Jan. 23, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The second-ranked Penn State wrestling team dominated Indiana in a Big Ten road dual, winning eight of ten bouts and cruising to a 36-8 win in Bloomington. The win keeps Penn State undefeated at 13-0, the best start in the school's 100-plus year history. Head coach Cael Sanderson's crew picked up three pins and three majors in the lopsided win.
Indiana took an early lead as Justin Brooks notched a 5-1 decision over Eric Caschera (South Williamsport, Pa.) at 125. Caschera filled in for No. 11 Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.). But All-American Andrew Long (Creston, Iowa), ranked No. 5 at 133, answered with a dominating 20-6 major over Matt Ortega. True freshman Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), also ranked No. 5, pinned Geno Capezio at the 2:45 mark for his 16th pin of the year. The fall tied Alton for fourth on PSU's all-time single-season pins list. Two-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 5 at 149, then dominated No. 15 Kurt Kinser 10-3 to put Penn State up 13-3. Undefeated freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 3 at 157, dominated No. 5 Paul Young to the tune of a 14-3 major with 2:44 in riding time. The win put Penn State up 17-3 halfway through the dual. Taylor improved to 25-0 on the year with 24 of those wins being by a major or better. The 24 bonus wins tied Taylor for eight on Penn State's all-time single season list.
Red-shirt freshman Jake Kemerer (Greensburg, Pa.) dominated IU's Ryan Konz for a 14-3 major before classmate Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, pinned Hoosier Nick Avery at the 4:49 mark. All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 6 at 184, followed that pin up with one of his own, pinning senior Eric Cameron at the 3:30 mark to put Penn State up 33-3. Indiana its second win when No. 6 Matt Powless picked up a 19-4 technical fall over Lion freshman Nick Ruggear (Oxford, Pa.) at 197, cutting Penn State's lead to 33-8. Junior heavyweight Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6, dominated No. 14 Ricky Alcala 6-0 with 2:16 in riding time in the final bout to give the Nittany Lions the 36-8 victory
With the win, the Nittany Lions remain undefeated at 13-0 (2-0 Big Ten). The 13-0 record is now the best start in Penn State's long wrestling history (no losses or ties). Indiana falls to 10-4 (0-3 Big Ten). Penn State dominated the takedown battle, holding a 27-8 edge. IU only picked up takedowns in the two bouts it won, meaning all eight of Penn State's winning wrestlers did not allow a takedown. Penn State also notched a decisive 12-2 edge in bonus points, picking up three pins and three majors.
Penn State returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 30, when No. 8 Iowa visits Rec Hall. The dual is already a sellout. Tickets are also selling fast for the Lions' final two home duals (Feb. 11 vs. Illinois, Feb. 18 vs. Wisconsin) but are still available. Fans wishing to purchase single dual meet tickets 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.
#2 Penn State 36, Indiana 8
January 23, 2011 - Bloomington, Ind.
125: Justin Brooks IU dec. Eric Caschera PSU, 5-1 0-3
133: #5 Andrew Long PSU maj. dec. Matt Ortega IU, 20-6 4-3
141: #5 Andrew Alton PSU pinned Geno Capezio IU, WBF (2:45) 10-3
149: #5 Frank Molinaro PSU dec. #15 Kurt Kinser IU, 10-3 13-3
157: #3 David Taylor PSU maj. dec. #5 Paul Young IU, 14-3 17-3
165: Jake Kemerer PSU maj. dec. Ryan Konz IU, 14-3 21-3
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU pinned Nick Avery IU, WBF (4:49) 27-3
184: #6 Quentin Wright PSU pinned Eric Cameron IU, WBF (3:30) 33-3
197: #6 Matt Powless IU tech fall Nick Ruggear PSU, 19-4 (TF; 5:13) 33-8
285: #6 Cameron Wade PSU dec. #14 Ricky Alcala, 6-0 36-8
Attendance: 636
Records: Penn State 13-0 (2-0 Big Ten), Indiana (10-4, 0-3 Big Ten)
Up Next for Penn State: home vs. No. 8 Iowa, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Nittany Lion senior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.), ranked No. 11 at 125, was given the day off once again, allowing senior Eric Caschera (South Williamsport, Pa.) to get the nod once again. Caschera met IU freshman Justin Brooks. Brooks got the dual's first takedown just :30 into the bout. Caschera worked his way to an escaped :28 later and action resumed in the center circle. The Lion senior tried a low single, but Brooks was able to fight off the shot to keep his 2-1 lead. Brooks turned a high single into a takedown and a 4-1 lead with :38 on the clock. A short ride-out followed and Brooks led 4-1 with 1:10 in riding time after the opening period. Brooks chose down to start the second period but Caschera was able to break the Hoosier down and maintain control well into the period. The Nittany Lion senior was able to maintain control of and nearly turned Brooks for back points but the Hoosier rolled through before Caschera could get the call. Still, Caschera's two minute ride-out allowed the Lion to end the period down by three but with a :49 riding time edge. Caschera chose down to start the third period and this time it was Brooks who was able to maintain control. Brooks rode Caschera for the entire period and, with the riding time point, posted a 5-1 win.
