Nov. 5, 2009
STATE COLLEGE, Pa.; November 5, 2009 - Over 2,400 fans packed Rec Hall to get a first look at the start of a new era in Penn State Wrestling as the team held an intrasquad dual meet. Head coach Cael Sanderson showcased 22 wrestlers in an 11-bout dual meet with no team scores kept. The outstanding crowd got its first look at Penn State's returning veterans, four All-Americans and a talented crop of true freshmen.
The evening began with a surprise at 174, where red-shirt freshman Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) posted a convincing 6-2 win over senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio). True freshman Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) followed that up with a rousing 10-1 major decision over J.R. Brown (Bellefonte, Pa.) at 184. In an exhibition bout at 184, Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) posted a solid 8-2 win over sophomore David Crowell (Easton, Pa.), notching three takedowns in the win.
True freshman Luke Macchiaroli (Tempe, Ariz.) notched a 5-3 win at 197 over sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.), getting the bout's only takedown in the opening period. Two ranked Nittany Lions then posted two dominating performances as sophomore Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 20 at HWT, posted a 15-0 decision over Brendan Herlihy (Fairfield, Conn.) at the 7:00 mark. No. 8 Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) was brilliant in a 16-1 technical fall over Tom Reynolds (Skillman, N.J.) in just 3:17 at 125. In a spirited bout at 133, sophomore Tyler Saltsman (Concord, N.H.) notched a takedown with just :03 left in sudden victory time to post a 6-4 (SV) win over Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.).
A bout of cramps in his right calf forced sophomore Colby Pisani (Ridgway, Pa.) to injury default against senior Adam Lynch (Mifflinburg, Pa.), who lead 2-0 at the time of the default. All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 6 at 141, was convincing with a 12-4 major over James English (York, Pa.) at 149. Senior All-American Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah), ranked No. 5 at 157, then faced true freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) at 157 and came away with a hard-fought 11-4 win. True freshman Jake Kemerer (Greensburg, Pa.) used a last-second takedown to post a 4-3 win over No. 9 Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) at 165 to close out a rousing evening.
Penn State opens up the dual meet season at Lehigh on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. Penn State's first home dual is slated for Sunday, Nov. 15, at noon when the Bloomsburg Huskies invade Rec Hall. Penn State Wrestling season tickets for the 2009-10 season are on sale now. The five-event package (which does not include the Nittany Lion Open) costs $30 for adults ($6 per event) and $25 for youth ($5 per event). Single event tickets will cost $8 for adults and $6 for youth. Group sales are available once again for groups of 15 people or more. Group prices are $5 in advance and $6 walk-up. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 1.800.NITTANY between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. All Penn State events will once again air live on Forever Broadcasting's WRSC(1390 AM) and on GoPSUsports. com as well. The 2009-10 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
#14 Penn State Hosts Intrasquad Dual
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009 - Rec Hall - State College, Pa.
174: Justin Ortega dec. David Erwin, 6-2
184: Ed Ruth maj. dec. J.R. Brown, 10-1
Exhib 184: Quentin Wright dec. David Crowell, 8-2
197: Luke Macchiaroli dec. Clay Steadman, 5-3
285: #20 Cameron Wade tech. fall Brendan Herlihy, 15-0 (7:00)
125: #8 Brad Pataky tech. fall Tom Reynolds, 16-1 (3:17)
133: Tyler Saltsman dec. Bryan Pearsall, 6-4 (SV)
141: Adam Lynch inj. def. Colby Pisani, (Pisani cramping)
149: #6 Frank Molinaro maj. dec. James English, 12-4
157: #5 Cyler Sanderson dec. David Taylor, 11-4
165: Jake Kemerer dec. #9 Dan Vallimont, 4-3
Final Score: No team scores kept
Attendance: 2,400 (appx.)
Records: Penn State 0-0, 0-0 Big Ten
Up next: Penn State visits Lehigh to open up the 2009-10 season on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
174: Senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio), coming off a season missed with an injury, met freshman Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) at 174. Erwin went on offense early and notched his first takedown at the 2:40 mark and led 2-1 after an Ortega escape. The senior then countered an Ortega shot to nearly notch another takedown, but Ortega forced a stalemate with 1:00 left in the period. Erwin had one final shot at points as the period ended but could not score. Trailing 2-1, Ortega chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Erwin continued to be the aggressor, but Ortega's defense kept the senior from putting any more points on the scoreboard. Ortega got hit with a first stall warning with 1:00 left in the second period. Ortega lifted Erwin with just :20 left and took the senior down for a 4-2 lead as the second period ended. Erwin chose down to start the third stanza but could not work out from a strong Ortega ride. Erwin gave up a stall point as well and Ortega broke open a 5-2 lead. The red-shirt freshman picked up a riding time point to post a convincing 6-2 win.
