March 6, 2010
ANN ARBOR, Mich.; March 6, 2010 - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team finds itself in second place after the first session of the 2010 Big Ten Wrestling Championships. Penn State will have seven wrestlers in tonight's semifinals with the other three continuing wrestling in consolation action.
Iowa leads the team race with 93.0 points while Penn State is in second with 59.0. Minnesota sits in third with 56.5 while Wisconsin is in fourth with 47.5. Ohio State is also close by with 46.0. Michigan State (28.0), Illinois (22.0), Indiana (20.0), Purdue (18.0), Michigan (16.0) and Northwestern (4.0) round out the field.
Junior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) was the first Nittany Lion to punch his ticket to nationals, getting a 7-4 win over Purdue's Cashe Quiroga at 125 to move into tonight's semifinals. The Big Ten sends six 125-pounders to nationals and Pataky can now finish no lower than sixth place. Senior Adam Lynch (Mifflinburg, Pa.) picked up a major decision in his first round bout and then a bye into tonight's semifinals. With only four 141-pounders getting automatic slots, Lynch has not qualified for NCAAs yet.
Penn State's three returning All-American each won their quarterfinal bouts as well. Sophomore Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) got a 9-6 win over Michigan State's David Cheza to set up a semifinal bout with top-seeded Brent Metcalf of Iowa tonight. Molinaro's win also sends him to Omaha as eight 149-pounders from the Big Ten will get bids. Senior Cyler Sanderson (Heber City, Utah) posted a 9-7 win over Illinois' Clinton Arlis to move into the semis tonight. Sanderson still needs one more win to clinch an automatic bid. Senior Dan Vallimont (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) was impressive with an 8-2 victory over Indiana's Paul Young. Vallimont will meet top-seed Andrew Howe of Wisconsin in the semis. Vallimont, like Sanderson, has not qualified for NCAAs yet as five 165-pounders get automatic bids.
Senior David Erwin (Urbana, Ohio) went 2-0 in the first round, getting a first round win over Northwestern's Aaron Jones before posting a 10-4 win over Michigan's Hunter Collins. Erwin will face third-seeded Phil Keddy of Iowa in the semifinals tonight. With only five 184-pounders getting automatic slots, Erwin's ticket to Omaha is not punched yet. Sophomore Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) got a 1-0 win over Ohio State's Corey Morrison to move into the semifinals tonight. Wade still has work to do to qualify for nationals as the conference gets only five automatic bids at heavyweight.
Freshman Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) went 0-1 at 133, classmate Justin Ortega went 0-1 at 174 and sophomore Clay Steadman (McKean, Pa.) went 0-1 at 197. All three are still alive but need to pick up some wins in consolation action tonight.
The 2010 Big Ten Wrestling Championships continue this evening with a 6 p.m. session that includes the semifinals. The tournament will conclude Sunday afternoon in Michigan's Crisler Arena. The event serves as the national qualifier for all 11 Big Ten programs as individuals try to advance to the 2010 NCAA Championships on March 18-20 in Omaha, Neb. The Big Ten Championship 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.
The following is a weight-by-weight breakdown of Penn State's tournament to date:
125: #12 Brad Pataky, Jr. (Clearfield, Pa.), #4 seed, 25-6 overall - NCAA QUALIFIER
Qtrs: W, 7-4 dec. 5th-seed Cashe Quiroga PU
Semis: Tonight vs. 1st seed Angel Escobedo IN
Junior Brad Pataky received an opening round by and then faced #5 seed Cashe Quiroga of Purdue. Pataky wasted no time in getting a takedown, using a high single to lead 2-0 right out of the gates. The Nittany Lion picked up three back points midway through the period to lead 5-1 before Quiroga escaped with 1:00 left. Leading by four with 1:44 in riding time to his advantage, Pataky chose down to start the second period. A quick escape put the Nittany Lion up 6-1. Pataky gained control of Quiroga's right leg late in the period, but the clock expired before he could get the points and carried the 6-1 lead into the final period. Quiroga chose down to start the final period and escaped to a 6-2 deficit with 1:25 on the clock. Pataky clinched a riding time point and then worked in on Quiroga's left ankle. However, Quiroga was once again able to force a stalemate with :44 left. Pataky gave up a late takedown but the early first period move was enough as the Lion escaped with a 7-4 win. Pataky's win clinched a trip to NCAAs and moves him into tonight's semifinals.
133: Bryan Pearsall, Fr. (Lititz, Pa.), 3-22 overall
1st Rd: L, 2-4 dec. 5th-seed Eric Metzler NU
Cns. Rd. 1: Tonight
Freshman Bryan Pearsall took on #5 seed Eric Metzler of Northwestern. The duo battled evenly for the first minute-plus but Pearsall picked up an early stall warning. Metzler then picked up the first takedown with just over a minute to go in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Pearsall fought his way to an escape with :13 left to cut the lead to 2-1 after the opening period. Pearsall chose neutral to begin the second period. Metzler got in deep on Pearsall's right leg and turned it into a 4-1 lead with a second takedown early in the period. A Pearsall escape cut Metzler's lead to 4-2 heading into the final period, with Metzler holding a 2:07 riding time edge. Metzler chose down to begin the third but could not break free of a strong Pearsall ride as the Nittany Lion freshman tried to win the bout by turning the Wildcat to his back. Pearsall was not able to turn Metzler but he did ride him out. Metzler escaped with a hard-fought 4-2 win. The loss moved Pearsall into tonight's consolation round.
