Dec. 19, 2010
Watch Interviews After the Ohio State Match
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson, battered visiting Ohio State 42-3 today in the Big Ten wrestling dual meet opener for both teams. No. 5 Penn State won all but one bout against No. 22 Ohio State in front of yet another huge Rec Hall crowd. Over 5,100 fans cheered Penn State on as the Nittany Lions moved to 7-0 on the year.
With a starting line-up featuring five freshmen, the Nittany Lions were nonetheless dominant. Red-shirt freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) remained undefeated with a 14-1 dismantling of Buckeye senior Colt Sponseller in the dual's marquee bout at 157. Taylor entered the bout ranked No. 3 while Sponseller was No. 13. Taylor's 14-1 major included 5:44 of riding time and the Lion freshman remains undefeated on the year with a 13-0 record.
The dual began with Nittany Lion true freshman Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 17 at 125, posting a convincing 9-1 major over Bo Touris to put Penn State up 4-0 early. Martellotti stayed perfect on the year with a 12-0 mark. Sophomore Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) then sent the raucous Lion crowd to their feet with a stunning 9-4 upset win over No. 10 Ian Paddock of Ohio State at 133. True freshman Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 141, kept the Penn State faithful happy with a lightning-fast pin in his Big Ten debut. Alton caught Buckeye Randy Languis right out of the gates and pinned him in just :31 seconds to give Penn State a 13-0 lead. Alton remains undefeated with a 13-0 record.
Two-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) continued his early season roll. The No. 6-ranked 149-pounder pinned OSU's Sean Nemec at the 5:56 mark to put Penn State up 19-0 heading into Taylor's match. Molinaro is now 8-1 on the year. Taylor's 14-1 major over Sponseller gave Penn State a stunning 23-0 lead heading into intermission.
Nick Fischer (Unionville, Pa.) continued to fill in for freshman Jake Kemerer (Pittsburgh, Pa.) at 165 and picked up a solid 5-1 win over Ohio State's Jared Kusar. The win was Fischer's second straight in dual meet action. Kemerer did weigh in at 165 but did not wrestle as he is still recovering from an illness. Still, the Lion freshman picked up a win at 174. Red-shirt freshman Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 11 at 174 did not get a shot at No. 13 Nick Heflin at 174 as Heflin did not pass skin check. Kemerer stepped in at 174 to pick up the forfeit victory, allowing Ruth to move up to 184, where he dominated OSU's Peter Capone 18-6. The quick forfeit and major gave Penn State a 36-0 lead. Ohio State picked up its only win, getting a decision at 197 as C.J. Magrum beat Penn State's Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) 8-2. But junior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at heavyweight, put an exclamation point on the dual with a pin of Buckeye Zach Stolarsky. The pin at the 2:06 mark was Penn State's third of the bout and gave the Nittany Lions the 42-3 victory.
Penn State won the takedown battle by a gaudy 20-4 margin and racked up 15 bonus points thanks to three pins, a forfeit and three majors. The victory improved Penn State to 7-0 and gives the Nittany Lions their first 7-0 start since beginning the 1988-89 season 8-0.
Penn State returns to action on Dec. 29-30 when it treks to Greensboro, N.C., for the Southern Scuffle. Penn State's next home dual is a nationally televised match-up with No. 21 Pittsburgh on Jan. 21. Action in the Big Ten Network live event begins at 6 p.m. in Rec Hall. Fans wishing to purchase single dual meet tickets for the 2010-11 Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling season can place their orders by calling 814-865-5555 or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office. The box office is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ticket pricing is $8 for adults and $5 for youth, and there will be a limit of eight tickets per order. Group sales are also available. The 2010-11 Penn State wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. All Penn State events will once again air live on Forever Broadcasting's WRSC (1390 AM) and WSQV (92.1 FM). All radio broadcasts are streamed live at GoPSUsports.com as part of the All-Access package. The 2010-11 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
#5 Penn State 42, #22 Ohio State 3
December 19, 2010 - University Park, Pa.