184: Sophomore J.R. Brown (Bellefonte, Pa.) took on true freshman Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) at 184. Ruth wasted no time notching an early takedown, quickly opening up a 2-0 lead just :14 into the bout. Brown escaped after a :22 Ruth ride to cut the lead to 2-1 and action returned to the center of the mat. The Harrisburg native added a second takedown midway through the period and then put together a strong ride to build up a 1:44 riding time edge while riding Brown out. Leading 4-1, Ruth chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. The freshman then worked his way quickly around Brown to gain control of the bout with a third takedown, leading 7-1 with 1:30 left in the middle period. Ruth was dominating on top, not allowing Brown any room to maneuver on his way to another ride out. Ruth led 7-1 with an assured riding time point thanks to a 3:16 advantage. Brown chose neutral to start the third period, but Ruth quickly added another takedown with a quick counter to a Brown shot. Leading 9-1 with just over a minute left, Ruth began looking for a way to turn the Bellefonte native to his back for bonus points. Brown was able to keep his shoulders off the mat, but Ruth's dominating performance on top led to another ride out and a convincing 10-1 major decision (with the riding time point).
Ex. 184: All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) met David Crowell (Easton, Pa.) in an exhibition bout at 184. Wright, a 2009 All-American at 174, met sophomore David Crowell (Easton, Pa.). Crowell had the first opening in the high-energy bout, but Wright was able to counter, step over the talented sophomore, and gain control for a takedown of his own and a 2-0 lead with 1:07 left. Wright maintained control over Crowell for the rest of the opening period to take a 2-0 lead into the second stanza. Wright chose down and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. The Wingate native then immediately turned into Crowell, looking for another scoring opportunity. But Crowell was equal to the task, looking for his own chances to score while keeping Wright from building on his lead. But a quick high single from Wright with just :17 left in the period gave the All-American a 5-0 lead as the period ended. Down 5-0, Crowell chose down to start the final stanza and quickly escaped to a 5-1 deficit. Wright worked a strong, low double leg to up his lead to 7-1 with just over :30 left and secured his riding time point in the process. Crowell added an escape as the bout wound down to cut into Wright's lead. Wright walked away with a solid 8-2 win.
197: Sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) took to the mat at 197 against true freshman Luke Macchiaroli (Tempe, Ariz.). Macchiaroli got the first takedown of the bout, finishing off a low double on the edge of the mat with just :45 left in the opening bout. Steadman escaped quickly to cut the lead to 2-1 with just over :30 left and action resumed, neutral, in the center circle. Steadman chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 2-2 tie with 1:54 left in the period. Steadman took a low shot but Macchiaroli deftly countered, worked his way around the sophomore and got a second takedown to up his lead to 4-3 after a quick Steadman escape. Steadman quickly turned into Macchiaroli, looking to finish a high single. But the true freshman forced a stalemate to keep his lead with :40 left on the clock. Leading 4-3, Macchiaroli chose down to start the third period and escaped after :40 work to up his lead to 5-3. Steadman looked to score off a reset with :40 left, but Macchiaroli was able to fight off the move (although he picked up a stall warning in the process). Macchiaroli held on for a 5-3 win.
285: Sophomore heavyweight Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 20 at HWT, met senior Brendan Herlihy (Fairfield, Conn.). Wade finished off a single leg to get the bout's first takedown and lead 2-0 at the 1:17 mark. The sophomore then quickly turned Herlihy to his back for three back points and a 5-0 lead. He then rode the senior out to take a 5-0 lead into the second period. Herlihy chose neutral to start the second period. Wade added a second takedown after a Herlihy stall and led 7-0 with just over :30 left in the period. Herlihy gave up a stall point as the period ended and Wade led 8-0 after two periods. Wade chose down to start the final stanza and escaped to a 9-0 lead. Wade countered a Herlihy shot and got his own takedown with 1:10 left, adding another three point near fall to lead 14-0 with :34 left in the bout. Wade then rode Herlihy out, added the riding time point, and notched a 15-0 technical fall at the 7:00 mark.
125: Junior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) took on freshman Tom Reynolds (Skillman, N.J.) at 125. Pataky will enter the 2009-10 season ranked No. 8 by Intermat. Pataky wasted no time in getting his first takedown, taking a 2-0 lead just over :10 into the bout. He quickly turned Reynolds for three near fall points and led 5-0 with 2:12 left. After resetting, Pataky added a two point near fall move and was up 7-0. Pataky added another two point turn and led 9-0 with 1:00 left. Pataky picked up one more two point near fall point before Reynolds escaped to an 11-1 deficit with :40 left. Pataky was undaunted, adding one more takedown to lead 13-1 with 2:25 in riding time after one period. Pataky chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 14-1 lead. Pataky added a final takedown to post a 16-1 technical fall at the 3:17 mark.
