Feb. 8, 2009
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, battling a spate of mid-season injuries and ranked No. 22 nationally dropped a 33-7 dual meet to No. 6 Ohio State in a Big Ten Wrestling action. Penn State started four freshmen and another reserve in the bout.
Penn State got two wins in the dual. True freshman Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) thrilled the Rec Hall crowd with a 3-2 win over former Nittany Lion Dave Rella at 174. Sophomore Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) continued his hot run through the new year with a 14-3 major decision over Ohio State's Nikko Triggas at 125.
Penn State once again wrestled with out All-American Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.), who was still nursing an injury at 149. The Buckeyes also won the two bouts between ranked wrestlers. At 133, Penn State All-American Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) dropped a hard-fought 8-3 decision to No. 2 Reece Humphrey, giving up a last second takedown on a final throw attempt. At 165, All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) dropped a similar 8-3 decision to No. 2 Colt Sponseller.
Penn State is now 7-9-2 the year, 0-3-2kjkj in conference duals. Ohio State is now 11-2, 2-1 in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions return to action on Sunday, February 8, when No. 1 Iowa comes to Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual. 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.
#22 Penn State 7, #6 Ohio State 33
Friday, Feb. 6, 2009 - Rec Hall - State College, Pa.
157: #17 Jason Johnstone OSU dec. Tim Darling, PSU, 9-4 0-3
165: #2 Colt Sponseller OSU dec. #20 Dan Vallimont PSU, 8-3 0-6
174: #16 Quentin Wright PSU dec. Dave Rella OSU, 3-2 3-6
184: #2 Mike Pucillo pinned WBF Matt Dodds PSU, WBF (1:35) 3-12
197: Cody Gardner OSU dec. Jack Decker PSU, 6-3 3-15
HWT: Corey Morrison OSU dec. Stefan Tighe PSU, 6-4 3-18
125: #13 Brad Pataky PSU maj. dec. Nikko Triggas OSU, 14-3 7-18
133: #2 Reece Humphrey OSU dec. #9 Jake Strayer PSU, 8-3 7-21
141: #14 J Jaggers OSU pinned Frank Molinaro PSU, WBF 3:38 7-27
149: #4 Lance Palmer OSU pinned Colby Pisani PSU, WBF 2:56 7-33
Final Score: #22 Penn State 7, #6 Ohio State 33
Attendance: 2,297
Records: Penn State 7-9-2, 0-3-2 Big Ten, #6 Ohio State 11-2, 2-1 Big Ten
Up next: Home vs. No. 1 Iowa, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
157: Red-shirt freshman Tim Darling (Nazareth, Pa.) made his Penn State dual meet debut at 157, where he took on Ohio State's Jason Johnstone, who entered the bout ranked No. 17. Darling and Johnstone battled evenly for the first minute, with each man looking to gain control on top. But Darling used a lightening fast move on the edge of the mat to take an early 2-0 lead at the 2:10 mark, slipping behind Johnstone for the takedown. Darling maintained control long enough to build up a :35 riding time edge. Darling quickly gained control of Johnstone's ankle on the edge of the mat, pulled the Buckeye in and got a second takedown to lead 4-1. But Johnstone worked his way around for a reversal and locked Darling in a cradle, getting three back points as well, and led 6-4. The Buckeye then rode Darling out to close out a frenzied first period. 6-4, Johnstone chose down to start the second stanza. Darling worked on top, but Johnstone managed to reverse the Nittany Lion :30 in to up his lead to 8-4. The Buckeye then rode Darling out to lead 8-4 with 1:09 in riding time. Darling chose down to start the third period, but once again could not work his way out of a strong Johnstone ride. The Buckeye clinched the bonus point and then continued to ride Darling for the remainder of the period. Johnstone rode his way to a 9-4 win, giving the Buckeyes an early 3-0 lead.
165: Junior Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 20 at his new weight of 165, faced No. 2 Colt Sponseller of Ohio State in another marquee match-up. Sponseller had the first opening to score, gaining control of Vallimont's head and working to pull himself around the Nittany Lion for a score. But Vallimont worked his way out of trouble to keep the bout scoreless midway through the first period. Vallimont worked to get in on a high single, but Sponseller was able to step back and keep from giving up any points as well. Another high single for Vallimont led to a scramble with :30 left. Vallimont worked to pull Sponseller in, but the Buckeye manage to counter, work his way around Vallimont and get a takedown with just :02 left. Trailing 2-0, Vallimont chose down to start the second stanza and quickly snapped around to gain control of Sponseller's ankle. The Nittany Lion co-captain nearly notched a reversal, but Sponseller was able to force a stalemate and a reset with 1:25 left. Sponseller gave up a point, locking his hands at the :52 mark and Vallimont was down 2-1. Sponseller was able to ride Vallimont out for the entire period without picking up a stall warning and led by one with 2:00 in riding time. Sponseller chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. The Buckeye then iced the bout with a takedown at the 1:00 mark, upping his lead to 5-1. Vallimont escaped to cut the lead to 5-2 and then tried a low single. But Sponseller worked around for another takedown and a 7-3 lead with :30 left. The riding time point gave the Buckeye and 8-3 win and put OSU up 6-0.
