Jan. 3, 2010
LOCK HAVEN, Pa.; January 4, 2010 - No. 15 Penn State, returning to the mats for the first time in two weeks, made short work of host Lock Haven on its way to a 32-6 victory over the home standing Bald Eagles. The Nittany Lions won eight of ten bouts in front of a near capacity Thomas Field House crowd to coast to the victory.
No. 11 Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) got Penn State off to a fast start with a pin in under a minute at 125. After an LHU victory at 133, Penn State senior Adam Lynch (Mifflinburg, Pa.) got his first career dual meet win at Penn State with a 15-3 major at 141, putting Penn State up 10-3 after three bouts.
Penn State's three All-Americans then did their damage in fine fashion. Sophomore Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 6 at 149, posted an 11-2 major; senior Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah), ranked No. 2 at 157, posted a 24-9 technical fall at 157; and senior Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 8 at 165, notched an impressive 16-6 major to put Penn State up 23-3 after six bouts.
Freshman Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) picked up his third dual meet win, getting a takedown just :10 into a sudden victory period to post a thrilling 8-6 (SV) win over Lock Haven junior Derek Caldwell at 174. Senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio), ranked No. 14 at 184, then added a convincing 6-1 win over Lock Haven veteran Jeremie Cook. Sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) got Penn State's final win with a 6-2 decision at 197 as sophomore Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) was upset 6-1 by LHU's Daniel Craig at heavyweight.
The Nittany Lions dominated the takedown war, posting a 36-4 edge in takedowns. Penn State also collected eight bonus points to none for Lock Haven. The Nittany Lions got a pin, a technical fall and three majors in front of nearly 2,000 fans.
Penn State moves to 6-1-1 on the year while Lock Haven fell to 0-3. The Nittany Lions will trek to Hampton, Va., for the 2010 Virginia Duals next weekend. Penn State will take part in the two day dual meet tournament on Friday and?Saturday, Jan. 8-9, at the Hampton Coliseum. Penn State's next home dual is set for Jan. 22 when it hosts Illinois at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. 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.
#15 Penn State 32, Lock Haven 6
Lock Haven, Pa. - January 4, 2010
| 25: #11 Brad Pataky PSU pinned George Ester LHU, WBF (0:50) | 6-0 |
| 133: John Trumbetti LHU dec. Bryan Pearsall PSU, 7-4 | 6-3 |
| 141: Adam Lynch PSU maj. dec. Justin Loudon LHU, 15-3 | 10-3 |
| 149: #6 Frank Molinaro PSU maj. dec. Brock Parker LHU, 11-2 | 14-3 |
| 157: #2 Cyler Sanderson PSU tech. fall Seth Creasy LHU, 24-9 (TF; 6:11) | 19-3 |
| 165: #8 Dan Vallimont PSU maj. dec. Kevin Dufresne LHU, 16-6 | 23-3 |
| 174: Justin Ortega PSU dec. Derek Caldwell LHU, 8-6 (SV) | 26-3 |
| 184: #14 David Erwin PSU dec. Jeremie Cook LHU, 6-1 | 29-3 |
| 197: Clay Steadman PSU dec. Harry Turner LHU, 6-2 | 32-3 |
| 285: Dan Craig LHU dec. #12 Cameron Wade PSU, 6-1 | 32-6 |
Attendance: 1,915
Records: Penn State 6-1-1, Lock Haven 0-3
Up Next for Penn State: Friday-Saturday, January 8-9, 2010; at Virginia Duals, Hampton, Va.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Junior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.), ranked No. 11 at 125, took on Lock Haven's George Ester. Pataky wasted no time in gaining control of Ester with a front headlock, but Ester was able to fight off the first move before giving up the pin on a cement mixer at the 0:50 mark. Pataky's quick pin put Penn State up 6-0 early.
133: Freshman Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) met Lock Haven's John Trumbetti at 133. Trumbetti got the first takedown at 133 just over ten seconds in to take an early 2-0 lead. Trumbetti then put together a strong ride, controlling Pearsall for the entire period to lead by two (with 2:50 in riding time). Trumbetti chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Trumbetti added a second takedown at the :42 mark to up his lead to 5-0 (with a guaranteed riding time bonus point) after two periods. Trailing by essentially six, Pearsall chose neutral to start the final stanza. Pearsall quickly scored on a fast double leg to cut the lead to 5-2. Trumbetti escaped to a 6-2 lead with :45 left in the bout. Pearsall added another takedown with :15 left but Trumbetti would hold on for a 7-4 win, cutting Penn State's lead to 6-3.
