Jan. 30, 2009
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 16 in the nation, has battled a spate of injuries lately and sent five freshmen to the mats to face No. 10 Minnesota in a battle of Big Ten powers Friday night. Despite being short-handed, No. 16 Penn State nearly upset the Golden Gophers, but fell 20-18 in a Big Ten dual meet. Senior Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) and sophomore Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) posted impressive wins at 133 and 125 respectively to lead Penn State.
The match began at 133 where Nittany Lion All-American Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) continued his steady performance with a rousing 4-3 win over No. 5 Jayson Ness of Minnesota. Gopher Mike Thorn, ranked No. 8, then got a decision at 141 to tie the bout. Minnesota then added a decision at 149 and a technical fall at 157, despite strong efforts from two Penn State freshmen reserves, to push out to an 11-3 lead.
All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) ranked No. 8 at 157 but wrestling up at 165, stopped the brief Minnesota run with a 13-5 major over Scott Glasser, cutting the lead to 11-7. True-freshman Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), one of five freshmen in the injury-riddled Penn State line-up, put Penn State up 12-11 with a 15-0 technical fall over Matt Everson. Senior Jack Decker (Roseland, N.J.) then thrilled the crowd with a 6-4 sudden victory decision at 184 and the Lions upped their lead to 15-11. Minnesota picked up a pin at 197 over another freshman Lion reserve, giving UM a 17-15 lead with two bouts left.
In a battle of heavyweights, junior Stefan Tighe (Erie, Pa.) battled Minnesota's Ben Berhow tough, but dropped a hard-fought 5-3 decision. Sophomore Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.), ranked No. 17, then met No. 5 Zach Sanders in the dual's most anticipated bout. Pataky was relentless, nearly pinning Sanders early on and then rolling to a 14-7 win (he had a major in hand but was called for a stall after the bout ended and only got a regular decision). Despite Pataky's dominance, Minnesota got out of Rec Hall against a short-handed Nittany Lion team with a 20-18 win.
Penn State is now 7-7-2 on the year, 0-1-2 in conference duals. Minnesota is now 12-4, 2-0. The Nittany Lions return to action on Sunday, when No. 17 Wisconsin comes to town for a 1 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.
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#16 Penn State 18, #10 Minnesota 20
Friday, January 30, 2009 - Rec Hall - State College, Pa.
133: #11 Jake Strayer PSU dec. #5 Jayson Ness MINN, 4-3 3-0
141: #8 Mike Thorn MINN dec. Frank Molinaro PSU, 12-5 3-3
149: Joe Grygelko MINN dec. Colby Pisani PSU, 8-3 3-6
157: Tyler Safratowich MINN tech. fall Shane Everett PSU, 23-8 (6:33) 3-11
165: #8 (at 157) Dan Vallimont PSU maj. dec. Scott Glasser MINN, 13-5 7-11
174: #16 Quentin Wright PSU tech. fall Matt Everson MINN, 15-0 (5:18) 12-11
184: Jack Decker PSU dec. Sonny Yohn MINN, 6-4 (sv) 15-11
197: Gordon Bierschenk MINN pinned J.R. Brown PSU, WBF (6:01) 15-17
HWT: Ben Berhow MINN dec. Stefan Tighe PSU, 5-3 15-20
125: #17 Brad Pataky PSU dec. #5 Zach Sanders MINN, 14-7 18-20
Final Score: #16 Penn State 18, #10 Minnesota 20
Attendance: 2,711
Records: Penn State 7-7-2, 0-1-2 Big Ten; Minnesota 12-4, 2-0 Big Ten)
Up next: Home vs. No. 17 Wisconsin, Sunday, Feb. 1, 1 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
133: All-American Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.), ranked No. 11 at 133, met No. 5 Jayson Ness of Minnesota in another match-up between highly ranked wrestlers. Ness got in on Strayer's right ankle early, nearly notching a first takedown. But Strayer fought to a stalemate and action returned to the center circle with 2:40 left. Strayer then wrapped his left arm around Ness' neck and forced him to the mat for a takedown and a 2-0 lead at the 1:53 mark. Strayer then put together a strong ride and turned Ness to his back. But Strayer did not get the back points and Ness worked around for a reversal to tie the bout briefly before Strayer escaped to a 3-2 lead with :38 left in a frenzied opening period. Strayer carried that 3-2 lead (with 0:53 in riding time) into the second period. Ness chose down to start the second stanza but could not break free until Strayer had built up a 1:24 riding time edge. The Ness escaped tied the bout at 3-3. Ness and Strayer battled for position for the rest of the period and neither man found an opening to score, sending the bout to the third period tied 3-3. Strayer chose down to start the final stanza. But Strayer could not work his way out from a very strong Ness ride. First Ness eliminated Strayer's riding time edge and worked the clock down to just 1:10 remaining before action was halted for blood. Ness allowed Strayer up after the reset, giving the Lion a 4-3 lead. Strayer nearly notched a quick takedown, Ness then fought if off and nearly took the Lion down. But Strayer fought out of trouble and forced a reset with :41 left in the bout. Ness lunged at Strayer with :20 left, but Strayer gained control of the Gopher long enough to move action out of bounds. Strayer then whiled away the remainder of the clock to post the thrilling 4-3 win, giving the Lions and early 3-0 lead.
