Feb. 19, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team closed out the 2011-12 dual meet season in rousing fashion, hammering No. 9 Pittsburgh 33-6 in front of yet another sold out Rec Hall crowd. Nearly 6,800 fans cheered as seniors Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) and Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio) closed out their career with decisive victories.
The dual began at 125, where true freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 8, sent the sold out crowd to its feet early, posting a 4-2 double-sudden victory decision over No. 15 Anthony Zanetta. Sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) gave up a late takedown and dropped a hard-fought 4-3 decision on riding time to Pitt's Shelton Mack at 133. Junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) then sent over 6,700 fans to their feet by staging a stunning third period comeback against Pittsburgh's Travis Shaffer. Pearsall was trailing 6-0 after two periods, cut the lead to 6-3 with a late takedown and then locked up a cradle for a pin with just :03 left (6:57), putting Penn State up 9-3.
Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149, then handled No. 14 Tyler Nauman, posting the 5-2 win with nearly 2:00 riding time. The win was the final dual meet in Rec Hall for Molinaro, who ends his PSU dual career with 55 wins, seven all-time at Penn State in dual meet victories. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 157, fought off Pitt junior Donnie Tasser for a 5-3 decision to give Penn State a 15-3 lead at the break.
All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, hammered Pitt's Tyler Wilps, posting a 20-9 major with 2:33 riding time to give Penn State a 19-3 lead. With All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) being held out as a precaution, red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) got the call at 174 once again and dominated three-time NCAA qualifier Ethan Headlee the tune of a 12-2 major with 2:19 riding time. Defending national champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, posted a convincing 12-2 major over Panther Andy Vaughan to put the Nittany Lions up 27-3.
True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, nearly upset No. 4 Matt Wilps, who entered the bout with a 26-3 record. Wilps forced a late stalemate on a McIntosh single leg with :09 left to escape with a 4-3 win. Senior heavyweight Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6, closed out his Penn State dual meet career with a pin of Pitt's Joel Yahner at the 3:56 mark. The pin is the 31st of Wade's career, moving him to fifth on Penn State's all-time list.
The Nittany Lions end the dual meet season with a 13-1 record and won the 2012 Big Ten Dual Meet co-title with a 7-1 mark in Big Ten duals. Pittsburgh ends its season 14-2. The Nittany Lions dominated the dual, winning eight of ten bouts and posting a decisive 22-5 edge in takedowns. Penn State got nine bonus points off two pins and three majors.
Penn State now preps for the 2012 Big Ten Championship Tournament. The defending champion Lions take part in the two day event at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., on March 3-4. Session one on Saturday, March 3, is set for 10 a.m.
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 33, #9 Pittsburgh 6
February 19, 2012 - Rec Hall - University Park, Pa.
125: #8 Nico Megaludis PSU dec. (2 sv) #15 Anthony Zanetti PITT, 4-2 3-0
133: Shelton Mack PITT dec. Frank Martellotti PSU, 4-3 3-3
141: Bryan Pearsall PSU pinned Travis Shaffer PITT, WBF (6:57) 9-3
149: #1 Frank Molinaro PSU dec. #12 Tyler Nauman, 5-2 12-3
157: #5 Dylan Alton PSU dec. Donnie Tasser PITT, 5-3 15-3
165: #1 David Taylor PSU maj. dec. Tyler Wilps PITT, 20-9 19-3
174: Matt Brown PSU maj. dec. Ethan Headlee PITT, 12-2 23-3
184: #2 Quentin Wright PSU maj. dec. Andy Vaughan PITT, 12-2 27-3
197: #4 Matt Wilps PITT dec. #12 Morgan McIntosh PSU, 4-3 27-6
285: #6 Cameron Wade PSU pinned Joel Yahner PITT, WBF (3:56) 33-6
Attendance: 6,755
Records: #2 Penn State 13-1, 7-1 B1G; #9 Pittsburgh 14-2
Up Next for Penn State: 2012 Big Ten Championships, Purdue University, March 3-4
BOUT-BY-BOUT:
125: True freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), ranked No. 8 at 125, met No. 15 Anthony Zanetta of Pittsburgh in the dual's first bout. The nationally ranked duo battled through a scoreless first two minutes, with neither man finding a chance to score early. Megaludis battled the fourth year wrestler, setting the tempo with single legs early. But Zanetta blocked off every shot, working defensively for the opening period 0-0 tie. Zanetta chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Megaludis nearly connected on a high single, but Zanetta's defense kept the Lion freshman from scoring. Zanetta spent the rest of the period simply tying Megaludis' shoulders up and working time off the clock. Megaludis chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. The Nittany Lion freshman continued to take shots while Zanetta worked his defense by locking up the Lion's shoulders. Zanetta took a shot at the 1:00 mark of the third period that Megaludis easily deflected, and action resumed in the center circle still tied 1-1. Megaludis got in on a high single with :15 left, but Zanetta was able to step out of trouble and send the bout to sudden victory tied 1-1. Megaludis continued to shoot, Zanetta continued to hang on his shoulders and the first sudden victory period went by scoreless. Zanetta chose down to start the first tied breaker and escaped at the :15 mark to take a 2-1 lead. Megaludis was down to start his tie breaker and he quickly escaped to a 2-2 tie, sending the bout into a second sudden victory. Megaludis got in on a low single leg and ended the match with :15 left, posting a 3-2 second SV decision.