133: The 133-pound bout featured redshirt freshman Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) taking on sophomore Tyler Saltsman (Concord, N.H.). Pearsall notched the first takedown after a mad scramble on the edge of the mat with 1:24 left, taking a 2-0 lead. Pearsall was able to ride Saltsman for the rest of the period, not allowing the New Hampshire native off the mat to lead 2-0 heading into the second stanza. Pearsall then chose down and escaped to a 3-0 lead with 1:30 left in the middle period. Pearsall began playing defense and Saltsman made the freshman pay, getting a takedown and two near fall points with a swift move as the second period ended. The four point move allowed Saltsman to lead 4-3 heading into the third period. Saltsman chose down to start the final stanza but Pearsall was too strong, building up a large riding time edge to secure a riding time point and maintaining control for the full two minutes. Pearsall's riding time point tied the bout at 4-4, forcing a sudden victory period. Saltsman used a strong high double with just :03 left to pull out a thrilling 6-4 sudden victory win.
141: Sophomore Colby Pisani (Ridgway, Pa.) met senior Adam Lynch (Mifflinburg, Pa.) at 141. Pisani was hampered from the get go by sever cramping in his right calf, delaying action while the Penn State training staff worked to try and get him ready to go. Pisani tried to return to action, Lynch notched the first takedown, countering a Pisani shot and taking a 2-0 lead with :45 left. Pisani then cramped again and the Penn State training staff and coaching staff stopped the bout, giving Lynch the injury default win.
149: Sophomore All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 6 at 141, took on freshman James English (York, Pa.) at 149. Molinaro wasted no time in getting the first takedown, working English to the mat for a 2-1 lead (after an escape. Molinaro countered an English attempt at a quick pin and upped his lead to 4-1 with 1:18 left in a furious opening period. Another English escape cut the lead to 4-2. Molinaro used a quick move behind English to up his lead to 6-2 after the first period with 1:13 in riding time. Molinaro chose down to start the middle stanza and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. The sophomore All-American continued to pour on the offense, adding a fourth takedown at the 1:10 mark to up his lead to 9-2. Trailing 9-2, English chose down to begin the final period and escaped to a 9-3 deficit. English looked to score, trying a low single on Molinaro, but the Lion sophomore used his quickness to work behind the freshman for a fifth takedown and an 11-3 lead. English escaped with :22 left to cut Molinaro's lead to 11-4, but the Lion All-American had secured a riding time point with over 3:00 in time. The riding time point allowed Molinaro to post a convincing 12-4 major decision.
157: 2008 All-American Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah), ranked No. 5 at 157, met true freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio). Sanderson made his first seconds on a Rec Hall mat count with a sizzling four point move (takedown and two near fall points) right out of the gates against Taylor. Sanderson added a second takedown and two more near fall points to up his lead to 8-1 with 1:21 left in the period. A third takedown with :40 left gave Cyler a 10-3 lead after a Taylor escape. Leading 10-3, Sanderson chose down to start the second period. Taylor was able to ride Sanderson for nearly a minute before the All-American was able to escape to an 11-3 lead. Trailing 11-3 and needing back points, Taylor chose top to start the third period and nearly turned the senior for back points right off the opening whistle. But Sanderson was able to fight back to parallel and keep his eight-point lead. Taylor put together a very strong ride, maintaining control of Sanderson while trying to lock in on a cradle. But Sanderson was able to fight off every Taylor scoring effort and wind out the period. The strong ride out allowed Taylor to work up a 1:41 riding time edge and keep the bout to a regular decision. Still, Sanderson's sizzling start allowed the All-American to walk away with an 11-4 decision.
165: 2008 All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 9 at 165, met true freshman Jake Kemerer (Greensburg, Pa.). The talented duo traded early shots with neither wrestler breaking through to score in the first period. Tied at 0-0, Kemerer chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Like the first period, neither grappler was able to find an opening to mount a serious scoring threat and Kemerer kept a 1-0 lead heading into the final period. Vallimont chose down to start the third stanza and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. The senior All-American then took a 3-2 lead with a solid takedown (and Kemerer escape) with 1:15 left. Kemerer worked to score himself and, with just :05 left, finished off a strong high double to post a thrilling 4-3 win over the All-American Vallimont.