141: Red-shirt freshman Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) took to the mat at 141 to face No. 8 Mike Thorn of Minnesota. Molinaro rode the momentum of Strayer's early win to an early 2-0 lead over Thorn. The Nittany Lion freshman countered a Thorn shot, worked his way around Thorn's side and got the takedown with 2:25 left. Thorn escaped after a reset to a 2-1 deficit and action returned to the middle of the mat. Thorn countered with a lunging double-leg to take a 3-2 lead at the 1:00 mark. Molinaro could note escape as Thorn rode the Nittany Lion out to lead 3-2 after the first period. Molinaro also got hit with a first stall warning. Molinaro chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-3 tie. Thorn got in deep on Molinaro's right thigh and worked his way out to a 5-3 lead with another takedown early in the period. Thorn then built up a 2:05 riding time edge in riding Molinaro out. Leading 5-3, Thorn chose down to start the final period. Molinaro looked to turn him, but Thorn answered and rolled through the move, reversing Molinaro for a 7-3 lead. Thorn cut Molinaro loose to a 7-4 lead and then quickly added another takedown for a 9-5 lead (after cutting Molinaro again. Thorn added another takedown as the bout ended and went on to post a 12-5 win with the riding time bonus point. The decision tied the dual at 3-3.
149: With All-American Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) still nursing an ankle injury, red-shirt freshman Colby Pisani (Ridgway, Pa.) stepped in at 149 to face Minnesota's Joe Grygelko. Grygelko got the first takedown for a 2-1 lead at the 2:25 mark. Pisani shot low and gained control of Grygelko, nearly getting the takedown, but the Gopher scrambled and forced a stalemate with 2:00 left in the opening period. Grygelko picked up a second takedown with 1:30 left and then put together a strong enough ride to build up 1:17 in riding time before Pisani escaped to a 4-2 deficit. Grygelko chose down to start the second period, but Pisani was able to work away Grygelko's riding time edge before the Gopher escaped to a 5-2 lead. Pisani nearly scrambled for a takedown late in the period, but Grygelko managed to work his way out of bounds and kept his 5-2 lead. Down 5-2, Pisani chose down to star the third period but could not escaped Grygelko's control. Pisani got his escape with 0:51 left, cutting the Gopher's lead to 5-3, but Grygelko had cinched a riding time point. Grygelko looked to complete a high double with :20 left, but Pisani countered and tried to turn the move into a cradle. Grygelko, however was able to counter and, with a last second takedown, post an 8-3 win. Minnesota took a 6-3 lead with the decision.
