March 19, 2010
OMAHA, Neb.; March 19, 2010 - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson, had another strong session at the 2010 NCAA Wresting Championships. Sophomore Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) and senior Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) each became two-time All-Americans with quarterfinal wins. With only six wrestlers, the Nittany Lions find themselves in eighth place with 33.0 points.
Molinaro, a 2009 All-American at 141 last year, became a two-time All-American with a dominating 8-0 major over Edinboro's Torsten Gillespie in the quarterfinals at 149. Molinaro, the No. 4 seed, will meet top-seeded Lance Palmer of Ohio State in the semifinals tonight. Vallimont, a 2008 All-American at 157 as a third place finisher, became a two-time All-American as well with a 5-2 win over Stanford's Nick Amuchastegui in a 165-pound quarterfinal. Vallimont will take on 2008 National Champion and No. 2 seed Jarrod King of Edinboro in the semifinals tonight.
Junior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) suffered a 15-0 technical fall to 2008 national champion Angel Escobedo in a 125-pound quarterfinal. Pataky now shifts to the Round of 12 in consolation action this evening, still needing one more win to earn All-America laurels. Pataky will face defending national champion Troy Nickerson, the No. 2 seed, of Cornell. Senior Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah), the No. 4 seed at 157, suffered a 9-4 upset loss to No. 5 Steve Fittery of American. Sanderson, like Pataky, moves to the Round of 12 tonight, still needing another victory to become a two-time All-American. Sanderson will battle Michigan State's Anthony Jones in tonight's Round of 12.
In consolation action, senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) began his consolation rounds by posting an 8-3 win over Iowa State's Jerome Ward in the third round of wrestle-backs at 184. Erwin, the No. 11 seed, then lost a 6-2 decision to No. 10 Mike Pucillo of Ohio State. The loss ends Erwin's season, with a 2-2 performance in Omaha giving him a 31-10 record for the year. Sophomore Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) then hammered No. 8 seed Ryan Tomei of Pittsburgh, posting an 8-3 win to move into the consolation's fourth round. Wade then lost a 7-0 decision to No. 11 Mitchell Montiero of CS-Bakersfield to end his season. Wade's 2-2 performance at nationals gives him a 22-11 mark to close out the campaign.
Iowa leads the team race with 73.0 points. Penn State is in eighth place with 33.0 points and has four wrestlers continuing on this evening.. Every one of Penn State's six wrestlers has one at least two bouts in this year's tournament and Penn State's 33.0 team points already surpasses the Nittany Lions' total from last year (31.0) with three rounds yet to go.
The tournament continues this evening at 6 p.m. Central/7 p.m. Eastern with the semifinals and two more rounds of consolation wrestling. Penn State's action in the tourney will be aired live on Forever Broadcasting's WRSC?(1390 AM) and on www.GoPSUsports.com as well. The 2009-10 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
BOUT-BY-BOUT RECAP AND AGATE:
TEAM STANDINGS (TOP 10):
1: Iowa - 73.0
2: Cornell - 54.0
3: Iowa State - 46.0
Ohio State - 46.0
5: Oklahoma - 44.0
6: Oklahoma State - 43.0
7: Minnesota - 35.0
8: PENN STATE - 33.0
Wisconsin - 33.0
10: Missouri - 30.0
The following is a weight-by-weight breakdown of Penn State's action in session three:
125: Brad Pataky, Jr. (Clearfield, Pa.), 28-9 overall
Rd. 1: W, 6-4 dec. #9 Jarrod Patterson, Oklahoma
Rd. 2: W, 3-2 dec. #8 Matt Steintrager, Central Michigan
Qtrs: L, 0-15 tech. fall #1 Angel Escobedo, Indiana (TF; 6:27)
Round of 12: Tonight vs. #2 Troy Nickerson, Cornell
Junior Brad Pataky took his shot at clinching an All-America tag against the tournament's top seed and 2008 National Champion Angel Escobedo of Indiana in the quarterfinals. Pataky downed Escobedo in a dual meet two years ago but Escobedo majored the Nittany Lion in this year's Big Ten tournament. Pataky got in on an early shot, but Escobedo stepped out of trouble to keep the match scoreless at the 1:45 mark. The Nittany Lion junior took a second shot with 1:00 left, but once again Escobedo worked his way out of trouble. Escobedo then gained control of Pataky's shoulders, tossed the Lion to the mat and got the bout's firs takedown. Escobedo then turned Pataky for two near fall points, reset himself, and added a three-point turn to close out the period with a 7-0 lead. Escobedo chose down to start the second period. Pataky was able to control the three-time All-American for 1:45, but Escobedo was able to work out from behind the Nittany Lion and notch a reversal with :10 left to lead 9-0 after two periods. Pataky chose neutral to start the third period but was able to take Pataky down again and pick up two near fall points to lead 13-0 at the 1:20 mark. Escobedo finished off the tech fall with another two point turn at the :33 mark, getting the 15-0 win at the 6:27 mark. Pataky's loss sends him into tonight's Round of 12, still needing one win to become an All-American.