133: Sophomore All-American Andrew Long (Creston, Iowa), ranked No. 5 at 133, faced off against Hoosier junior Matt Ortega. Long scored quickly, taking Ortega down less than :20 into the bout. Long build up a :39 riding time edge before Long escaped. Long tripped Ortega to the mat at the 1:20 mark and then began working for a turning combination. The Iowa native gained control of Ortega's right arm, turned him to his back and picked up two near fall points to move out to a 6-1 lead. He then cut him loose and began working for another score. Ortega fought off Long for the rest of the period and, trailing by five, chose down to start the middle stanza. Long was strong in control and moved his riding time edge well over 2:00 before Ortega escaped to a 6-3 deficit. Long used a swift ankle pick for a third takedown and an 8-3 lead with :45 left in the period. Ortega escaped but Long was relentless and, at the buzzer, used a single turned into a throw for a takedown and two near fall points to lead 12-4 with 2:25 in riding time heading into the third period. Long chose down to start the third and quickly escaped. He then forced Ortega into a first stall warning, pulled his head to the mat and used a single leg for another takedown. Long, leading 15-5 after an Ortega escape, continued to pressure the Hoosier, adding two more takedowns to post a 20-6 major.
141: True freshman Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 141, met Indiana's Geno Capezio. Alton quickly took Capezio down and to his back, nearly pinning the Hoosier before he managed to roll through. Still, the five point move gave Alton a 5-0 lead less than a minute into the bout. Alton cut Capezio loose, took him down again and this time the shoulder throw lead to a pin at the 2:45 mark. The fall was Alton's 16th of the year, tied for fourth all-time in PSU history for pins in a season.
149: Two-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) battled Hoosier senior Kurt Kinser in one of the dual's most anticipated bouts. Molinaro entered the day ranked No. 5 at 149 while Kinser was ranked No. 15. Molinaro wasted no time in taking the lead. The junior lifted Kinser off the mat and took him down for a 2-0 lead at the 2:20 mark. Molinaro then began looking for a chance to turn the Hoosier for back points. Kinser was able to fight the Nittany Lion off and then reversed Molinaro for a brief 2-2 tie. Molinaro then escaped quickly and led 3-2 with 1:34 in riding time at the :30 mark. Molinaro chose down to start the second period and reversed Kinser in less than five seconds to up his lead to 5-2. Molinaro controlled Kinser for the majority of the period, forcing Kinser into a stall warning. Molinaro rode Kinser out and led 5-2 with 3:27 in riding time, clinching the riding time point. Kinser chose neutral to start the third period, but it was Molinaro who took advantage, using a low double to muscle his way to a takedown and a 7-2 lead. Kinser escaped to a 7-3 deficit at the :45 mark. Molinaro used another high double for a final takedown and notched a dominating 10-3 win over the 15th-ranked Kinser.
157: Undefeated freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 3 at 157, met No. 5 Paul Young in another marquee match-up at 157. Taylor defeated Young less than a month ago in the finals of the 2010 Southern Scuffle (an 18-2 technical fall at the 4:06 mark). Young battled Taylor evenly for the first half of the period, but Taylor rolled behind a Young shot on the edge of the mat and took a 2-0 lead with 1:19 on the clock. Taylor controlled Young for 1:06 before Young escaped to a 2-1 deficit, but Taylor was able to add a second takedown with just :01 left to lead 4-1 after one period. Young chose neutral to start the second period and gained control of Taylor's left leg. But Taylor steadily worked his way into control of Young for a counter takedown and a 6-1 lead at the 1:19 mark. The undefeated Lion freshman cut Young loose and then took the Hoosier senior down once more for an 8-2 lead. Another Taylor cut with :23 left led to a fifth Lion takedown with :06 on the clock and the Lion led 10-3 with 2:00 in riding time at the end of two periods. Taylor chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to an 11-3 lead with 1:25 on the clock. A low ankle pick led to another Taylor takedown and a 13-3 lead. Taylor punished Young with a strong ride before Young escaped at the buzzer. Taylor's 2:44 in riding time gave him a 14-3 major over the 5th-ranked Hoosier.