125: #17 Frank Martellotti PSU maj. dec. Bo Touris OSU, 9-1 4-0
133: Bryan Pearsall PSU dec. #10 Ian Paddock OSU, 9-4 7-0
141: #10 Andrew Alton PSU pinned Randy Languis OSU, WBF (0:31) 13-0
149: #6 Frank Molinaro PSU pinned Sean Nemec OSU, WBF (5:56) 19-0
157: #3 David Taylor PSU maj. dec. #13 Colt Sponseller OSU, 14-1 23-0
165: Nick Fischer PSU dec. Jared Kusar OSU, 5-1 26-0
174: Jake Kemerer PSU win by forfeit 32-0
184: #11 Ed Ruth PSU maj. dec. Peter Capone OSU, 18-6 36-0
197: C.J. Magrum OSU dec. Justin Ortega PSU, 8-2 36-3
285: #6 Cameron Wade PSU pinned Zach Stolarsky OSU, WBF (2:06) 42-3
Attendance: 5,102
Records: Penn State 7-0 (1-0 Big Ten), Ohio State 1-3 (0-1 Big Ten)
Up Next for Penn State: at Southern Scuffle, Greensboro, N.C., Dec. 29-30.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: True freshman Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 17 nationally at 125, made his Big Ten dual meet debut against Ohio State junior Bo Touris. Touris got in early on a single leg, but Martellotti steadily worked his way free to keep the bout scoreless at the 2:00 mark. Martellotti then worked his way in on a high single and steadily drove through Touris to notch the bout's first takedown at the :30 mark. Touris escaped quickly and Martellotti led 2-1 at the end of the first period. The Lion freshman chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. He then turned in on Touris and nearly picked up a second takedown. While Touris was able to fight off the first move, Martellotti adjusted on the Buckeyes waste and tripped him to the ground for a 5-1 lead at the 1:20 mark. Martellotti then put together a very strong ride. Gaining control of Touris' right arm, Martellotti pulled the Buckeye over for three near fall points and an 8-1 lead with :27 left. A ride out allowed Martellotti to lead 8-1 with 1:35 in riding time heading into the third period. Touris chose down to start the final stanza, but Martellotti controlled the action. Martellotti continued to dominate Touris and rode the Buckeye for the entire period. Over 3:00 in riding time gave the Lion a 9-1 major and put Penn State up 4-0.
133: Sophomore Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) faced off against No. 10 Ian Paddock in the 133-pound bout. Paddock wasted no time in breaking out to a 2-0 lead, taking Pearsall down just seconds into the bout. Paddock put together very strong ride, maintaining control of Pearsall for over 2:00 while looking for back points. But Pearsall stunned the ranked Buckeye with a near reversal at the :30 mark. While not finishing off the two-point move, Pearsall's escape cut the lead to 2-1. Paddock then got in on a low single and began working for a second takedown with :25 on the clock. But Pearsall was able to force a tie-up that killed the clock. Leading 2-1, Paddock chose down to start the second period. Pearsall took advantage, nearly turning Paddock for back points. Pearsall turned Paddock for two quick back points, but the talented Buckeye reversed Pearsall to retake the lead 4-3 with 1:10 on the clock. Pearsall nearly notched a defensive pin as Paddock tried to turn him, but Paddock was able to roll out of trouble. Still, Pearsall's escape at the :33 marks tied the bout at 4-4. Tied 4-4 but essentially giving up a riding time point (Paddock had 2:09), Pearsall chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped for a 5-4 lead. He then caught Paddock in a high throw, took him down and added to nearfall points to thrill the crowd by taking a 9-4 lead with 1:20 on the clock. Pearsall then put together a strong ride, Pearsall forced Paddock into a long injury time out. The feisty Lion sophomore maintained control of the 10th-ranked Buckeye long enough to erase the riding time point first and then to kill the clock. The stunning 9-4 upset win by Pearsall gave Penn State a 7-0 lead.
141: True freshman Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 141, made his conference dual debut against Buckeye freshman Randy Languis. Alton wasted no time in sending a packed Rec Hall into another frenzy in his Big Ten debut. The true freshman caught Languis in a quick shoulder lock, tripped him to the mat and summarily planted him for a pin in just :31. The lightning quick move gave Penn State a 13-0 lead after just three bouts.
149: Two-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 6 at 149, met Ohio State junior Sean Nemec. Molinaro wasted no time in taking an early lead, turning a low single into a takedown and a 2-0 lead at the 2:31 mark. Molinaro then put together a strong ride, building up 2:31 in riding time with a ride-out. Up by two, Molinaro chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Another high Molinaro single put the Lion All-American up 4-0. Molinaro cut Nemec Loose after building up 3:19 in time, then quickly shot low for his third takedown and a 7-1 lead. Nemec escaped at the :30 mark to cut the Molinaro lead to 7-2 after two periods (with Molinaro clinching the riding time point). Nemec chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped. But a standard Molinaro high double gave the Lion another takedown and a 9-3 lead. This time, Molinaro was able to turn Nemec to his back. The Lion All-American then worked his way to a pin at the 5:56 mark to put Penn State up 19-0.
157: In one of the premier match-ups of the dual, Nittany Lion freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) took on Ohio State senior Colt Sponseller at 157. Taylor entered the bout ranked No. 3 while Sponseller was ranked No. 13. Taylor got the bout's first takedown with a low double and trip at the 2:25 mark, taking a 2-0 lead early. Taylor then worked from the top, trying to turn Sponseller for back points. Taylor dominated the action from the top, building up nearly two minutes of riding time and nearly pinning the Buckeye senior at the :35 mark. Taylor did pick up two back points two up his lead to 4-0 while riding Sponseller out. Leading by four with 2:25 in riding time, Taylor chose down to start the second period but was quickly reversed. Leading 6-0, Taylor once again worked on top to turn Sponseller for back points. Taylor continued to ride Sponseller, not giving the Buckeye senior any room to breathe for the rest of the period. Another Taylor ride out gave the Lion freshman a 6-0 lead with a whopping 4-0 in riding time after two periods. Sponseller chose neutral to start the third, but Taylor was having none of it. A quick Taylor high double allowed the Lion to take Sponseller down again and pick up three near fall points to up his lead to 11-0 with 1:20 left in the bout. Sponseller escaped to score his first point, trailing 11-1. But Taylor took the Buckeye down quickly again to move out to a 13-1 lead with :25 left. Taylor rode Sponseller out and, with the riding time point, posted a convincing 14-1 major decision. The win gave Penn State a 23-0 lead heading into intermission.
