Feb. 11, 2012
OREM, Utah - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling closed out the road portion of its dual meet season with a 39-3 win at Utah Valley in Orem, Utah. Nearly 5,500 fans (5,470) watched as Penn State, led by Utah-native Cael Sanderson, won nine of ten bouts including three pins in the non-conference road win.
The match began at 165, where Nittany Lion All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1, opened up the dual with a quick first period fall, pinning Utah Valley's Ethan Smith at the 2:40 mark to put the Nittany Lions up 6-0 early. All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, stepped aside to let Utah-native Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) wrestle in front of a hometown crowd. Brown, a red-shirt freshman, answered the call with a dominating 13-3 major over UVU's Monte Schmalhaus. Defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, added a second Lion pin, getting the fall over David Prieto at the 4:46 mark to put Penn State up 16-0 after three bouts.
True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, returned to the mat for Penn State and posted a hard-fought 4-3 win over Utah Valley's Brian Chamberlain. Senior heavyweight Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6, then pinned UVU's Dustin Dennison at the 1:15 mark of the first period. The fall was the 30th of Wade's career, moving him into sixth place on Penn State's all-time falls list.
Penn State's Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 8 at 125, posted a 19-7 major over UVU's Colby Christensen. Utah Valley got on the board at 133 where Blake Mangum used a last-second takedown to notch a 3-1 win over Nittany Lion sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Penn State junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) countered with a strong 13-4 major decision over UVU's Avery Garner at 141, piling up almost 4:00 riding time in the process.
Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, posted a convincing 6-0 win with 4:35 in riding time over No. 14 Josh Wilson in the only bout between ranked wrestlers. Molinaro built up 4:35 in riding time in the process. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 6 at 157, closed out the dual with a tough 12-9 decision over Utah Valley's Napoleon Aniciete to help Penn State post the 39-3 final.
The Nittany Lions are now 12-1 on the year and posted a 7-1 mark in Big Ten duals. Utah Valley falls to 6-9. Penn State won nine of ten bouts and posted a 31-6 edge in takedowns. The Nittany Lions picked up 12 bonus points off three pins and three majors. In a pre-dual bout (not counting in the team score) at 285, Nittany Lion red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich (Wingate, Pa.) notched a 13-2 major over UVU's Zac Jensen.
Penn State closes out the regular season by hosting Pittsburgh on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m. The dual meet is already sold out, including standing room only ducats, and will serve as Senior Day for Penn State.
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 (670 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.
#2 Penn State 39, Utah Valley 3
February 11, 2012 - Orem, Utah
165: #1 David Taylor PSU pinned Ethan Smith UVU, WBF (2:40) 6-0
174: Matt Brown PSU maj. dec. Monte Schmalhaus UVU, 13-3 10-0
184: #2 Quentin Wright PSU pinned David Prieto UVU, WBF (4:46) 16-0
197: #12 Morgan McIntosh PSU dec. Brian Chamberlain UVU, 4-3 19-0
285: #6 Cameron Wade PSU pinned Dustin Dennison UVU, WBF (1:15) 25-0
125: #8 Nico Megaludis PSU maj. dec. Colby Christensen UVU, 19-7 29-0
133: Blake Mangum UVU dec. Frank Martellotti PSU, 3-1 29-3
141: Bryan Pearsall PSU maj. dec. Avery Garner UVU, 13-4 33-3
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU dec. #14 Josh Wilson UVU, 6-0 (4:35 RT) 36-3
157: #6 Dylan Alton PSU dec. Napoleon Aniciete UVU, 12-9 39-3
PRELIM: Jon Gingrich PSU maj. dec. Zac Jensen UVU, 13-2 -----
Attendance: 5,470
Records: #2 Penn State 12-1, 7-1 B1G; Utah Valley 6-9
Up Next for Penn State: home vs. Pittsburgh, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2 p.m.
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
PRE-DUAL BOUT AT 285: In a pre-dual match-up (not counted in the team score), Nittany Lion red-shirt freshman Jon Gingrich met UVU sophomore Zac Jensen. Gingrich scored first with a fast high double that put the Nittany Lion up 2-0 at the 2:30 mark. Jensen escaped to cut the lead to 2-1. With Gingrich leading 2-1 after one, Jensen chose down to start the second period and Gingrich was able to maintain control throughout the first period. Gingrich tilted Jensen for three back points with :45 on the clock. The Lion freshman added two more back points to lead 7-1 after two periods. Gingrich chose down to start the third, escaped and used a low double for a quick takedown and cut to lead 10-2 at the 1:24 mark with the riding time point clinched. Gingrich added another takedown with :30 left to up his lead to 12-2 and, with the ride out, posted the 13-2 major in the preliminary bout.
