Dec. 11, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The fifth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team dominated visiting West Virginia in a non-conference wrestling dual. The Nittany Lions posted a resounding 34-6 win in front of over 6,000 fans in another packed Rec Hall.
Nittany Lion freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 15 at 125, put Penn State up 3-0 early with an 8-2 win over WVU junior Shane Young. Junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) then majored Jesse Schiffbauer for his first Penn State dual win, getting the 12-4 win to put the Nittany Lions up 7-0. Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) nearly pulled off a major upset at 141, dropping a hard fought 5-4 decision to No. 19 Nathan Pennesi of West Virginia. The win cut Penn State's lead to 7-3 before three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, majored George Scheffel 10-1 (with 4:25 in riding time) to put Penn State back up 11-3. Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 10 at 157, dominated West Virginia's Dominic Prezzia to the tune of a 16-4 major (with 4:09 RT) to give Penn State a 15-3 lead at the halftime break.
Top-ranked All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) hammered WVU senior Kyle Eason at 165, picking up a 22-7 technical fall at the 4:17 mark before second-ranked All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) majored Lance Bryson 18-6. Leading 24-3, defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 184, thrilled over 6,000 Rec Hall faithful by pinning No. 17 Matt Ryan at the 1:57 mark, using a swift throw to counter a Ryan move and get the pin. West Virginia's Mac Mancuso picked up a 3-2 win over Lion junior Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.), who was filling in for No. 10 Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) at 197. Nittany Lion senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 8 at heavyweight, dominated WVU senior Brandon Williamson, posting an 11-0 major with nearly 3:00 riding time to give the Lions the 34-6 final.
Penn State moves to 3-1 on the year while WVU falls to 2-1. The Nittany Lions won the takedown battle by a gaudy 35-2 margin. Penn State picked up 10 bonus points to none for the Mountaineers.
Penn State treks to Lock Haven on Sunday, Dec. 18, for a 2 p.m. dual with the Bald Eagles. Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of `standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.
The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (690 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
#5 Penn State 34, West Virginia 6
December 11, 2011 - Rec Hall - University Park, Pa.
125: #15 Nico Megaludis PSU dec. Shane Young WVU, 8-2 3-0
133: Derek Reber PSU maj. dec. Jesse Schiffbauer WVU, 12-4 7-0
141: #19 Nathan Pennesi WVU dec. Bryan Pearsall PSU, 5-4 7-3
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU maj. dec. George Scheffel WVU, 10-1 11-3
157: #10 Dylan Alton PSU maj. dec. Dominic Prezzia WVU, 16-4 15-3
165: #1 David Taylor PSU tech fall Kyle Eason WVU, 22-7 (TF; 4:17) 20-3
174: #2 Ed Ruth PSU maj. dec. Lance Bryson WVU, 18-6 24-3
184: #5 Quentin Wright PSU pinned #17 Matt Ryan WVU, WBF (1:57) 30-3
197: Mac Mancuso WVU dec. Justin Ortega PSU, 3-2 30-6
285: #8 Cameron Wade PSU maj. dec. Brandon Williamson WVU, 11-0 34-6
Attendance: 6,078
Records: #5 Penn State (3-1, 1-1 B1G), West Virginia (2-1)
Up Next for Penn State: at Lock Haven, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: Nittany Lion true freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 15 at 125, met West Virginia junior Shane Young. Megaludis wasted no time getting in on a single leg, finishing off the takedown and leading 2-1 after a Young escape. Megaludis fought off a shot by Young, gained control of his shoulders and forced a reset in the middle of the mat. Young began playing defense, backing away constantly from Megaludis and working time off the clock in an effort to keep the bout close. Megaludis fought off a late Young shot and went to the second leading by one. The Lion freshman chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. His pressure forced Young into a first stall warning as well. Megaludis countered a slight Young shot, worked his way behind the Mountaineer junior for another takedown and a 5-1 lead. A ride out allowed the Lion to lead 5-1 with 1:15 in riding time heading into the third period. Young chose down to start the final period but could not break free of a strong Megaludis ride until the Lion let him up at the 1:32 mark to a 5-2 deficit. Megaludis continued to pressure the WVU junior, getting a stall point for a 6-2 lead at the 1:04 mark. Megaludis got another point with a third stall to lead 7-2 and, with the bonus point got the 8-2 win.
