Jan. 8, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, ranked No. 2 nationally, downed No. 23 Kent State 27-15 in the semifinals of the 2011 Virginia Duals. Penn State, the tournament's top seed, will now take on No. 15 Michigan tonight at 8:30 p.m. here in the Hampton Coliseum. The Nittany Lions used an early flurry of pins and bonus points to stave off a late Kent State rally.
Senior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) gave notice that he's rounding back into form by pinning No. 10 Nic Bedelyon in the opening bout at 125. The fall came at the 4:02 mark and put Penn State up 6-0 early. No. 6 Andrew Long (Creston, Iowa) followed with a workmanlike 6-1 win at 133 before Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) pinned Kent State veteran Chase Skonieczny at the 3:23 mark. The pin was Alton's 15th of the year and tied him for fifth on PSU's all-time single season pins list. Two-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 7 at 149, got a dominating 8-0 major and third-ranked freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) posted another technical fall (this one a 19-4 dismantling of Matt Cathell at the 4:40 mark).
Kent State broke into the scoring column when Ross Tice posted an 8-2 decision over Lion freshman Jake Kemerer (Greensburg, Pa.) at 165. No. 2 Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) posted a hard-fought 11-8 win over Kent State's Brandon Johnson at 174 before Casey Newburg picked up a win over PSU 165-pounder Nick Fischer (Unionville, Pa.) at 184. The Flash also got a pin at 197 from No. 8 Dustin Kilgore. At heavyweight, Penn State suffered a tough upset loss as No. 13 Brendan Barlow downed No. 7 Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) 10-5 to make the final score 27-15 in Penn State's favor.
Penn State moves to l0-0 on the year, it's best start since going 12-0 in 1971-72 (no losses or ties). The Nittany Lions won six of the ten bouts but posted a decisive 9-3 edge in bonus points. Penn State and Kent State tied 15-15 in the takedown battle as the Golden Flash upper weights dominated the action after the Nittany Lions bolted out to the big lead.
Head coach Cael Sanderson's squad meets No. 15 Michigan tonight at 8:30 p.m. in the tournament's championship bout. Michigan upset No. 9 Lehigh in the other semifinal. 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.
#2 Penn State 27, #23 Kent State 15
January 8, 2011 - Hampton Coliseum - Hampton, Va.
125: Brad Pataky PSU pinned #10 Nick Bedelyon KSU, WBF (4:02) 6-0
133: #6 Andrew Long PSU dec. Tyler Small KSU, 6-1 9-0
141: #7 Andrew Alton PSU pinned Chase Skonieczny KSU, WBF (3:32) 15-0
149: #7 Frank Molinaro PSU maj. dec. Marcel Clopton KSU, 8-0 19-0
157: #3 David Taylor PSU tech fall Matt Cathell KSU, 19-4 (TF; 4:40) 24-0
165: Ross Tice KSU dec Jake Kemerer PSU, 8-2 24-3
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU dec. Brandon Johnson, 11-8 27-3
184: Casey Newburg KSU dec. Nick Fischer PSU, 6-2 27-6
197: #8 Dustin Kilgore KSU pinned Justin Ortega PSU, WBF (4:59) 27-12
285: #13 Brendan Barlow KSU dec. #7 Cameron Wade PSU, 10-5 27-15
Attendance: 3,100
Records: Penn State 10-0 (1-0 Big Ten), Kent State 5-5
Up Next for Penn State: vs. #15 Michigan, championship final, tonight at 8:3 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Senior Brad Pataky (Clearfield, Pa.) once again got the call at 125 for Penn State to battle No. 10 Nic Bedelyon of Kent State. Bedelyon got in on a single leg right away and took an early 2-0 lead with a takedown out of the gates. The tenth-ranked Flash grappler then maintained control of Pataky for nearly two minutes but Pataky worked his way into a near pin from the bottom. But a stalemate was called while Pataky was working for the reversal or pin and Bedelyon maintained his 2-0 lead with under a minute left in the period. Pataky escaped at the :30 mark to cut the lead to 2-1 but Bedelyon got in deep on another single leg. Pataky fought off the move for the final :18 to keep the score close at the buzzer. Down 2-1, Pataky chose down to start the second stanza (Bedelyon had over 2:00 in riding time). Pataky escaped at the 1:29 mark to tie the bout at 2-2 with Bedelyon having 2:38 in time. Pataky thrilled the Penn State faithful a minute in, hitting a mixer, catching Bedelyon and turning him to his back for a pin at the 4:02 mark.