165: Red-shirt freshman Jake Kemerer (Greensburg, Pa.) was still recovering from an illness that kept him out of the Lock Haven dual last Sunday and the Penn State coaching staff sent talented sophomore Nick Fischer (Unionville, Pa.) into action at 165. Fischer took on Ohio State's Jared Kusar. Fischer continued Penn State's dominance with an early takedown, using a low double to move out to a 2-0 lead with 2:10 on the clock. Fischer then rode Kusar for 1:35 before the Buckeye escaped. Leading by one, Fischer continued to set the pace, forcing Kusar to the edge of the mat for the rest of the period. Up by one, Fischer chose down to start the second period and deftly worked himself free for a reversal and a 4-1 lead. Fischer's second strong ride forced Kusar into a stall warning while the Nittany Lion built up 2:40 in riding time before Fischer was hit with a stall warning. Kusar could not break free of the strong Lion sophomore and Fischer maintained control for the rest of the period. Trailing 4-1 with Fischer owning 3:176 in riding time, Kusar chose neutral to start the third stanza. Fischer used another high single to work Kusar to the mat. The duo battled for over :40 before a stalemate was called with Fischer still up 4-1 at the 1:06 mark. Fischer picked up a riding time point and notched a convincing 5-1 win to put Penn State up 26-0.
174: One of the bout's most anticipated match-ups pitting Penn State freshman Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) against Ohio State freshman Nick Heflin at 174 did not happen. Ruth entered the dual ranked No. 11 while Heflin was ranked No. 13 but Heflin did not pass skin check and was not allowed to wrestle. With Ruth needing a match, Penn State sent 165-pounder Kemerer to receive the forfeit victory and put Penn State up 32-0.
184: With All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) out with an injury, 11th-ranked 174-pounder Ed Ruth moved up a weight to take on Ohio State freshman Peter Capone. Ruth fought off an early Capone shot to take the Buckeye down and move out to a 2-0 lead. Ruth then put together a dominating ride, controlling the bigger Buckeye for 1:14 before Capone escaped to a 2-1 deficit. Ruth used another low double to open up a 4-1 lead with :28 on the clock. Up by three with 1:44 in riding time, Ruth chose down to start the second period and quickly reversed Capone to up his lead to 6-1. Capone was not able to break free of Ruth's control as the Lion freshman forced Capone into a first stall warning and ride the Buckeye out. Trailing 5-1 with 3:22 in riding time to Ruth's favor, Capone chose down to start the third period, escaped, and was quickly taken down again. Another Capone escape gave Ruth an 8-3 lead and the Lion added another takedown to up his lead to 10-3 with 1:18 on the clock. Ruth allowed Capone out and immediately began looking for another takedown for bonus points. Ruth picked up the takedown at the :45 mark, cut Capone loose, and led 12-5 with :40 left. Capone gave up a stall point, two more takedowns and a riding time point as Ruth posted a convincing 18-6 major moving up a weight. The major put Penn State up 36-0.
197: Sophomore Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) faced off against Buckeye sophomore C.J. Magrum at 197. Magrum took a 2-0 lead at the :22 mark with a takedown in front of the Buckeye bench. A short ride out gave the Buckeye a 2-0 lead heading into the second period. Magrum chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. The Buckeye then caught Ortega at the :55 mark and notched a second takedown to up his lead to 5-0. Ortega escaped at the :30 mark for his first point, but Magrum was able to add a third takedown to carry a 7-1 lead into the third period. Trailing 7-1, Ortega chose down to start the third period but Magrum was able to keep control for nearly a minute. The Buckeye cut Ortega loose to a 7-2 lead and began looking for another takedown to secure a major. Ortega was able to fight off Magrum's late attempts but the Buckeye broke the shutout with an 8-2 win.
285: Junior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at heavyweight, closed out the dual by taking on Ohio State's Zach Stolarksy. Wade scored quickly, tripping Stolarsky to the mat for a 2-0 lead that he immediately added three back points to. Wade then reset with 2:00 on the clock and turned Stolarsky for a two point near fall. The Lion junior reset and added three more back points to lead 10-0 and then worked his way to a pin at the 2:06 mark to put an exclamation point on the dominating performance. The fall gave Penn State a 42-3 win.