149: Frank Molinaro, So. (Barnegat, N.J.), #5 seed, 32-5 overall
ALL-AMERICAN
Rd. 1: W, 9-4 dec. Donald Vinson, Binghamton
Rd. 2: W, 8-0 maj. dec. Eric Albright, Pittsburgh
Qtrs: W, 8-0 maj. dec. Torsten Gillespie, Edinboro
Semis: vs. #1 Lance Palmer, Ohio State, tonight
No. 5 seed Frank Molinaro, a 2009 All-American at 141 last year, took the mat against Edinboro's Torsten Gillespie in the quarters at 149, needing a win to become a two-time All-American. Molinaro looked to set the tempo early, getting in on Gillespie's legs and finishing off a takedown at the 2:17 mark to take an early 2-0 lead. He then put together a strong ride, keeping his advantage while looking to turn Gillespie for back points. Gillespie got hit with a first stall warning while the Nittany Lion worked for a turning combination. Molinaro dominated the Scot grappler for the rest of the period and led 2-0 with 2:16 in riding time after one period. Molinaro chose down to start the second period but could not break free of Gillespie's control until the :56 mark. The escape gave the Lion a 3-0 lead while maintaining a 1:11 riding time edge. The Nittany Lion then used a high double to add a second takedown to his total with just :04 left to lead 5-0 with 1:22 in riding time at the end of the second period. Gillespie chose neutral to start the third period, but Molinaro continued to apply the offensive pressure. Needing one more takedown and a ride-out to pick up a major, Molinaro used a superb high single at the :12 mark to move out to a 7-0 lead. A short ride out with the bonus point gave the Lion an 8-0 major and made him a two-time All-American.
157: Cyler Sanderson, Sr. (Heber City, Utah), #4 seed, 30-5 overall
Rd. 1: W, 16-12 dec. Bryan Deutsch, Northern Illinois
Rd. 2: W, 4-2 dec. Dan Gonsor, Virginia
Qtrs: L, 4-9 dec. #5 Steve Fittery, American
Rd. of 12: Tonight vs. Anthony Jones, Michigan State
No. 4 seed Cyler Sanderson met No. 5 seed Steve Fittery of American, looking to become a two-time All-American at 157 with a win. Sanderson countered two early Fittery shots, worked in low on the American grappler's ankle and looked to take an early lead. But Fittery forced a stalemate and action resumed in the center circle. The Penn State senior continued to shoot low on Fittery, but each time Fittery's defensive style kept Sanderson from scoring. Sanderson used a quick head swipe to force Fitter down to the mat for a quick takedown and a 2-1 lead at the :40 mark (after a Fittery escape). Fittery took a 3-2 lead with a trip at the :03 mark, getting the late takedown. Sanderson chose down to start the second period but was turned to his back for two near fall points to take a 5-2 lead with 1:20 on the clock. Sanderson escaped at the :35 mark with Fittery leading 5-3 and holding 1:19 in riding time. Sanderson then forced a late scramble, trying to pick up a tying takedown, but Fittery was able to scramble out of trouble to carry that lead with 1:19 in riding time into the final period. Fittery chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 6-3 lead. Sanderson tried to finish off a couple high singles, but Fitter was able to work his way behind the Lion senior and move out to an 8-3 lead with another takedown. Fittery, a two-time Division II national champion during his days at Shippensburg before transferring to American, then maintained control of Sanderson until a late escape. The bonus point gave Fittery a 9-4 win and moves Sanderson into tonight's Round of 12.
165: Dan Vallimont, Sr. (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), #6 seed, 29-7 overall
Rd. 1: W, 8-3 dec. Matt Epperly, Virginia Tech
Rd. 2: W, 9-0 maj. dec. #11 Rick Schmelyun, Bloomsburg
Qtrs: W, 5-2 dec. Nick Amuchastegui, Stanford
Semis: vs. #2 Jarrod King, Edinboro, tonight
Senior Dan Vallimont, a 2008 third place All-American at 157, looked to clinch All-America laurels at 165 in a quarterfinal match-up with Stanford's Nick Amuchastegui. Vallimont gained control of Amuchastegui's ankle and tripped the Cardinal grappler to the mat for a 2-0 lead at the 2:09 mark. A Stanford escape cut Vallimont's lead to 2-1 and action resumed in the center circle. Vallimont used another under hook to set up a second takedown, pulling Amuchastegui back onto the mat as he tried to flee the mat. Vallimont's hard work paid off with a takedown at the :11 mark. A short ride out allowed Vallimont to carry a 4-1 lead with :38 in riding time into the second period. Amuchastegui chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 deficit. The Cardinal got in deep on Vallimont's leg and worked to scramble for a takedown. But Vallimont was able to work his way out of trouble and hold onto his lead. The Lion senior had to fight off another solid low shot by Amuchastegui as the period ended but did pick up a stall warning in the process. Vallimont chose down to start the third period. Amuchastegui was able to control the Nittany Lion until a Vallimont escape with 1:25 on the clock. Vallimont then worked his way into control of Amuchastegui's ankle again but this time the Stanford grappler was able to get out of bounds to keep the score at 5-2 in Vallimont's favor. Amuchastegui worked his way into control of Vallimont's left leg, but Vallimont was able to fight off the move and force a stalemate with only :07 left. Vallimont then killed the clock and posted the 5-2 win, becoming a two-time All-American.