133: No. 6 Andrew Long (Creston, Iowa) faced off against Kent State's Tyler Small at 133. Long wasted no time taking control of the match with a quick takedown. Small escaped after a :40 Long ride to cut the lead to 2-1. Small gained control of Long's foot, looking to pull the Lion to the mat, but Long elevated himself, forced action to the mat and rolled around for a counter takedown to lead 4-1 with :58 in riding time after one period. Long chose down to start the second stanza but Small was able to maintain control of the All-American for over a minute before Long escaped at the :20 mark. Small was also hit with a stall warning in the process. Trailing 5-1, Small chose down to start the final period. Long spent the first minute looking to turn the Kent State wrestler for back points. Small fought off Long's efforts but Long was able to dominate the action from the top and ride Small for the entire period and walk away with a convincing 6-1 win (with the riding time point).
141: No. 7 Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) met Chase Skonieczny of Kent State at 141. Alton got the first takedown of the bout at the 2:12 mark and then began looking for a chance to turn the Flash grappler. Skonieczny finally escaped after a 1:26 ride and cut the lead to 2-1 but Alton scored quickly with a high double off the reset to move out to a 4-1 lead with 2:04 in riding time after one period. Alton chose down to start the middle period and quickly reversed Skonieczny. He then turned him to his back and picked up the pin at the 3:23 mark. The win put Penn State up 15-0.
149: No. 7 Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) met Kent State's Marcel Clopton at 149. Molinaro used his textbook high double to get the first takedown a minute in to take a 2-0 lead. Molinaro put together a punishing ride, maintaining control of Clopton for the entire period, turning him to his back for three near fall points at the buzzer. The swift turn gave the two-time All-American a 5-0 lead with 2:01 in riding time heading into the second stanza. Clopton chose neutral to start the second period but Molinaro stayed on the attack. Molinaro's pressure forced the Kent State man into a first stall warning at the :20 mark. Leading 5-0 with 2:01 in time to his advantage, Molinaro chose down to start the third period. The Lion junior quickly escaped to a 6-0 lead and immediately began forcing Clopton back on his heels again. Molinaro picked up a stall point after another Clopton warning but Clopton continued to back up. Molinaro picked up the riding time point and posted a dominating 8-0 major with 1:37 in time.
157: Undefeated freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 3 at 157, met Matt Cathell. Taylor easily took Cathell down for an early takedown and then maintained control of him for :50 before an escape cut the lead to 2-1. Taylor was undaunted, taking Cathell down and to his back for a five point move to up his lead to 7-1 with 1:25 on the clock. Taylor cut Cathell loose and began looking for another takedown. A feisty double low ankle pick gave the Lion a 9-3 lead with :50 after another cut. Taylor picked up another takedown and turned Cathell to his back for a two point near fall at the buzzer to lead 13-3 after one period. Cathell chose neutral to start the second period but Taylor continued his takedown clinic with another one at the 1:12 mark. Taylor cut Cathell loose and led 15-3 and took Cathell down, picked up two back points and ended the match with a 19-4 technical fall at the 4:40 mark.
165: Freshman Jake Kemerer (Greensburg, Pa.) took to the mat at 165 for Penn State to meet Golden Flash Ross Tice. Tice picked up the bout's first takedown with 2:03 on the clock. The returning national qualifier maintained control of the Lion freshman for :52 before Kemerer escaped to a 2-1 deficit. Kemerer upped his offensive pressure but Tice was able to counter a late Kemerer shot with a takedown of his own at the buzzer. Trailing 4-1 after one, Kemerer chose down to start the second period but could not break free before Tice built up a 1:31 time edge. Kemerer's escape cut Tice's lead to 4-2 at the 1:30 mark. The duo battled evenly for the remainder of the period and Tice led 4-2 heading into the final stanza (with Tice holding a 1:29 time edge). Tice chose down to start the final period. Kemerer maintained control long enough to work the time edge to a minute before cutting him loose to a 5-2 lead. Kemerer fought off a low Tice single to force a reset at the :48 mark but the Lion could not break through on the offensive end. Tice picked up a stall warning at the :10 mark and then picked up one late takedown to post the 8-2 win.