165: Sophomore David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, met Ethan Smith in the first official bout of the dual. A swift low single gave Taylor an early 2-0 lead and the Nittany Lion cut Smith loose right away. Taylor turned a second low single leg into a second takedown and a 4-1 lead with 1:40 on the clock. Taylor built up a solid riding time edge looking for a turning combination and then cut Smith loose on a reset. Taylor quickly shifted to a low double and added two more takedowns and then, after letting Smith up, countered a Wolverine shot, used gained control of Smith's shoulders and turned him to his back for a quick first period pin (getting the call at the 2:40 mark).
174: Sophomore Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, stepped aside at 174 to allow red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) to compete in front of a hometown crowd. The West Valley City native faced off against Monte Schmalhaus. Brown set the tempo early, forcing Schmalhaus towards the edge of the mat for the first part of the opening period. The Lion freshman broke through with a takedown at the 1:08 mark and then gained control of his opponent's wrist, looking to tilt Schmalhaus for back points. Schmalhaus was able to stave off any back points but a ride out gave Brown a 2-0 lead with 1:12 riding time. Schmalhaus chose down to start the second period and escaped, but Brown drove through a high double leg to take the Wolverine down again and open up a 4-2 lead after cutting him loose. Brown drove in on a double leg and scrambled his way to a late takedown to carry a 6-2 lead into the third period. Brown chose down to start the third period and quickly reversed Schmalhaus for an 8-3 lead after cutting him loose. Brown took Schmalhaus down, looking to finish off a nearside cradle and turned Schmalhaus to his back for two near fall points and a 13-3 major (including 3:11 in riding time).
184: Three-time All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, met UVU's David Prieto. Prieto came out of the gates fast, nearly taking Wright down for an early takedown. But Wright did not panic, scrambled through the shot and worked his way around for his own takedown and a 2-0 lead of his own. Wright steadily worked his way to a near fall and a 5-0 lead after the back points. The Lion junior then reset himself and tried to turn Prieto, but the Wolverine almost reversed Wright before escaping to a 5-1 deficit. Wright carried that lead into the second period and chose down to start. A quick escape led to a fast high double leg takedown and an 8-1 lead for the Nittany Lion. Wright cut Prieto loose and then locked him up at the shoulders and tossed him down of a fast pin, getting the call at the 4:46 mark.
197: True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, faced off against Wolverine Brian Chamberlain. The duo battled through a scoreless first two minutes before McIntosh got in on a low single. Chamberlain was able to counter, however, and took the Lion down for a 2-1 lead after a quick McIntosh escape. Leading 2-1, Chamberlain chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead. McIntosh countered a swift Chamberlain double and fought off a near takedown, keeping himself within striking distance at the 1:00 mark. McIntosh countered a Chamberlain shot, locked up his shoulders in an attempt to get a counter takedown, but could not finish off the move and trailed 3-1 after two periods. McIntosh chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-2 deficit. McIntosh worked Chamberlain's upper body, trying to create an opening, but the Wolverine was able to fight off two high singles and keep his lead. McIntosh dove behind the Wolverine at the :52 mark for a counter takedown and a 4-3 lead. The Nittany Lion freshman was able to keep control of the Chamberlain till the :07 mark before he got his first stall warning, forcing a reset. McIntosh kept control for the last seven seconds and posted a hard-fought 4-3 win.
285: Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at 285, took on UVU freshman Dustin Dennison. Wade slid down to a low double leg takedown and a 2-0 lead at the 2:17 mark. Wade used a power half to turn Dennis to the mat for three back points, then finished off the quick pin at the 1:15 mark.