184: David Erwin, Sr. (Urbana, Ohio), #11 seed, 31-10 overall -- Season Complete
Rd. 1: W, 4-0 dec. Erich Schmidtke, Oklahoma
Rd. 2: LBF #6 Max Askren, Missouri (3:51)
Cn Rd. 3: W, 8-3 dec. Jerome Ward, Iowa State
Cn Rd. 4: L, 2-6 dec. #10 Mike Pucillo, Ohio State
Senior David Erwin met Iowa State's Jerome Ward in the consolation third round, looking to stay alive at 184. Erwin fought off an early Ward shot, forcing a reset :30 into the bout and another at the midway point, keeping the bout scoreless. Ward's two shots were the only scoring chances in the period and the bout moved to the second period tied 0-0. Ward chose down to start the second period, but Erwin was able to break the Cyclone down, work into a cradle and pick up three back points before Ward escaped to a 3-1 Erwin lead with 1:20 on the clock. Leading 3-1 with :36 in riding time, Erwin chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to a 4-1 lead. Ward forced a scramble by getting control of Erwin's legs, nearly getting a takedown, but Erwin rolled through and worked his way to his first takedown to lead 6-1 at the 1:10 mark. Ward reversed Erwin after a reset and then the senior escaped to a 7-3 lead at the :20 mark. A riding time point gave Erwin an 8-3 win and moved him into the fourth round of consolations.
Erwin took on No. 10 seed Mike Pucillo of Ohio State in the fourth round of consolations. Erwin got in deep on Pucillo, nearly taking him down in front of the Penn State bench early in the bout. But action was ruled out of bounds and action resumed in the center circle. Pucillo had an opening at the :40 mark, but Erwin was able to get out of the Buckeye's upper body hold and the bout went to the second period tied 0-0. Pucillo chose down to start the second period and worked his way to an escape and a 1-0 lead. Pucillo caught Erwin's shoulders, took him down for a five-point move off the takedown and three near fall points at the 1:00 mark. Erwin escaped to a 6-1 deficit and began looking for a chance to score. Pucillo was able to play defense for the final seconds and led 6-1 after two periods. Erwin chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to a 6-2 deficit. The Nittany Lion continued to shoot, but Pucillo was able to step back away from every Erwin shot and work time of the clock. Pucillo was called for a first stall warning with :05 left, but the Buckeye was able to post a hard-fought 6-2 win, eliminating Erwin from competition.
HWT: Cameron Wade, So. (Twinsburg, Ohio) 22-11 overall - Season Complete
Rd. 1: L, 1-3 (SV) #3 Zach Rey, Lehigh
ns. Rd. 2: W, 1-0 dec. David Wade, Eastern Michigan
Cns. Rd. 3: W, 8-3 dec. #8 Ryan Tomei, Pittsburgh
Cns. Rd. 4: L, 0-7 dec. #11 Mitchell Montiero, CS-Bakersfield
Sophomore heavyweight Cameron Wade met No. 8 seed Ryan Tomei of Pittsburgh in the third round of consolations, looking to keep his tournament hopes alive. Wade, who lost a heart-breaking sudden victory decision to the tournament's three seed in the first round and responded with a consolation win the night before, gained control of Tomei's leg and scrambled for a takedown. But the Panther was able to counter the move on the edge of the mat and take a 2-0 lead at the 1:48 mark with a takedown of his own. Wade, however, was able to reverse Tomei just :30 later and the Lion sophomore began looking for a chance to turn the Panther for back points. Wade turned Tomei for a three point near fall and then reset himself, and picked up three more back points to lead 8-2 with 0:46 in riding time after one period. Tomei chose neutral to start the second stanza. Wade was equal to every Tomei effort in the second and neither man managed a takedown. Leading 8-2 with :46 in riding time, Wade chose down to start the third period. Tomei looked for an opening to turn Wade, but the Lion sophomore was able to work off half the period before a stalemate was called, forcing a reset at the 1:06 mark. Tomei maintained control, but could not turn Wade and the Nittany Lion posted a convincing 8-3 win to move into the next round of consolation action.
Wade took on his third seeded wrestler of the tournament in the fourth round of consolations, meeting No. 11 seed Mitchell Montiero of CS-Bakersfield. Neither wrestler found an opening to score over the course of the opening period and the bout moved to the middle stanza tied 0-0. Wade chose top to begin the second period, looking for a chance to turn the Bakersfield wrestler. But Montiero worked Wade high up onto his shoulders and shrugged him off for a reversal and a 2-0 lead at the 1:24 mark. He then put together a strong ride, maintaining control of Wade for the rest of the period to lead 2-0 with 1:04 in riding time heading into the third. Montiero chose down to begin the third period, forced Wade into a locked hands call and escaped to a 4-0 lead. The Bakersfield grappler got in deep on Wade's right leg and worked his way into another takedown and a 6-0 lead with 1:20 on the clock. A ride-out by Montiero clinched the bonus point and gave him a 7-0 win, ending Wade's season.