157: Red-shirt freshman Shane Everett (Saylorsburg, Pa.) made his Penn State dual meet debut at 157, where he met Minnesota's Tyler Safratowich. The Minnesota sophomore got the first takedown with just over 2:00 left to take an early 2-0 lead. Safratowich cut Everett loose after a strong ride and then added a second takedown to up his lead to 4-1 after the opening period. Safratowich, with the lead and 1:45 in riding time, chose down to start the middle stanza and quickly reversed Everett. Everett escaped to cut the lead to 6-2, but Safratowich continued to pour on the offense, adding two more takedowns to lead 10-3 with 2:53 in riding time heading into the final period. Everett chose down to start the third period and Grygelko cut him loose to a 10-4 deficit. Safratowich gained control of Everett quickly, tossing him to his back for a five point move (takedown and three back points) and Safratowich began looking for a technical fall. The Gopher added four takedowns to notch the 23-8 technical fall at the 6:33 mark, putting Minnesota up 11-3.
165: All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 8 at 157 and now wrestling at 165, took on Minnesota's Scott Glasser. Vallimont wasted no time in breaking out to a 2-1 lead with an early takedown. Vallimont used a solid single leg to up his lead to 4-1 at the 2:20 mark and the Lion junior began looking for back points. But Glasser managed to escape and cut Vallimont's lead to 4-2. Vallimont was relentless in the first period, though, picking up another takedown with :28 left to lead 6-2 with 1:17 in riding time after three minutes of wrestling. Glasser chose down to start the second period but Vallimont quickly gained control of the Gopher's arms and looked to turn him for near fall points. Glasser fought to stay off his back, but was hit with a first stall warning. While Vallimont tried to turn Glasser, he got hit with a stall warning and decided to cut Glasser loose with 1:00 left. The Nittany Lion co-captain got his fourth takedown with :35 left to up his lead to 8-3. Glasser managed a quick escape to cut Vallimont's lead to 8-4 heading into the third period. With 2:43 in riding time in his pocket, Vallimont chose down to start the final period and quickly worked his way to a reversal and a 10-5 lead (after cutting Glasser loose). Looking for bonus points, Vallimont added a takedown at the :40 mark, turning a single leg into a driving takedown and a 12-5 lead. With the riding time point assured, Vallimont needed only to keep control of Glasser to secure a major decision and a much-needed bonus point. The duo wrestled to a stalemate with :05 left and Vallimont then rode Glasser out for the 13-5 major. The win cut Minnesota's lead to 11-7.
174: True-freshman Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 16 at 174, battled Minnesota's Matt Everson. Wright wasted no time in gaining control of Everson's shoulders, turning him to his back and nearly pinning him at the 2:00 mark. But Everson managed to fight off the pin and Wright led 5-0 midway through the period after the takedown and three back points. With :20 left, Wright had Everson's shoulders planted to the mat, but as the official moved around the action, the pin was not awarded and Wright got only three back points. Leading 8-0 with 2:14 in riding time, Wright chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 9-0 lead. Energized but a raucous crowd, Wright added another takedown to lead 11-0 with 1:32 left. Wright picked up two more near fall points and led 13-0 after dominating the second period. Everson chose top to start the final period, looking to turn Wright and get back into the match. But Wright quickly reversed the Gopher for a 15-0 technical fall at the 5:18 mark. The win put Penn State up 12-11.
184: Nittany Lion senior Jack Decker (Roseland, N.J.) took to the mat at 184 to face Minnesota's Sonny Yohn. Yohn slapped Decker's head early and got hit for a penalty to give Decker an early 1-0 lead. Decker and Yohn battled evenly for the first part of the period, with neither man mounting an early threat to score. With 1:00, Decker countered a Yohn shot and nearly turned it into a takedown. But Yohn managed to battle to a stalemate and a reset with :30 left. Tied 0-0, Decker chose top to start the second period, looking to turn Yohn to back. But Decker got hit with three consecutive cautions and Yohn got a point to tie the bout at 1-1. Yohn then escaped to a 2-1 lead after a reset. Yohn then gained control of Decker's left ankle, pulled him into the center of the mat but could not get the takedown as the Lion senior fought out of trouble with :30 left. Still down but one point, Decker began upping his offensive pressure and nearly got a go-ahead takedown as the period ended. Yohn, up by one, chose neutral to start the third period. Decker looked for a go-ahead takedown and nearly got it at the 1:45 mark. But Yohn managed to work his way out of bounds. Decker was undaunted, however, and with 1:10 left, the Nittany Lion senior got the go-ahead takedown to up his lead to 3-2. Decker then rode Yohn long enough to build up a riding time edge and began to look for a turning combination. But Yohn scrambled and with just one second left, got the reversal to tie the bout (Decker got the riding time point) and send the action to an extra session. The Nittany Lion senior sent the crowd into a frenzy with a quick takedown, working his way to control of Yohn's feet just :15 into the period to post the 6-4 (sv) decision. The win put Penn State up 15-11.
