and posted a 3-1 upset victory. The win cut Penn State's once 12-0 lead to just 12-10 with three bouts left.
- 184: Senior Jack Decker (Roseland, N.J.) took to the mats at 184 for Penn State where he met Indiana's Eric Cameron, who entered the bout with a 19-10 record. The first minute-plus of the bout was an even struggle as each wrestler looked for control up high. Each wrestler was hit with a stall warning at the :15 mark and the first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Cameron chose down to start the second period. But Decker was able to gain control of Cameron's leg, use his strength to turn him to his back and pick up three near-fall points to take a 3-0 lead. While not picking up the pin on the first attempt, Decker turned him once more for three more back points with :18 left. Not to miss the chance, Decker turned him one more time, picked up three more back points, and carried a 9-0 lead with a 2:00 riding time edge into the final period. Decker chose top to start the final period and once again turned Cameron for a near pin and a 12-0 lead. One more three point turn and Decker posted a sizzling 15-0 technical fall. The five-point win put the Nittany Lions up 17-10 and snapped a streak of three straight IU victories.
- 197: Red-shirt freshman Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) met Indiana's Matt Powless at 197. Powless quickly opened up a 2-0 lead with a takedown in the opening minute. Powless worked up a :35 riding time edge before cutting Steadman loose to a 2-1 lead. The Nittany Lion freshman then battled Powless evenly for the remainder of the period, trialing just 2-1 but picking up a first stall warning. Powless chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Powless then added a second takedown and began looking to pick up back points. After Steadman fought off his first efforts, Powless cut the Lion freshman loose and led 5-2 with :50 left. Steadman gave up a stall point with :16 left and fell behind 6-2 heading into the final period (Powless had 1:06 in riding time). Steadman chose down to start the last period and was allowed out to a 6-3 deficit. Another Steadman stall gave Powless a 7-3 lead with 1:17 remaining. Each wrestler then lunged forward and collided. Steadman was knocked off his feat and with :47 took an extended injury timeout. The Lion freshman recovered, however, and picked up the pace. Another stall gave Powless two points and a 9-3 lead. But Steadman countered with his own shot gaining control of Powless' foot. The Hoosier, however, managed to work around for a key takedown with just :11 left and, with the riding time point, post a 12-3 major decision. The victory cut PSU's lead to 17-14 with one bout left.
- HWT: With the dual meet on the line, red-shirt freshman Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) stepped up for the Nittany Lions at heavyweight where he took on IU junior Nate Everhart. Wade set the early tone, looking to gain control of Everhart's upper body for an opening. But the veteran Hoosier big man was able to keep Wade from connecting and action moved to the second period tied 0-0. Everhart chose down to start the second stanza, gained control of Wade's ankle, and notched a quick reversal to lead 2-0. Everhart then began working for a turning combination but Wade was able to fight off the effort. Wade appeared to have escaped with :08 left and Everhart seemed to have locked his hands, but no escape was awarded and no penalty point called and Everhart was able to ride Wade out. Trailing 2-0 (and giving up 1:21 in riding time), Wade chose down to start the third period. Everhart got hit with a stall point, cutting the lead to 2-1 with 1:29 left. Wade then got hit with a stall warning right before escaping to a 2-2 tie with 1:02 left. Everhart, however, had a 2:18 riding time edge and essentially led 3-2. With time winding down, Wade took a wild shot that Everhart countered and, with :18 left, iced the bout with a takedown. Everhart's 5-3 win earned Indiana a 17-17 tie.