174: No. 2 Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) battled Brandon Johnson of Kent State at 174. Johnson countered an early Ruth shot to take a 2-0 lead out of the gates. Johnson then kept control of the Lion freshman for :47 before an escape cut the lead to 2-1. Ruth took the lead with a high single at the 1:45 mark. He then maintained control for a minute before Johnson escaped to a 3-3 tie. Ruth added a late takedown as the period ended to lead 5-3 heading into the second period. Ruth chose down to start the second period and nearly pinned Johnson while getting the escape. Johnson worked a low single into a double leg and a second takedown against Ruth to cut the Lion's lead to 6-5 with :43 on the clock. But Ruth quickly reversed the Kent State grappler off a reset to move out to an 8-5 lead. Ruth then rode Johnson out to carry the 8-5 lead into the final stanza. Johnson chose down to start the third period and worked his way to a reversal, cutting the lead to 8-7. Ruth escaped to a 9-7 lead with time not an issue at this point. Ruth used a duck under to lift Johnson off the mat and toss him down for a takedown and an 11-7 lead. Ruth kept control of Johnson until the :12 mark and Ruth posted the 11-8 decision.
184: With All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) still recovering from injury, sophomore Nick Fischer (Unionville, Pa.) moved up from 165 and met KSU's Casey Newburg at 184. Newburg got an early takedown and maintained control of the Lion for 1:21 before a Fischer escape cut the lead to 2-1. Fischer got in deep on a shot with 1:00 left but Newburg fought off the move and forced a reset. Leading 2-1 with 1:20 in time, Newburg chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. Fischer continued to shoot, looking to score on a high single. But Newburg's length made it difficult for Fisher to break through on offense. Trailing by two, Fischer chose down to start the final period. Fischer got hit with a first stall warning at the 1:20 mark and escaped to a 3-2 deficit with 1:00 on the clock (Newburg clinched the time point). The Flash grappler added a second takedown to take a 5-2 lead. Newburg would hold on for the 6-2 win and cut Penn State's lead to 27-6.
197: Sophomore Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) got the call at 197 to take on No. 8 Dustin Kilgore. Kilgore took Ortega down at the 1:45 mark and picked up three points with a near fall to open up a 5-0 lead midway through the first period. The returning All-American maintained control of Ortega and turned him once more for three back points and an 8-0 lead a the :30 mark. Leading by eight with 1:54 in time, Kilgore chose neutral to start the second stanza. Kilgore picked up a second takedown at the 1:06 mark to take a 10-0 lead. Kilgore used a near side cradle to pin Ortega at the buzzer, picking up the fall at the 4:59 mark.
285: In a battle of ranked heavyweights, No. 7 Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) faced off against No. 13 Brendan Barlow of Kent State. Barlow came out of the gates on fire, taking control of Wade's leg early and taking a 2-0 lead with 2:24 on the clock. Wade escaped quickly and began looking for a score of his own. The duo worked the middle of the mat for the next minute plus action moved to the second period with Barlow owning a 2-1 lead. Wade chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie. Barlow added a second takedown and led 4-3 after a Wade escape with 1:20 left. Wade could not find any offense against Barlow and found himself down 4-3 heading into the third period. Barlow chose neutral to start the final stanza, looking to avoid Wade's ride. The Lion junior needed a takedown to avoid the upset loss but could not break through Barlow's defense. Barlow countered a Wade shot, took Wade down and then added two more as a scrambling Wade took loose shots as the period ended. Barlow's 10-5 win made the final 27-15 in Penn State's favor.