Jan. 8, 2010
HAMPTON, Va. - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers, ranked No. 14 in the nation, opened up the 2010 Virginia Duals with a convincing 26-9 win over Virginia Tech. Despite suffering an upset loss at 157, the Nittany Lions won seven of ten bouts on its way to the victory. Penn State will face No. 13 Kent State in the next round today at 1 p.m.
Junior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) put Penn State up on top early with a critical 12-6 dismantling of No. 13 Jarrod Garnett at 125. The Hokies responded by getting decisions at 133 and 141, taking a brief 6-3 lead. The Nittany Lions responded by sending three All-Americans to the mat. No. 5 Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) got an impressive 6-1 win over Tech's Brian Stephens at 149 to tie the bout at 6-6. But No. 2 Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah) was upset 5-4 by No. 7 Jesse Dong of Virginia Tech on riding time to put the Hokies back on top 9-6.
No. 8 Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) tied the bout again with a 4-3 win at 165 before a Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) forfeit win at 174 put the Nittany Lions up for good, 15-9. Senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio), ranked No. 14 at 184, got a solid 3-0 win over talented Hokie Tommy Spellman at 184 to put Penn State up 18-9. Sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) posted a 3-1 win at 197 and sophomore Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Pa.), ranked No. 18 at HWT, got a 15-0 technical fall win to give Penn State a 26-9 dual meet victory.
Penn State won seven of the ten bouts and posted a solid 16-7 edge in the takedown battle. The Nittany Lions picked up the only bonus points in the dual with a 5-0 edge (thanks to a forfeit and a technical fall). The Nittany Lion win snapped a seven dual win streak for Virginia Tech.
Penn State moves to 7-1-1 on the year while Virginia Tech falls to 7-2. Penn State will meet No. 13 Kent State (a 34-6 winner over an out-manned Drexel team) in the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. 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.
#14 Penn State 26, Virginia Tech 9
Hampton, Va. - Virginia Duals - January 8, 2010
125: #12 Brad Pataky PSU dec. #13 Jarrod Garnett VT, 12-6 3-0
133: Brock LiVorio VT dec. Bryan Pearsall PSU, 5-3 3-3
141: #12 Chris Diaz VT dec. Adam Lynch PSU, 9-6 3-6
149: #5 Frank Molinaro PSU dec. Brian Stephens VT, 6-1 6-6
157: #7 Jesse Dong VT dec. #2 Cyler Sanderson PSU, 5-4 (RT) 6-9
165: #8 Dan Vallimont PSU dec. Matt Epperly VT, 4-3 9-9
174: Justin Ortega PSU win by forfeit 15-9
184: #14 David Erwin PSU dec. Tommy Spellman VT, 3-0 18-9
197: Clay Steadman PSU dec. Chris Penny VT, 4-1 21-9
285: #18 Cameron Wade PSU tech. fall Tim Miller VT, 15-0 (TF; 3:55) 26-9
Records: Penn State 7-1-1, Virginia Tech 7-2
Up Next for Penn State: vs. #13 Kent State, 1 p.m. today
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Junior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.), ranked No. 12 at 125, took No. 13 Jarrod Garnett in one of the dual's top bouts. Pataky, who was pinned by Garnett in the finals of the Nittany Lion Open in December, forced the first tie-up of the bout with a solid single leg. Garnett was able to counter and force a reset with 2:10 left in the bout. Pataky scored quickly off the reset with a swift double leg to take a 2-0 lead. The Nittany Lion junior then built up over a minute in riding time before being reversed by Garnett, tying the score at 2-2 with :45 left. Pataky quickly escaped to a 3-2 lead and then scrambled to a takedown with just :02 left to carry a 5-2 lead into the second period. Garnett chose down to begin the second period. Pataky maintained control of the ranked Hokie until 1:08 mark before Garnett escaped to a 5-3 deficit. But Pataky quickly added another double leg to up his lead to 7-3 with over 2:00 of riding time. He then rode his Hokie opponent out to lead 7-3 with 2:57 in riding time heading into the final period. Pataky chose down to start the last stanza. He steadily worked his way to his base and escaped at the 1:30 mark, moving out to an 8-3 lead and guaranteeing himself a riding time point. Pataky then added a fourth takedown to lead 10-3 with :56 left. Pataky cut Garnett loose to a 10-4 lead and then began working for team bonus points by getting another takedown. Pataky forced a shot on the edge of the mat but Garnett was able to counter and get his first takedown. Pataky walked away with an impressive 12-6 decision to put Penn State up 3-0.