141: Adam Lynch, Sr. (Mifflinburg, Pa.), #4 seed, 13-10 overall
1st Rd: W, 17-3 maj. dec. Geno Capezio IN9
Qtrs: W, forf. #5 Ryan Prater IL
Semis: Tonight vs. #1 Reece Humphrey OSU
Senior Adam Lynch took on unseeded Geno Capezio of Indiana in the first round. Lynch gained control of Capezio's right leg and turned it into a fall and two back points to take a 4-0 lead midway through the opening period. Another three point turn at the :33 mark gave the senior a 7-0 lead that he carried into the second stanza. Capezio chose down to start the second period, but Lynch was able to slide behind the Hoosier at the 1:00 mark to get another takedown and take a 9-0 lead before Capezio was able to escape for his first point. Leading 9-1, Lynch chose down to start the third period and escaped to a 10-1 lead (while holding a 2:03 riding time edge). Another Lynch takedown gave the Nittany Lion a 12-1 lead with 1:30 left in the bout. Capezio escaped to a 12-2 defict, but Lynch was able to take him down one more time for a 14-3 lead (after cutting him loose with :15 on the clock). Lynch was able to add one more takedown and post the convincing 17-3 major decision. With the win, and a bye in the quarterfinals, Lynch is set for the semifinals tonight.
149: #4 Frank Molinaro, So. (Barnegat, N.J.), #4 seed, 28-3 overall - NCAA Qualifier
Qtrs: W, 9-6 vs. 5th-seed David Cheza MSU
Semis: Tonight vs. 1st seed Brent Metcalf, IA
Sophomore Frank Molinaro received a first round bye and took on #5 seed David Cheza of Michigan State in the quarterfinals. Molinaro took a 2-0 lead with a takedown at the 2:07 mark before a quick Cheza escape cut the lead in half. Cheza used a high double leg to take a 3-2 lead with 1:30 left in the opening period. A Molinaro escape at the 1:09 mark tied the score and action returned to the center circle. Molinaro used a driving high double to lead 5-3 right off a reset and then maintained control of Cheza for the final :50 for a ride-out to lead by two, with :44 of riding time, after the opening period. Molinaro chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 6-3 lead. Cheza countered a late Molinaro shot to cut the lead to 6-5 heading into the final period. Cheza chose neutral to begin the third period, but Molinaro used another driving high double off the starting whistle to move out to an 8-5 lead. He then controlled Cheza long enough to build up a minute-plus in riding time. A late Cheza escape was not enough for the Spartan and Molinaro posted a 9-6 win. The win moves Molinaro into tonight's semifinals and, with 149 getting eight qualifiers, has secured a spot at nationals.
157: #6 Cyler Sanderson, Sr. (Heber City, Utah), #2 seed, 26-4 overall
Qtrs: W, 9-7 dec. 7th-seed Clinton Arlis IL
Semis: Tonight vs. Anthony Jones MSU
After receiving a first round bye, senior Cyler Sanderson met #7 Clinton Arlis in the quarterfinals. Sanderson got out to an early 2-1 lead with a takedown in the first minute. He then added a second at the :28 mark to lead 4-1. A ride-out gave the Lion senior a 4-1 lead after one period. Sanderson chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 5-1 lead. After a brief blood time out, Sanderson used another low single to score, but Arlis reversed the Nittany Lion before the period ended. Trailing 7-3, Arlis chose neutral to start the third period and quickly took Sanderson down to cut the lead to 7-5. A quick Sanderson escape gave the Lion an 8-5 lead with 1:40 on the clock, but Arlis countered with a quick side step trip to cut Sanderson's lead to 8-7 with :57 on the clock. Arlis cut Sanderson loose to a 9-7 PSU lead and then turned into the Lion again, looking for a tying takedown. But Sanderson was able to fight off Arlis' late flurry to notch a hard-fought 9-7 win and move into tonight's semifinals.
165: #7 Dan Vallimont, Sr. (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.), #4 seed, 24-6 overall
Qtrs: W, 8-2 dec. 5th-seed Paul Young IN
Semis: Tonight vs. 1st-seed Andrew Howe WI
Senior Dan Vallimont got a first round bye and met #5 seed Paul Young of Indiana in the quarterfinals. Vallimont worked his way into Young's right leg early and turned it into a takedown and a 2-0 lead with 2:44 on the clock. Young worked his way to an escape, but not before Vallimont built up a 1:10 riding time advantage. Trailing 2-1, Young chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Each man worked for position during the bulk of the third period, but Vallimont was able to trip Young to the mat at the end of the second period for a second takedown and a 4-2 lead with three minutes to wrestle. Vallimont chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 5-2 lead. The Nittany Lion senior added another takedown with :40 left and, with a ride-out and bonus point, posted a convincing 8-2 win. The win moves Vallimont into tonight's semifinals.