125: True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 8 nationally at 125, took on Utah Valley's Colby Christensen. Megaludis used a very fast ankle pick to take Christensen down for an early 2-0 lead. Christensen escaped after the reset but Megaludis answered with a second takedown to lead 4-1 with 1:43 on the clock. After cutting Christensen loose, the Lion freshman added a third takedown and cut and led 6-3. Megaludis tacked on a fourth takedown and then rode Christensen out to lead 8-3 after one period. Christensen chose down to start the second and Megaludis cut him loose. The Lion freshman turned a low single into a takedown and a 10-4 lead with 1:25 on the clock. Megaludis cut Christensen again loose and picked up a sixth takedown with :20 on the clock. A short ride out gave the Lion a 12-5 lead heading into the third period. Megaludis chose neutral to start the third period. He took Christensen down twice more and cut him loose to lead 16-7, clinching the bonus point in the process. Megaludis added one final takedown and posted a 19-7 major decision.
133: Lion sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) took to the mat at 133 against Wolverine Blake Mangum. The tandem fought through a scoreless first period with neither man finding an opening to score. Tied 0-0, Martellotti chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Like the first period, neither wrestler was able to connect on any offense and Martellotti rode that 1-0 lead into the final period. Mangum chose down to start the third period but the Nittany Lion sophomore was able to keep control of the Wolverine for a minute, but Mangum worked his way into a near reversal, working through a scramble on the edge of the mat that finally resulted in a stalemate at the :48 mark with Martellotti still in control. Mangum escaped at the :40 mark but Martellotti had a minute-plus in riding time. Mangum took the Lion down, however, with a double leg at the :20 mark and posted a hard-fought 3-1 win to put UVU on the board.
141: Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) faced off against UVU's Avery Garner at 141. Pearsall countered a Garner headlock attempt for a quick takedown. The Nittany Lion tried to use a split scissors into back points but Garner was able to fight off the move initially. But Pearsall readjusted himself, turned the takedown into a cradle and three near fall points for a 5-0 lead with 1:20 on the clock. Pearsall then rode Garner out and led 5-0 with 2:46 riding time after one period. Garner chose neutral to start the second period but Pearsall countered a quick UVU double leg for his own takedown and a 7-0 lead with 1:30 on the clock. Pearsall maintained control of Garner, looking to lock another cradle for more back points. Pearsall locked up a far side cradle and picked up three more back points to lead 10-0 after two periods. The Lion chose neutral with a riding time point clinched but it was Garner who got the third period's first takedown, turning a high double into a score. Pearsall escaped to an 11-2 lead but Garner added a second takedown. Pearsall added an escape and the riding time point to post the 13-4 major with 3:55 in riding time.
149: No. 1 Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) battled No. 14 Josh Wilson of Utah Valley in a battle of ranked wrestlers at 149. The three-time All-American turned a high single leg into an early takedown and a 2-0 lead. Molinaro then began working from the top position, looking for a chance to turn the ranked Wolverine to build upon his lead. He kept control of Wilson for nearly 2:00 and went to the second period with a 2-0 lead and 1:53 in riding time. Wilson chose down to start the second period only to have Molinaro continue a punishing ride. Molinaro maintained his ride for the entire period, and while he did not pick up any back points, led by two with 3:52 in riding time after two periods. Molinaro, with a riding time point clinched, chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 3-0 lead. Molinaro used a head outside single for a second takedown and a 5-0 lead. Molinaro then rode Wilson out and posted a convincing 6-0 win with 4:35 riding time over the 14th-ranked Wilson.
157: Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 6 at 157, met Utah Valley's Napoleon Aniciete. Alton wasted little time notching the dual's first takedown, moving out to a 2-0 lead less than :30 into the bout. Aniciete escaped at the 1:54 mark, but Alton quickly worked his way into another single leg for a second takedown and a 4-1 lead. An Aniciete escape gave Alton a 4-2 lead after one period. Aniciete chose down to start the second period and escaped to a 4-3 deficit at the 1:30 mark. Alton drove through a high double leg to post his third takedown and move out to a 6-3 lead with :30 on the clock. Alton rode Aniciete out to lead by three with 2:11 in riding time after two. He chose down to start the third, quickly escaped, and notched a fourth takedown to up his lead to 9-4. Alton dove low on a shot that Aniciete countered for his own takedown. But Alton quickly reversed him for an 11-6 lead. He cut Aniciete loose with :30 on the clock, hoping to major him, but Aniciete got a final takedown. Alton picked up the riding time point and posted the 12-9 win.