133: Junior Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa.) took on WVU's Jesse Schiffbauer at 133. Reber got the first takedown at the 2:08 mark, taking an early lead and then putting together a strong ride to build up a solid riding time edge. Reber maintained control of Schiffbauer for the entire period, taking a 2-0 lead with 2:08 in time into the second period. Reber chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. He then used a swift low double to tack on another takedown, to lead 5-0. Schiffbauer reversed Reber and then gave up a penalty point on an illegal hold before Reber escaped to a 7-2 lead. Reber almost added a third takedown at the end of the period but the WVU grappler fought it off. Schiffbauer chose down to start the third, Reber let him up and then quickly took him down for two more points and a 9-3 lead. After a WVU escape, Reber gained control of Schiffbauer again and took him down for an 11-4 lead with a clinched riding time point. Reber rode Schiffbauer out, picked up the riding time point, and walked away with a strong 12-4 major decision.
141: Penn State junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) got the nod at 141 and took on No. 19 Nathan Pennesi. The duo battled evenly for the first half of the opening period until Pearsall got in on a low single and forced a scramble on the Nittany Lion logo. Pennesi got the takedown at the :47 mark but Pearsall quickly escaped to a 2-1 deficit. Leading 2-1, Pennesi chose down to start the second stanza. Pearsall gained control of the Mountaineer and began working for a chance to turn the Mountaineer for back points. Pearsall maintained control for the entire period, then finished off a cradle near the end of the period and picked up three late back points to lead 4-2 heading into the third. The Nittany Lion chose down to start the third but spent the first minute fighting off a Pennesi turn attempt. Pennesi picked up three back points to lead 5-4 before a reset stopped action at the :11 mark. With just over :10 to escape and force a tie, the Nittany Lion junior could not quite scramble out of Pennesi's grasp and dropped a hard-fought 5-4 decision.
149: Top-ranked Nittany Lion senior Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, Pa.) met WVU freshman George Scheffel at 149. Molinaro got the bout's first takedown at the 2:15 mark and then put together a dominating ride, building up a large riding time edge while trying to turn the Mountaineer freshman for back points. Molinaro rode Scheffel out for the entire period and took the 2-0 lead into the second. Molinaro chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. He then tacked on a second takedown, cut Scheffel loose and began working for more points with a 5-1 lead. Scheffel fought off two high singles but Molinaro connected on the next one to lead 7-1 at the :30 mark. Another ride out allowed the Lion senior to lead 7-1 with 2:52 RT after two periods. Scheffel chose neutral to start the final period and Molinaro essentially clinched the riding time point. He then quickly took the WVU freshman down, upped his lead to 9-1 and maintained control for the remainder of the match. With 4:25 in riding time, Molinaro posted the 10-1 major and put the Lions up 11-3.
157: Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 10 nationally, took on Mountaineer Dominic Prezzia at 157. Alton came out the aggressor, looking for points early with multiple shots. Gaining control of Prezzia's shoulders, the Lion freshman worked his way around for a takedown and a 2-0 lead at the 2:12 mark. Alton forced Prezzia into a first stall warning and then proceeded to control him for the remainder of the period. But Alton gave up a point with an illegal hold and led 2-1 with 2:12 in RT after one. Prezzia chose neutral to start the second period but found himself fighting off a flurry of Alton shots. The Nittany Lion freshman finished his second one off and led 4-1 :30 into the middle stanza. Alton got called for a stall warning and then he allowed Prezzia up at the reset. He quickly took the Mountaineer down to lead 6-2 with :54 on the clock. He picked up a point on another Prezzia stall and, with the ride out, led 7-2 with a clinched riding time point (3:35) after two periods. Alton chose down to start the third, quickly escaped to an 8-2 lead and then took Prezzia down again for a 10-2 lead. Alton cut him loose and began working for another takedown. Alton picked up another stall point, then added another takedown at the :50 mark to lead 13-4 after another cut. The Lion freshman looked to finish on top with a late takedown and picked a final one up at the :08 mark to post the 16-4 win (with 4:09 in RT).