174: Justin Ortega, Fr. (Oxford, Pa.), 6-19 overall
1st Rd: L, 1-6 dec. 7th-seed Ian Hinton MSU
Consos: Tonight
Freshman Justin Ortega took on #7 seed Ian Hinton of Michigan State in the first round. Ortega fought off a number of early shots by Hinton to keep the bout scoreless early on. The young Nittany Lion picked up a first stall warning, however, at the :55 mark. Hinton got on the board with a high double leg with :18 to go and carried that lead into the second period. Ortega chose down to start the second period but could not work himself free of a strong Hinton ride. Ortega was able to escape before the period ended and trailed 2-1 heading into the third period. Hinton chose down to start the third and escaped to a 3-1 lead. He then added another takedown to lead 5-1. A Hinton ride out secured the bonus point and allowed the Spartan to grab the 6-1 win.
184: #9 David Erwin, Sr. (Urbana, Ohio), #2 seed, 28-6 overall
1st Rd: W, 9-7 dec. Aaron Jones NU
Qtrs: W, 10-4 dec. 7th-seed Hunter Collins UM
Semis: Tonight vs. 3rd-seed Phil Keddy IA
Senior David Erwin met Northwestern's Aaron Jones in the opening round. Erwin gained control of Jones' shoulders, then turned it into a double and a takedown early on in the match. Erwin added three back points to lead 5-1. Another Erwin takedown gave the Lion a 7-2 lead after a Jones escape. Leading by five, Erwin chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way to an 8-2 lead with an escape at the 1:01 mark. Jones got his first takedown to cut the lead to 8-4 with :20 left and then rode Erwin out. Trailing by four, Jones chose down to start the final stanza and escaped to an 8-5 deficit with 1:20 on the clock. Jones then turned a low single into a scramble and a takedown to cut Erwin's lead to 8-7 with :48 left. Jones cut Erwin loose to a 9-7 score with :48 left and the Nittany Lion senior looked to hold off the Wildcat's late rally. Jones worked frantically to get a takedown to tie the bout, but Erwin nearly turned it into a pin with :20 left. Erwin was able to wind out the clock and post a 9-7 win to move into the quarterfinals.
In the quarters, Erwin took on #7 Hunter Collins of Michigan. Erwin countered an early Collins shot to take an early lead, adding a three-point near fall in the process. The Lion senior then reset himself with a 5-0 lead and began looking for a second opportunity to turn the Wolverine to his back. Erwin did not get a second near fall but the ride out gave him a 5-0 lead with 2:29 in riding time heading into the second period. Erwin chose down to start the middle period and quickly escaped to a 6-0 lead. Erwin scrambled for an additional takedown as the second period ended, but Collins was able to force a stalemate and kill the clock. Trailing by six, Collins chose down to start the final period and worked his way to a reversal at the 1:38 mark, cutting Erwin's lead to 6-2. Erwin returned the favor, with a reversal of his own, only to be reversed again by Collins with :32 left, giving Erwin an 8-4 lead and a guaranteed riding time point. Erwin added an escape and a riding time point to post the 10-4 win and move into tonight's semifinals.
197: Clay Steadman, So. (McKean, Pa.), 8-11 overall
1st Rd: l, 1-7 dec. 6th-seed Matt Powless IN
Cns Rd 1: Tonight
Sophomore Clay Steadman met Indiana's Matt Powless, the #6 seed, in the opening round. Powless got the bout's first takedown at the 1:00 mark to take an early 2-0 lead. A quick Steadman escape made the score 2-1 after one period. Leading by one, Powless chose down to start the second period and worked his way to a reversal and a 4-1 lead with 1:33 on the clock. Steadman worked to escape, forcing Powless into one stall warning, but not managing to pick up the point before the period ended. Trailing 4-1, Steadman chose down to begin the final period. He was not able to escape and was turned to his back for two back points, falling behind 6-1 with 1:02 left in the bout. A ride out and bonus point gave Powless a 7-1 win, sending Steadman to tonight's consolations.
HWT: #17 Cameron Wade, So. (Twinsburg, Ohio), #3 seed, 19-7 overall
Qtrs: W, 1-0 dec. 6th-seed Corey Morrison OSU
Semis: Tonight vs. 2nd-seed Dan Erekson IA
Sophomore Cameron Wade received a first round bye and took on Ohio State's Corey Morrison in the quarterfinals. Neither wrestler mounted a serious scoring threat in the opening period, sending the match to the second period tied 0-0. Morrison chose neutral to start the second period. Like the first three minutes, neither wrestler was able to notch a takedown and action moved into the final period scoreless. Wade chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Wade was able to hold off Morrison's scoring attempts and post a 1-0 win to move into tonight's semifinals. The Big Ten only gets five automatics at heavyweight, so Wade still has work to do to qualify for nationals.