Dec. 20, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending Dec. 18, 2011. The honor is the first for the Nittany Lion junior.
Pearsall got the nod for his stellar work in Penn State's 50-0 shut-out win over Lock Haven on Sunday, Dec. 18. Pearsall, getting the nod at 141, pinned No. 14 Matt Bonson of Lock Haven in the second period, one of four Nittany Lion pins on the day. Pearsall, who was up 4-0 at the time of the fall, got the call at the 4:22 mark.
The junior is now 4-4 on the year but sports a 2-1 mark in Penn State's last three duals at 141. A week ago, Pearsall nearly upset the 19th-ranked 141-pounder in the country in PSU's win over West Virginia. He now has 20 career victories and eight dual meet wins for the Nittany Lions during his two-plus years of action. He is currently ranked No. 16 nationally in the 12/19 version of Amateur Wrestling News' individual rankings.
Pearsall and the rest of the Nittany Lions head to the Southern Scuffle for New Year's, taking part in the two-day, team scored tournament on Jan. 1-2 at UT-Chattanooga. 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.