133: Freshman Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) battled Tech's Brock LiVorio at 133. LiVorio got the bout's first takedown on the edge of the mat just :25 into the bout and then proceeded to ride Pearsall for the entire period, nearly turning the Nittany Lion freshman on a number of occasions. But Pearsall was able to fight off any back points and trailed only 2-0 after the first period. LiVorio, leading 2-0 with 2:34 in riding time, chose neutral to start the second period. LiVorio got a second takedown at the 1:30 mark and upped his lead to 4-1 after a quick Pearsall escape. Pearsall upped the tempo, attacking LiVorio and forcing the Hokie grappler off the mat. His pressure paid off with his first takedown at the :20 mark, converting a single leg into a takedown and cutting LiVorio's lead to 4-3 after the second period. Pearsall chose neutral to start the third period but it was LiVorio who forced the next tie-up with a low single. Pearsall countered the Hokie's move and forced a stalemate with 1:25 left. LiVorio, with a secured bonus point, began playing defense as Pearsall pressured the Hokie to the edge of the mat once again. The Nittany Lion freshman continued to force the tempo, forcing LiVorio into a stall warning. But the Nittany Lion was unable to secure a tying takedown and dropped a close 5-3 decision, tying the bout at 3-3.
141: Nittany Lion senior Adam Lynch (Mifflinburg, Pa.) took to the mat at 141 against No. 12 Chris Diaz of Virginia Tech. Diaz exploded out of the gates, taking Lynch down less than ten seconds into the bout and adding three near fall points to lead 5-0 early. Lynch worked his way to an escape with 1:20 left and then notched his first takedown seconds later to cut the lead to 5-3. Diaz escaped to a 6-3 lead with :55 left and action returned to the center circle. Lynch worked furiously to turn a late single leg into another takedown but time ran out on the Lion senior and he trailed by three after a solid first period. Lynch chose neutral to begin the middle stanza grabbed his second takedown to cut the Diaz lead to 6-5 just seconds into the period. Lynch then forced Diaz into a first stall warning while putting together a solid ride, erasing the Hokie's riding time edge. Lynch maintained control of Diaz for the entire period, nearly turning him for back points as the period ended. Diaz, leading 6-5 but giving up :47 in riding time, chose down to start the third. Lynch maintained control of the Hokie long enough initially to go over a minute in riding time. The Nittany Lion senior had the 12th-ranked Hokie on the ropes and cut Diaz loose at the 1:10 mark, falling behind 7-5 but working up a 1:38 riding time edge. Diaz was able to thwart Lynch's upset attempt with a late takedown and escaped with a hard-fought 9-6 win. The decision put Virginia Tech up briefly, 6-3.
149: Sophomore Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 5 at 149, met talented Hokie freshman Brian Stephens. Stephens came out energized and force Molinaro into an early defensive posture. The Nittany Lion All-American entered the second period tied 0-0 with Stephens and chose down to start. A quick escape gave Molinaro a 1-0 lead. Molinaro began upping the tempo on offense, taking quick shots that - while not leading to takedowns - forced Stephens into changing his style. Molinaro then used a fast high double leg to get his first takedown and lead 3-0 with :41 left in the period. He then put together a dominating ride, carrying the 3-0 lead with :41 in riding time into the final period. Stephens chose neutral to start the final two minutes but would not withstand another quick Molinaro shot. The Lion sophomore used a quick high single to up his lead to 5-0. He then controlled Stephens on top but got called for an illegal hold, giving Stephens his first point at the :22 mark. Molinaro rode Stephens out and got a bonus point for riding time to post a convincing 6-1 win, tying the dual at 6-6.