141: Nittany Lion senior Adam Lynch (Mifflinburg, Pa.) faced off against Bald Eagle Justin Loudon at 141. Lynch took an early lead, turning a single leg into a takedown at the 2:20 mark. The Lion senior then put together a strong ride, building up over a minute's worth of riding time while to turn Loudon for back points. Lynch worked on a cradle, but Loudon was able to work out of trouble for an escape with :30 left. Lynch, however, quickly turned into the Bald Eagle and turned another single leg into a 4-1 lead off a solid takedown. With just :07 left, Lynch locked in on a cradle and turned Loudon to his back for two near fall points and a 6-1 lead after one period. Loudon chose neutral to start the second stanza, but Lynch used a solid shoulder throw to force Loudon down for another takedown and an 8-1. Lynch then dominated Loudon on top, riding the Bald Eagle out to carry the 8-1 lead with 3:36 in riding time (guaranteeing the bonus point) into the third period. Lynch also chose neutral and upped his lead to 10-2 with a quick takedown and cut. Looking for more bonus points, Lynch got his fifth takedown to up his lead to 12-3 at the 1:00 mark. The Nittany Lion continued to pressure Loudon for the remainder of the period and used a high crotch for one more takedown and a 15-3 major decision. The win put Penn State up 10-3. The win was Lynch's first dual meet victory as a Nittany Lion.
149: All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 6 at 149, met Lock Haven sophomore Brock Parker. Molinaro and Parker battled through an uneventful first period, with neither wrestler finding an opening in which to walk through for a takedown until Molinaro exploded into a high double to get the first takedown with :20 left. A short ride out allowed the Nittany Lion to carry that slim 2-0 lead into the second period. Parker chose down to begin the middle stanza, but Molinaro was able to maintain control of the Bald Eagle and work his way into a turning combination. The Lion sophomore turned the Bald Eagle for three near fall points with just :10 left to lead 5-0 with 2:20 in riding time after two periods. Molinaro chose down and quickly exploded out to a 6-0 lead with a quick escape. Molinaro used a single leg, driving through for an 8-1 lead after cutting Parker loose with 1:10 left in the third period. With the riding time assured, Molinaro added another takedown with :58 left to up his lead to 10-1. Molinaro cut Parker loose with :18 left and nearly added a final takedown. But Parker was able to flee the mat as time expired. Still, the 11-2 major by Molinaro gave the Lions a 14-3 lead.
157: All-American Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah), ranked No. 2 at 157, took on Bald Eagle Seth Creasy. Sanderson began a demolition of Creasy with a takedown/cut at the 2:30 mark and another with 2:08 to lead 4-2 early. A third takedown at the 1:15 mark gave the Lion senior a 6-3 lead. Sanderson added another takedown and cut with an ankle pick at the :40 mark. A counter of a Creasy shot gave the Nittany Lion a fifth takedown and a 10-4 lead with 1:17 in riding time after one period. Sanderson chose down to begin the middle stanza and quickly reversed Creasy to up his lead to 12-4. A two-on-one tilt gave added two back points and put the Lion up 14-5 after cutting Creasy loose. Another ankle pick led to a sixth takedown and a 16-6 lead after a Creasy escape. Sanderson added one more takedown to lead 18-6 after two periods (with 2:27 in riding time). Creasy chose down to begin the final period. Sanderson secured the bonus point before cutting Creasy loose to an 18-7 lead. Sanderson added two quick takedowns to up his lead to 22-9 and then got the final takedown at the 6:11 mark to post the 24-9 technical fall. The five points put PSU up 19-3.