197: Red-shirt freshman J.R. Brown (Bellefonte, Pa.) continued to fill in at 197, where he battled Minnesota's Gordon Bierschenk. Brown took the first solid show, nearly getting a takedown at the 1:55 mark, but Bierschenk countered and turned Brown to his back for a takedown. But the feisty Lion freshman managed to work his way to his stomach without giving up riding time points and trailed only 2-0. Brown escaped to a 2-1 deficit but Bierschenk quickly added another takedown to up his lead to 4-1 with :45 left in the opening period. Bierschenk rode Brown out and carried that lead with 1:37 in riding time into the second period. Bierschenk chose down to start the second period and worked his way to a reversal and a 6-1 lead. Brown worked hard to break free of Bierschenk's ride, but the Gopher was able to control him for the remainder of the period. Trailing 6-1 and facing 2:59 in riding time, Brown chose down and was cut loose to a 6-2 deficit. Bierschenk added a takedown with 1:20 left and cut Brown loose. He then countered a Brown shot, caught his shoulders and quickly pinned the young Lion at the 6:01 mark. The fall gave Minnesota a 17-15 lead.
HWT: Junior heavyweight Stefan Tighe (Erie, Pa.) stepped into the lineup at heavyweight to face Minnesota's Ben Berhow. Berhow took a 2-0 lead with :54 left in the opening period with a solid single leg. But Tighe escaped to a 2-1 deficit with :30 left and turned into Berhow, pressuring the Gopher. But Berhow held Tighe off and carried the 2-1 lead into the second period. Berhow chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Tighe worked hard for a takedown but could not fight through Berhow's defense and trailed 3-2 after two periods. Tighe chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 deficit. But Yohn then countered a Tighe shot to notch another takedown and lead 5-2 with 1:10 left. Tighe escaped to cut the lead to 5-3 and riding time was not a factor (Berhow had 0:53). With :30 left, Tighe looked to tie the bout with a late takedown, but the Lion could not break through and Berhow worked his way to a 5-3 win. The victory put Minnesota up 20-15.
125: Sophomore Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.), ranked No. 17 at 125, faced No. 5 Zach Sanders of Minnesota in one of the dual's marquee match ups. Pataky wasted no time in notching a takedown. He then gained control of the freshman and turned him to his back for two different sets of near fall points, taking an 8-0 lead with 1:08 left. Sanders escaped after a reset to an 8-1 deficit, but Pataky continued to pressure the fifth-ranked Gopher. Sanders countered a Pataky shot and got his first takedown to cut the lead to 9-3 after a Pataky escape. With :15 left, Sanders forced a scramble and nearly got a late takedown. But time ran out and Pataky led 9-3 with :58 in riding time after the opening period. Pataky chose down to start the middle stanza and escaped to a 10-3 lead. The talented Lion sophomore countered a Sanders shot and moved around him for a takedown at the 1:15 mark to take a 12-3 lead and work his riding time edge over a minute. The Clearfield native them put together another strong ride before Sanders escaped with :15 left. Trailing 12-4 and facing 1:56 in riding time, Sanders chose neutral to begin the third period. Pataky got hit for his first stall warning with 1:05 left and then Sanders notched a takedown with :48 left to cut the lead to 12-6. Pataky escaped to a 13-6 lead with :35 left and began looking for another takedown of his own. While Sanders managed to fight off any late scoring attempt, Pataky rolled to a 14-7 win (he got hit with a stall point after the bout ended, keeping him from a major). Despite Pataky's dominance, Minnesota got away with a hard-fought 20-18 win.