174: Penn State true freshman Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 16 at 174 with a superb 23-7 overall mark, met former Nittany Lion Dave Rella in a highly-anticipated bout. Wright took multiple shots during the first two minutes, but Rella was able to play defense and keep from giving up any early points. The Nittany Lion freshman continued to pressure Rella, but the Buckeye managed to block off his efforts and keep the bout scoreless after one period. Rella chose down to start the second stanza but could not break free of a dominating Wright ride. The Nittany Lion freshmen kept Rella from getting to his feet for the entire period, forcing the Buckeye into a first stall warning while riding him out. Tied 0-0 but with 2:00 in riding time to his advantage, Wright chose down to start the final period and was cut loose by Rella to a 1-0 lead. Rella got in on a high single at the 1:40 mark and then got the takedown to take a 2-1 lead with 1:22 left. Wright escaped to tie the bout at 2-2 with 1:10 left. The Nittany Lion freshman then gained control of Rella's left ankle and nearly got a takedown with :36 left, but Rella managed to roll out of bounds. Still, Wright cinched the riding time point and then nearly added another takedown with :14 left. But Rella was able to work his way off the mat and force a reset. Wright then wound out the clock and, with the riding time point, post a 3-2 win that energized the Rec Hall crowd and cut Ohio State's lead to 6-3.
184: Looking to maximize his line-up, head coach Troy Sunderland moved starting 184-poudner Jack Decker (Roseland, N.J.) up to 197 and sent reserve Matt Dodds (Leola, Pa.) to the mat to battle No. 2 Mike Pucillo of Ohio State. Pucillo took an early 2-1 lead with a takedown and a Dodds escape just 1:00 in. But the talented Buckeye All-American was not done. He kept up his offensive pressure, adding another takedown with 1:40 left and then quickly getting the pin at the 1:35 mark. The quick pin put Ohio State up 12-3.
197: Decker moved up to 197 to take on Ohio State's Cody Gardner. Decker took the first shot, gaining control of Gardner's ankle. But the Buckeye countered the effort, worked his body around behind the Lion senior, and took an early 2-0 lead less than a minute in to the first period. A Decker escape cut the Gardner lead to 2-1 and action resumed in the center circle with 1:30 left. Neither wrestler found another opening and action moved to the second stanza with Gardner up by one. Decker chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 2-2 tie (Gardner had 1:00 in riding time). Decker then began working for an opening, but could not find any room to break through Gardner's defense and action moved to the third period tied 2-2. Gardner chose down to start the third period, looking to take a lead with an escape. Gardner did just that at the 1:45 mark, taking a 3-2 lead. But Decker had worked the riding time edge away and needed just one takedown to take the lead. Decker gained control of Gardner's right foot and nearly notched the takedown. But Gardner managed to force a stalemate but got called for an illegal hold with :45 left, tying the bout. But With :20 left, Gardner worked his way into Decker's feet and scrambled for a takedown with :15 left to take a 5-3 lead. Gardner then took a minute injury time break, forcing a reset with :14 left. Decker could not manage to break free and, with a riding time point, Gardner posted a hard-fought 6-3 win.
HWT: Penn State junior Stefan Tighe (Erie, Pa.) took to the mat at heavyweight to face Ohio State's Corey Morrison. Tighe got the bout's first takedown in front of the Penn State bench to take an early 2-0 lead, scoring on a textbook low single. Morrison escaped to cut Tighe's lead to 2-1 and action returned to the center circle with 2:00 left in the opening period. The Nittany Lion junior nearly added a second takedown at the 1:00 mark, but Morrison was able to step out of bounds and force a reset in the center circle. Trailing 2-1 after one period, Morrison chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Morrison nearly notched his first takedown, gaining control of Tighe's ankle and trying to pull the Lion in for a score. But Tighe was able to work his way out of bounds and force a reset with 1:00 left in the period. The Nittany Lion big man had one more opening late in the second, but could not finish and the bout entered the third period tied 2-2. Tighe chose down and quickly escaped to a 3-2 lead. But Morrison took the lead with 1:25 left with his first takedown. Tighe then tied the bout with an escaped at the 1:15 mark, only to be taken down :30 later by Morrison. The Buckeye then rode Tighe out to post a hard-fought 6-4 win and put the Buckeyes up 18-3.