157: All-American Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah), ranked No. 2 at 157, faced off against No. 7 Jesse Dong in one of the tournament's top match-ups. Sanderson took an early 2-0 lead, finishing off a nice scramble on the edge of the mat with a takedown at the 1:58 mark. Dong quickly escaped to cut the lead to 2-1 and action resumed in the middle of the mat. Sanderson used a low ankle pick to gain control of Dong's right foot, but Dong was able to slide off the mat and keep the bout close. Sanderson quickly answered off the reset, however, using a high single to force another scramble. But Dong was able to force another stalemate with :34 left in a fast-paced opening period. Sanderson's continual pressure led to a second takedown with :14 left and the Lion senior rode Dong out to lead 4-1 with :18 after the first period. Sanderson chose down to start the second period, but Dong was able to control the action from the top position for the entire period. The two minute ride kept the scored at 4-1, but Dong had 1:42 in riding time. Dong chose down to begin the final period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 lead. He then stunned Sanderson with a quick takedown, tying the bout at 4-4. With Dong looking at picking up a riding time bonus point, Sanderson needed an escape to fight off the upset. Dong rode Sanderson long enough to secure the bonus point, essentially taking a one point lead. He then rode the Nittany Lion senior out and stunned the Hampton Coliseum crowd by posting a 5-4 upset win. The victory put Virginia Tech up 9-6.
165: Senior Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), ranked No. 8 at 165, met Virginia Tech's Matt Epperly. The first period featured little offense as each man looked for an opening to score but could find none. Epperly chose down to begin the second period and escaped to a 1-0 lead with 1:37 left in the period. Vallimont answered with a quick low single, forcing a tie up in front of the Hokie bench. But Epperly was able to counter the move and force a reset with :42 left in the period. Another Vallimont low single led to a first takedown and a 2-1 Lion lead with :just over ten seconds left in the period. Leading 2-1, Vallimont chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Epperly tied the bout with 1:07 left, using a solid high double to get his first takedown. Vallimont quickly escaped to lead 4-3 with under a minute left to wrestle. The escape would prove to be the bout's key point as the Nittany Lion All-American escaped with a 4-3 win, tying the dual at 9-9.
174: Freshman Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) improved to 6-7 on the year as he received a forfeit at 174. The six team points put Penn State up by a 15-9 score.
184: Senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio), ranked No. 14 at 184, took on Tommy Spellman at 184. Erwin got the bout's first takedown, finishing off a solid single leg at the 2:03 mark to lead 2-0. Spellman, who was unranked by Intermat but ranked in other national polls, was not able to escape a strong Erwin ride. Erwin led 2-0 with 2:02 in riding time and Spellman chose neutral to begin the second period. After a scoreless second period, Erwin maintained that slim lead heading into the final period. The Nittany Lion senior chose neutral to begin the final period. Erwin battled Spellman through the bulk of the period and, while not scoring, getting the riding time point to get away with a solid 3-0 win. The decision put Penn State up 18-9 with two bouts left.
197: Nittany Lion sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) met Hokie Chris Penny at 197. Early hand-fighting led to a scoreless first period as neither wrestler could gain an advantage and force an offensive opening. Tied 0-0, Steadman chose down to begin the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead just :08 into the period. Steadman then countered a Penny shot, working his way around the Hokie for a takedown and a 3-0 lead with 1:20 left in the period. Steadman was able to maintain control of Penny for the remainder of the period to lead 3-0 with 1:13 in riding time after two periods. Penny chose down to begin the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 deficit. Steadman fought off one solid Penny scoring chance and, with the riding time point, was able to post a hard-fought 4-1 win and clinch the dual meet victory (putting the Lions up 21-9).
HWT: Sophomore Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 18 at HWT, battled Virginia Tech heavyweight Tim Miller in the dual's final bout. Wade got a quick takedown to lead 2-0 just :15 into the bout. Wade tried to turn the Hokie for back points and picked up two near fall points with 1:04 left. Leading 4-0, Wade reset himself and looked for a chance to pin the Hokie to pin Miller. Two three point near fall tilts gave Wade a 10-0 lead after one period. Miller chose neutral to begin the second stanza but Wade quickly upped his lead to 12-0 with another takedown. Another three point near fall gave Wade a 15-0 technical fall win at the 3:55 mark to give Penn State a 26-9 dual meet win.