165: Red-shirt freshman Jake Kemerer (Greensburg, Pa.) took on Indiana freshman Ryan Konz at 165. Kemerer took an early lead with a solid high double that led to a takedown. Konz was able to escape quickly, cutting Kemerer's lead to 2-1 and action resumed in the center circle. Kemerer then gained control of Konz' waste and used a nice trip to take him down on the edge of the mat, moving out to a 4-1 lead. A short ride-out later and Kemerer carried that lead into the second stanza. Konz chose down to start the middle period and quickly escaped to a 4-2 deficit. Kemerer countered a Konz show, moved behind him to lift him off the mat, and took him down a third time for a 6-2 lead. The Lion freshman then rode Konz out one more time to lead 6-2 with 1:09 in riding time heading into the final period. Kemerer chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead with :45 in riding time. Another high double gave the Lion a 9-2 lead before he cut Konz loose. Kemerer quickly drove through Konz with a high double and turned the Hoosier to his back for two near fall points as well. The quick four point move gave Kemerer a 13-3 lead. Kemerer rode Konz out and, with the riding time point, posted the 14-3 major.
174: Red-shirt freshman Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, met veteran Hoosier senior Nick Avery. Ruth scored with low single just seconds into the bout and led 2-0 early. Ruth then put together a dominating ride, forcing Avery's head to the mat while looking for a chance to turn the Hoosier senior. While not managing any back points, the ride out gave the Lion a 2-0 lead with 2:54 in riding time after the first period. Ruth chose down to start the second period and steadily worked his way to an escape and a 3-0 lead. Ruth then gained control of Avery's shoulders, looking for a cradle. The Lion freshman first picked up the takedown and then turned Avery to his back for a pin at the 4:49 mark.
184: Sophomore All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 6 at 184, battled talented IU senior Eric Cameron. Wright used a high double and trip to send Cameron to the mat for a takedown, but Cameron quickly reversed the Lion sophomore to tie the bout at 2-2 with 1:58 left in the opening period. Wright quickly escaped to lead 3-2 and action resumed in the center circle. Wright then duplicated the move he used on his first takedown for another to lead 5-2 at the 1:03 mark. This time, Wright was able to maintain control of Cameron and turn the Hoosier to his back for three near fall points, holding Cameron in a near pinning position for the final :20 of the period. The move gave Wright an 8-2 lead and Cameron chose down to start the middle stanza. The decision would back fire as Wright gained control of Cameron's head, turned him to his shoulders and pinned him at the 3:30 mark.
197: Red-shirt freshman Nick Ruggear (Oxford, Pa.) got the call at 197 to meet Indiana's Matt Powless, who entered the bout ranked No. 6 in the nation. Powless was able to trip Ruggear to the mat for an early takedown and a 2-0 lead at the 2:04 mark. The sixth-ranked Hoosier then put together a strong ride, keeping control of the Lion freshman for the rest of the period to lead 2-0 with 2:04 in riding time. Powless chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. He then began taking Ruggear down and cutting him loose. Powless picked up two more takedowns, added three near fall points, another takedown and three more back points to lead 17-3 with a clinched riding time point after two periods. Ruggear chose down, escaped and was then taken down one more time by Powless, giving the Hoosier a 19-4 tech fall at the 5:13 mark.
285: Junior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at heavyweight, took on yet another ranked foe in Indiana's Ricky Alcala, who was ranked No. 14. The two ranked heavyweights battled evenly for the opening three minutes with neither man mounting a real scoring threat. Tied 0-0, Wade chose top to start the second period and began looking for a chance to turn Alcala for back points. Wade patiently worked his way into control for three back points at the :30 mark. He then reset himself, rode Alcala out and led 3-0 with a full 2:00 in riding time heading into the final period. Alcala chose neutral to start the third stanza. The duo battled in the middle of the mat, mirroring the first period's action with neither ranked grappler finding an opening to score. Alcala gained control of Wade's right foot and looked to finish a takedown, but Wade countered and picked up the takedown himself to up his lead to 5-0. A short ride-out and the riding time point gave wad a convincing 6-0 win with 2:16 in riding time over the 14th-ranked Hoosier.