165: All-American Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 8 at 165, met Bald Eagle Kevin Dufresne. Vallimont got his first takedown at the 2:12 mark, taking a 2-0 lead with a single leg turned high double for the score. Dufresne escaped at the 1:10 mark, only to have Vallimont turn into the Bald Eagle and up his lead to 4-1 with a takedown just eight seconds later. Dufresne escaped once more trailed only 4-2 after one period. The Bald Eagle chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-3 deficit, but Vallimont quickly upped his lead to 6-3 with another takedown at the 1:00 mark. The Nittany Lion then put together a strong ride, amassing 2:50 in riding time with a ride out to lead 6-3 heading into the final period. Vallimont chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to a 7-3 lead with an assured bonus point. Vallimont used a quick single leg for a fourth takedown and a 9-4 lead after cutting Dufresne loose with 1:29 left. A fifth takedown and cut gave Vallimont an 11-5 lead with :58 remaining in the bout. Looking for bonus points, Vallimont secured the major with two quick takedowns at the :30 mark. The 16-6 major put Penn State up 23-3.
174: Nittany Lion freshman Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) took on Haven junior Derek Caldwell at 174. Caldwell got the bout's first takedown, taking a 4-0 lead by adding two back points less than :30 into the opening period. Ortega escaped to a 4-1 deficit and action returned to the center circle. Ortega fought off two solid Caldwell shots as the period ended to keep the bout close, trailing 4-1 after one period. The Nittany Lion freshman chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 deficit. Ortega deftly tied the bout with a quick single leg trip as the period ended, tying action at 4-4 heading into the final period. Caldwell chose down to start the final period and quickly escaped to a 5-4 lead. But Ortega was relentless with his pressure, consistently forcing Caldwell back towards the edge of the mat. The hard work paid off as Ortega countered a Caldwell shot to take a 6-5 lead with :50 left in the bout. The Lion freshman then rode Caldwell hard but the Bald Eagle rolled to a takedown with just :03 left to tie the bout and send action into overtime tied 6-6. Ortega then worked his way around Caldwell just :10 into the sudden victory period to post a thrilling 8-6 (sv) win and put Penn State up 26-3.
184: Senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio), ranked No. 14 at 184, met talented Lock Haven junior Jeremie Cook. Erwin battled the veteran Bald Eagle evenly for most of the opening period and then took a 2-0 lead with a late takedown at the :14 mark. Cook chose down to start the second period, only to get ridden by the senior Lion for the entire period. The dominating ride allowed Erwin to lead 2-0 with 2:14 in riding time heading into the final period. Erwin chose down to start the third stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. A high double leg by Erwin put the Nittany Lion up 5-0 with 1:25 left before cutting the Bald Eagle loose after securing the riding time point. Erwin got in on a low single with :30 left, but Cook forced a stalemate and a reset with :16 left. Erwin walked away with an impressive 6-1 win, putting Penn State up 29-3.
197: Nittany Lion sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) took on Lock Haven's Harry Turner at 197. Neither wrestler found a solid opening in an uneventful first period, leading to a scoreless first period. Turner chose down to start the period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead, but Steadman countered a slight Turner shot, worked his way around behind the Bald Eagle to lead 2-1 with 1:36 left. But Steadman was called for an illegal hold and the bout was tied 2-2 with Steadman still in control. The Nittany Lion sophomore then maintained control of Turner, building up a 1:36 riding time edge with a ride-out. Tied 2-2, Steadman chose down to start the final period and steadily worked his way to a 3-2 lead with an escape (while maintaining a 1:15 time edge). Steadman countered a late Turner shot to ice the bout with a late takedown to post a 6-2 win and put the Nittany Lions up 32-3.
HWT: Sophomore Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 12 at HWT, met LHU's Dan Craig. Wade got in on an early single leg, but the Bald Eagle countered to stun Wade with a quick takedown and two near fall points to lead 4-0 a minute into the bout. Craig then put together a very strong ride, maintaining control of the Nittany Lion sophomore until the :28 mark before Wade escaped. Trailing 4-1, Wade chose down to start the second period, but could not break free of another strong Craig ride. The two minute ride gave Craig a 4-1 lead with an assured bonus point heading into the final period. Craig chose down to start the last period, giving Wade a chance to turn the Bald Eagle for back points. But Craig was equal to the task, forcing an illegal hold on Wade and nearly reversing the Nittany Lion. Craig posted a strong 6-1 upset win over Wade, but the Nittany Lions posted the 32-6 dual meet win.