Jan. 29, 2010
IOWA CITY, Iowa; January 29, 2010 - No. 13 Penn State came into its Big Ten road dual in Iowa City as heavy underdogs to No. 1 Iowa and, while losing the Big Ten road dual, picked up exciting upset wins from seniors Adam Lynch (Mifflinburg, Pa.) and David Erwin at 141 and 184. Iowa, with a line-up featuring six seniors, won the dual meet by a 29-6 score.
Iowa got off to a fast start, getting a 7-2 win at 125 from No. 4 Matt McDonough, who downed No. 12 Brad Pataky of Penn State in one of five duals featuring ranked opponents. Iowa also got a major at 133 before Lynch silenced a raucous Iowa crowd by upsetting No. 5 Montel Marion of Iowa with an 8-6 sudden victory decision. The win was Lynch's second victory over a ranked foe since the Big Ten season started.
No. 1 Brent Metcalf then pinned No. 5 Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) before Iowa got its upset win at 157. Jake Kerr was awarded two quick near fall points after a reversal in the third period to upset No. 5 Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah) to send the Hawkeyes into the halftime session leading 16-3.
No. 5 Ryan Morningstar downed No. 8 Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) by riding him for the entire third period for a 2-0 win. Iowa got a major decision at 174 before senior Erwin, ranked No. 13 at 18, got a convincing 6-4 win over No. 7 Phil Keddy at 184. Iowa added a decision at 197 before No. 9 Dan Erekson got a hard-fought 6-1 win over No. 11 Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) at heavyweight.
Iowa won eight of ten bouts and had a 25-6 edge in takedowns. The Hawkeyes also had a 5-0 lead in bonus points.
Penn State is now 9-5-1 on the year, 1-2 in Big Ten duals. Iowa is 17-0, 3-0 Big Ten. The Nittany Lions will trek to Madison, Wis., for a Sunday dual with No. 12 Wisconsin. The dual with the Badgers will begin at 2 p.m. (Eastern). Penn State's next home dual will be next Friday when Northwestern invades Rec Hall for a 7 p.m. match-up. 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 $4 in advance and $5 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) or 3WZ (95.3 FM) and on www.GoPSUsports.com as well. The 2009-10 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
#13 Penn State 6, #1 Iowa 29
Iowa City, Iowa - January 29, 2010
| 125: #4 Matt McDonough IA dec. #12 Brad Pataky PSU, 7-2 | 0-3 |
| 133: #6 Daniel Dennis IA maj. dec. Bryan Pearsall PSU, 17-7 | 0-7 |
| 141: Adam Lynch PSU dec. #5 Montel Marion IA, 8-6 (sv) | 3-7 |
| 149: #1 Brent Metcalf IA pinned #5 Frank Molinaro PSU, WBF (3:56) | 3-13 |
| 157: Jake Kerr IA dec. #5 Cyler Sanderson PSU, 4-2 | 3-16 |
| 165: #5 Ryan Morningstar IA dec. #8 Dan Vallimont PSU, 2-0 | 3-19 |
| 174: #2 Jay Borschel IA maj. dec. Justin Ortega PSU, 14-2 | 3-23 |
| 184: #13 David Erwin PSU dec. #7 Phil Keddy IA, 6-4 | 6-23 |
| 197: Luke Lofthouse IA dec. Clay Steadman PSU, 5-2 | 6-26 |
| 285: #9 Dan Erekson IA dec. #11 Cameron Wade PSU, 6-1 | 6-29 |
Attendance: 8.923 Records: Penn State 9-5-1 (1-2 Big Ten); Iowa (17-0, 3-0 Big Ten) Up Next for Penn State: at No. 12 Wisconsin, Sunday, 2 p.m. (Eastern)
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: In a dual meet that featured five bouts pitting ranked grapplers against each other, Nittany Lion junior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) took on Iowa's Matt McDonough at 125. Pataky entered the dual ranked No. 12 while McDonough was ranked No. 4 and a perfect 22-0 on the year. McDonough got the bout's first takedown to take an early 2-1 lead, grabbing Pataky's wrist, and moving behind the Lion for the score. McDonough added a second takedown at the 1:07 mark, turning a single leg into two points by once again moving behind Pataky for the 4-1 lead. The Hawkeye then put together a solid ride, building up a 1:16 riding time edge with the ride-out. Leading 4-1, McDonough chose neutral to start the second period. McDonough forced a scramble at the 1:00 mark and steadily worked his way to a third takedown and a 6-2 lead after a Pataky escape. Pataky shot low on McDonough late in the period, but the Hawkeye was able to stave off the effort to kill the clock. Trailing 6-2, Pataky chose down to start the third period but could not break free of a strong McDonough ride. The Hawkeye maintained control of the Nittany Lion for the entire period, riding Pataky out to post a convincing 7-2 win. The decision put Iowa up 3-0.