165: Top-ranked Lion sophomore David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) battled WVU senior Kyle Eason at 165. Taylor notched the first takedown early, getting two points and cutting Eason loose quickly. Eason got in on a high single, but Taylor countered the move and worked his way around for another takedown and a 4-1 lead at the 1:40 mark. He quickly added two back points before cutting Eason loose and leading 6-2. The Lion All-American added a third takedown at the :35 mark and turned Eason for two more back points to lead 10-3 after cutting him loose. Taylor added a fourth as the period ended and led 12-4. The Lion continued to dominate the action, picking up three quick takedowns in the first :30 to lead 18-6 after cutting Eason loose. Two more takedowns set up a chance for a second period tech fall. Leading 20-7, Taylor got the tech fall at the 4:17 mark with a final takedown, getting the 22-7 win and putting Penn State up 20-3.
174: Second-ranked Nittany Lion sophomore Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) faced off against Lance Bryson at 174. Ruth wasted little time in building up a 2-1 lead, taking Bryson down and cutting him loose in the first :30. The Lion All-American was relentless, grabbing a second takedown and cut to lead 4-2 just over a minute into the bout. A third Ruth takedown gave the Lion a 6-2 lead and this time Ruth worked from the top position to build up a bit of a riding time edge midway through the first. A Ruth ride-out gave the Lion a 6-2 lead with 2:02 RT after one. Ruth chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 7-2 lead. Ruth took Bryson down midway through the period to lead 9-2. Bryson escaped with :12 left in the period and Ruth picked up a last second takedown to lead 11-2 after two. Bryson chose down to start the third period and Ruth worked to finish off a cradle. Bryson was called for a first stall warning while Ruth set the tone from the top. Bryson escaped at the 1:10 mark, but Ruth continued to dominate the action, with another takedown and cut to lead 13-5. Ruth used a low single trip for a takedown with :24 left, cut Bryson loose, and added a final takedown and with 4:02 riding time, notched the 18-6 major.
184: Defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 184, met No. 17 Matt Ryan of West Virginia. The duo battled evenly for the first half of the period with Ryan setting an early aggressive tone. Wright fought off two Ryan shots and then countered a third, gained control of the senior's shoulders, and tossed him to the mat. Just :20 later, Wright picked up the fall at the 1:57 mark, giving Penn State a 30-3 lead and thrilling over 6,000 Rec Hall faithful.
197: True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 10 at 197, was held out once again as a precaution, and junior Justin Ortega (Oxford, Pa.) faced off against WVU's Mac Mancuso at 197. The duo traded shots early in the first period with neither man finding an opening. Tied 0-0 after the first three minutes, Ortega chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Mancuso scrambled his way to the bout's initial takedown, working his way into control of Ortega for a 2-1 lead at the 1:10 mark. Ortega quickly escaped to tie the bout at 2-2 and action resumed in the center circle. Ortega fought off a late shot attempt and the bout moved to the final period tied 2-2. Mancuso chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 lead. Ortega mounted a late charge, trying to get a late takedown, but Mancuso fought off each attempt and escaped with a 3-2 win.
285: Penn State senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 8 at 285, met WVU's Brandon Williamson. The two veteran big men battled each other through an even first period, with each man taking shots the other was able to step away from. After a scoreless first period, Wade chose down to start the second and quickly worked his way into a reversal and a 2-0 lead at the 1:39 mark. Wade then put together a strong ride, gaining control of Williamson's legs and looking for a chance to turn the WVU big man. Williamson got hit with a first stall warning at the :32 mark. Wade then turned the Mountaineer for three late back points to lead 5-0 after two periods. Williamson chose neutral to start the third, shot low, and was quickly countered by Wade for another PSU takedown to give the Lion a 7-0 lead with a solid riding time edge. Another stall on Williamson put Wade up by eight. Williamson called for an injury timeout with :09 left in the match and Wade then turned him for two more back points and posted the 11-0 major with 2:54 riding time.