125: Nittany Lion sophomore Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.), ranked No. 13 nationally and riding a streak of 20 wins in his last 22 bouts, took on Ohio State's Nikko Triggas at 125. Pataky, on an absolute tear, got yet another quick takedown to take an early 2-0 lead. The sophomore, who has won 20 of his last 22 bouts after starting the year 3-3, then put together a dominating ride, building up 1:20 in riding time before Triggas escaped. Pataky wasted no time in looking for another takedown, but Triggas was able to force a reset with 1:05 to wrestle. Pataky answered, however, with a swift double-leg and took a 4-1 lead with :50 left in the opening stanza. He then rode Triggas out to lead 4-1 heading into the second stanza. Triggas chose top to start the second period, hoping to turn Pataky. But the Nittany Lion sophomore was able to steadily work his way out to an escape and a 5-1 lead with 1:38 left to wrestle in the period. Pataky then gained control of Triggas' right ankle, nearly scoring again. But Triggas was able to play defense and force a reset. But the Nittany Lion sophomore was relentless, getting the takedown with :35 left and taking a 7-1 lead. Leading 7-1, Pataky chose down to start the third period. Once again, Pataky's patience paid off. After a short Triggas ride, the Lion slipped out from underneath him and worked around for a reversal and a 9-1 lead. Pataky then cut Triggas loose and added another takedown to lead 11-3. Sensing bonus points, Pataky cut Triggas loose, took the Buckeye down again with :13 left, and then rode Triggas out. With 2:57 in riding time, Pataky posted a 14-3 major decision and cut OSU's lead to 18-7.
133: All-American Jake Strayer (South Fork, Pa.) put his No. 9 national ranking at 133 on the line against No. 2 Reece Humphrey in one of the dual's most anticipated match-ups. Strayer had an early chance to score, nearly completing a quick low single. But Humphrey was able to step back and out of trouble and force a reset with 1:40 left in the opening period. Neither man found another solid opening until Humphrey managed to trip Strayer down with just :01 left and get a takedown to lead 2-0. Strayer chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-1 deficit. He then shot low on Humphrey, but the Buckeye countered the shot, gained control of Strayer's head and took a 4-1 lead with another takedown. Strayer escaped to a 4-2 deficit, but Humphrey had a 1:03 riding time edge. Leading 4-2, Humphrey chose down to start the final period and was cut loose by Strayer to a 5-2 lead. Strayer then picked up his offense, forcing Humphrey to back up and block off Strayer's scoring efforts. The Nittany Lion All-American gained control of Humphrey and worked his way for a near takedown. While trying to put Humphrey to his back, a stalemate was called and a reset ensued. Strayer's pressure finally earned him a point for a second OSU stall warning. Strayer tried to throw Humphrey as the bout ended, but his grip slipped and he fell to his back. Humphrey then moved down for the takedown and, with the riding time point, posted a hard-fought 8-3 win.
141: Red-shirt freshman Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) met defending national champion J Jaggers of Ohio State at 141. Jaggers earned an early 2-0 lead, countering a Molinaro shot and scoring nearly two minutes into the bout. Molinaro escaped to a 2-1 deficit and began looking for his first takedown. But Jaggers was able to block off Molinaro's efforts and kept his lead after the opening period. Up 2-1, Jaggers chose down to start the second stanza and escaped to a 3-1 lead with 1:40 left. Molinaro quickly shot, but Jaggers countered and took Molinaro to his back. The defending champion then pinned Molinaro at the 3:38 mark, giving Ohio State a 27-7 lead.
149: With junior All-American Bubba Jenkins (Virginia Beach, Va.) still out with an injury, red-shirt freshman Colby Pisani (Ridgway, Pa.) took to the mat at 149 to face No. 4 Lance Palmer of Ohio State. Palmer got the first takedown just :30 in, but Pisani escaped at the 1:45 mark to cut the lead to 2-1. Palmer, however, was able to add another quick takedown to lead 4-1. He then rode Pisani and turned the Lion freshman to his back for three back points and a 7-1 lead. After resetting himself, he turned Pisani once more and ended the dual with a pin at the 2:56 mark, giving Ohio State a 33-7 win.