133: Penn State freshman Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) took on Iowa senior Daniel Dennis at 133. Dennis entered the bout ranked No. 6. Dennis scored early on Pearsall, getting a quick takedown to take a 2-1 lead just seconds into the bout. The Hawkeye senior went on to add two more takedowns to lead 6-3 after the opening period. Leading by three, Dennis chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 7-3 lead. The Hawkeye senior then countered a Pearsall shot for another takedown and a 9-4 lead after a Pearsall escape. Trailing by five, Pearsall chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 9-5 deficit. Dennis used a swift head-outside single to move out to an 11-5 lead with his fifth takedown. After moving his riding time up over a minute, Dennis cut Pearsall loose to an 11-6 lead. He then countered another Pearsall shot to take the Lion freshman down and, after another cut, moved up 13-7. Dennis added a final takedown, a stall point and a riding time point to notch the major, getting a 17-7 win and putting Iowa up 7-0.
141: Nittany Lion Adam Lynch (Mifflinburg, Pa.) faced off against No. 5 Montel Marion of Iowa at 141. Lynch had the first solid scoring opportunity, turning a single leg into a takedown and a 2-1 lead after a Marion escape. Marion gained control of Lynch's right leg and worked for his first takedown, but Lynch stepped out of trouble and turned into the Hawkeye, looking for another score. Lynch took two solid shots during the period's final minutes, forcing the tempo and his opponent back on his feet. But Marion was able to counter each move and did not give up any points to the Nittany Lion senior. Trailing 2-1, Marion chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Lynch got in deep on Marion's right leg one again, forcing the fifth-ranked Hawkeye to tie things up and force a stalemate at the 1:30 mark. Lynch then countered a slight Marion shot to work his way around the Hawkeye and get a second takedown with :40 left. Lynch then put together a strong ride and rode Marion out to lead 4-2 with :45 in riding time in his favor. Up by two, Lynch chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-2 lead with :35 in riding time. The duo then traded shots, with Marion going low and Lynch countering high. Marion finally got his first takedown at the 1:20 mark, cutting the lead to 6-4 after a Lynch escape. Marion got a tying takedown at the :17 mark, giving Lynch just seconds to escape. But the Lion could not break free and the bout moved to a sudden victory period. Marion quickly gained control of Lynch's leg, but the Nittany Lion senior used his experience to step around the Hawkeye and gain control of his shoulders to get an 8-6 (sv) win, stunning the Hawkeye crowd with the upset. The win cut Iowa's lead to 7-3.
149: In one of the dual's marquee match-ups, Nittany Lion All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) took on Iowa All-American Brent Metcalf at 149. Molinaro entered the dual ranked No. 5 with a 22-2 record while Metcalf was ranked No. 1 with a perfect 22-0 record. Molinaro came out the aggressor and was stunned early with a penalty point being awarded to Metcalf for a head slap on Molinaro's part. Metcalf then added a takedown at the 2:06 mark to lead 3-0 a minute into the bout. Molinaro quickly escaped and turned into the 2008 national champion, looking for a chance to score. Metcalf added a second takedown at the 1:15 mark, working Molinaro's lower legs and turning the move into a takedown. A Molinaro escape cut Metcalf's lead to 5-2. Molinaro gave up a stall warning and a third takedown with :30 left and this time Metcalf turned Molinaro to his back for three near fall points to close out the period. Leading 10-2 with :57 in riding time to his favor, Metcalf chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to an 11-2 lead. Molinaro then used a solid high double for his first takedown, sending Metcalf to the ground to cut the Hawkeye lead to 12-4 after a Metcalf escape. Metcalf had the final answer, however, catching Molinaro's shoulders and sending the Nittany Lion sophomore to the mat for a fall at the 3:56 mark. The pin put Iowa up 13-3.
157: Penn State All-American Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah) ranked No. 5 at 157, met Iowa's Jake Kerr. Sanderson was the aggressor early, forcing Kerr to the outside circle throughout the first two-plus minutes. Sanderson had a solid chance to score at the 1:00 mark, but Kerr was able to tie the Lion senior up and keep the bout scoreless heading into the second period. Tied 0-0, Sanderson chose down to begin the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Sanderson countered a Kerr shot and nearly turned the Hawkeye to his back for a quick pin, but no takedown was awarded as Kerr rolled through to keep the bout close at the 1:00 mark. Sanderson continued to shoot, forcing Kerr to the edge of the mat as he looked for an opening. Kerr countered another Sanderson shot, winding down the clock in a tie-up. Trailing 1-0, Kerr chose down to start the third period and quickly reversed Sanderson for a reversal and an extremely quick to near fall points to take a 4-2 lead after a Sanderson escape. Sanderson worked his way into a head outside single but could not finish off the move as Kerr force a time killing tie up that ended with a reset at the :09 mark. Kerr was able to back away from Sanderson to kill the clock and post the 4-2 upset win. The victory put Iowa up 16-3 heading into halftime.
165: Senior All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 8 at 165, met No. 5 Ryan Morningstar in another of the dual's anticipated match-ups. The evenly matched duo traded early barbs with neither man gaining an advantage over the opening three minutes of action. Tied 0-0, Morningstar chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Vallimont had the first real scoring chance, getting in on a head outside single, but Morningstar was able to force a potentially dangerous call and action resumed at the center circle with 1:00 left. This time, it was Morningstar who looked to finish off a single and Vallimont's turn to force a reset by working his way out of bounds with :25 left in the period. Trailing 1-0, Vallimont chose down to start the final period, needing an escape to tie the bout. The Nittany Lion senior tried valiantly to break free, but Morningstar was able to rid the Nittany Lion long enough to build up a 1:17 riding time edge as Vallimont tried to reverse the Hawkeye. Morningstar was able to fight off Vallimont's reversal attempt and ride the Nittany Lion for the entire period to notch a hard-fought 2-0 win. The decision put Iowa up 19-3.
174: Nittany Lion freshman Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) Iowa senior Jay Borschel, who was ranked No. 2 at 174. Borschel opened up the scoring with a single leg trip to take a 2-0 lead just under a minute into the bout. He added two near fall points and led 4-0 at the midway point of the opening period. Ortega got on the board with an escape at the 1:12 mark, but Borschel worked to the mat for another takedown and a 6-1 lead into the second period. Ortega chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 6-2 deficit, but Borschel quickly took the Nittany Lion freshman down to up his lead to 8-2. Borshel maintained control of Ortega, building up a 3:29 riding time edge with the ride out. Borschel chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 9-2 lead. He added a fourth takedown and two back points to move out to a 13-2 lead. Ortega gave up a first stall warning at the :32 mark as Borschel worked to turn the Nittany Lion one more time. But the freshman was able to keep from giving up any more back points and Borschel posted a 14-2 major decision. The victory put Iowa up 23-3.
184: Penn State's David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio), ranked No. 13 at 184, met No. 7 Phil Keddy in another of the dual's prime bouts. Keddy looked to score early, but Erwin was able to lock up on the Hawkeye's first shot and force a stalemate with 2:21 on the opening clock. Keddy turned a fast high single into a 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 1:47 mark before Erwin escaped to halve the lead. Erwin gained control of Keddy's left leg and dragged the Hawkeye to the mat for his first takedown and, after a Keddy escape with :22 left, the bout was tied 3-3. Erwin chose down to start the second period but could not work free for an escape until Keddy had built up a1:21 riding time edge. Erwin's escape at the 1:05 mark gave the Lion a 4-3 lead and action resumed in the center circle. No one scored over the final minute and Erwin lead by one heading into the third period. Keddy, trailing 4-3, chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 4-4 tie while maintaining a 1:16 riding time edge. Erwin gained control of Keddy's thigh's and took the Hawkeye down for a go-ahead takedown, pulling Keddy to the mat with :55 left to move out to a 6-4 lead. Erwin then rode Keddy long enough to cut the riding time point down to under a minute. He then dominated Keddy from the top position and, with a ride-out, posted a convincing 6-4 win over the 7th ranked Hawkeye. The win cut Iowa's lead to 23-6.
197: Sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) faced off with Iowa's Luke Lofthouse at 197. Lofthouse gained control of Steadman's right thigh and spend a minute trying to turn the shot into a takedown. But the Penn State sophomore was able to break free and keep the bout scoreless at the midway point. Lofthouse's second attempt worked as the Hawkeye tripped Steadman to the mat for a takedown and a 2-1 lead with :40 left (after a Steadman escape). Leading by one, Lofthouse chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Steadman got called for a first stall warning at the 1:10 mark as well. Trailing 3-1, Steadman chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 deficit. Neither wrestler could find an opening to score as the final period wound down and Steadman gave up a point on a stall call. Trailing 4-2, Steadman needed a takedown to tie the bout. But the Penn State sophomore could not break through Lofthouse's strong defense down the stretch, dropping a 5-2 decision after giving up another stall call.
HWT: Nittany Lion sophomore Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 11 at heavyweight, took on Iowa senior Dan Erekson, who was ranked No. 9 entering the dual. Erekson wasted no time in taking an early lead, using a low double to trip Wade to the mat for a 2-0 lead less than :20 into the opening period. A Wade escape cut Erekson's lead in half and action resumed in the center circle with 1:50 left on the clock. The Hawkeye senior added another takedown, however, using a high double to take a 4-1 lead into the second period. Erekson chose neutral to start the second period. He worked his way towards another high double and a 6-1 lead late in the second period. A ride-out allowed the Hawkeye to take that lead and 1:55 in riding time into the final period. Wade chose top to start the final period, hoping to turn the Hawkeye for back points. Wade was able to dominate action from the top, maintaining control of Erekson for the period, but the young Lion could not turn the Hawkeye senior for any back points and dropped the 6-1 decision. The win gave Iowa a 29-6 dual meet victory.