133: Sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) battled Panther sophomore Shelton Mack at 133. Mack had the bout's first scoring chance, working in on a single leg at the 1:55 mark, but Martellotti was able to work out of trouble and keep the bout scoreless. Martellotti then connected on a high single to double leg takedown and led 2-0 at the :23 mark. He rode Mack out to lead 2-0 after one period. Mack chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 2-1 deficit. Neither wrestler was able to connect on anything offensively, with each man working low singles that the other was able to step away from. Leading 2-1, Martellotti chose down to start the third period. Martellotti chose down to start the third period and steadily worked his way to an escaped and a 3-1 lead. But the Lion sophomore was hit with a first stall warning in the process. Mack upped his pressure, forcing Martellotti into a slow shot that Mack was able to counter for a takedown and a 3-3 tie. Martellotti needed an escaped to seal a victory, but Mack was able to ride him out, build up more than a minute's riding time, and a 4-3 win.
141: Penn State junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) faced off at 141 against Pitt's Travis Shaffer. Shaffer blazed out to a quick takedown and two near fall points, bolting out to a 4-0 lead less than :30 into the bout. Shaffer then put together a strong ride, maintaining control of Pearsall for the remainder of the period. Trailing 4-0 and giving up 2:51 in riding time, Pearsall chose neutral to start the second. Shaffer was able to work through a high single leg for another takedown and a 6-0 lead with 1:45 on the clock. Shaffer was able to control Pearsall once again, tacking on another minute's riding time before finally getting hit with a stall warning. Shaffer maintained control, however, for another ride out and a 6-0 lead with a clinched riding time point (4:33) heading into the third. Pearsall countered a Shaffer shot, worked his way behind him and notched his takedown at the 1:20 mark, cutting the lead to 6-2. Pearsall frantically worked for a chance to turn Shaffer, but the Panther was able to fight off every turning attempt. Pearsall picked up a point on stalling. Pearsall continued to work, locking up a cradle with just :08 left and getting pin at the 6:57 mark, with just :03 on the clock.
149: Senior All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 149 and wrestling in the final dual meet of his career, met No. 12 Tyler Nauman of Pitt in the dual's marquee match-up. Nauman got in on a high single early, but Molinaro was able to counter the move and force a stalemate at the 2:04 mark with the score still 0-0. Another quick low single by Nauman was kicked way by the three-time All-American and action resumed in the center circle. Nauman worked in on a third shot, and Molinaro countered, gaining control of the Panther's shoulders and keeping the bout scoreless with 1:00 left in the opening period. Molinaro got hit with a first stall warning, was quickly taken down with just :15 left, then escaped. Not to enter the second period trailing, Molinaro used a high double for a last second takedown and led 3-2 after one period. Molinaro chose down to start the middle stanza and quickly escaped to a 4-2 lead. Molinaro upped his offensive pressure, forcing Nauman towards the edge of the mat for the rest of the second period. Nauman chose down to start the third period and was immediately broken down by Molinaro. The Lion senior locked up Nauman's left leg and began working for a chance to turn the Panther. While Nauman was able to belly out, Molinaro built up over 1:00 riding time. Molinaro rode Nauman out and, with the riding time point, posted the 5-2 win.
157: Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), ranked No. 5 at 157, took on Pittsburgh junior Donnie Tasser. Alton wasted no time in taking Tasser down for an early 2-0 lead. Tasser worked his way to an escaped at the 2:00 mark. Alton continued to set the tempo, shooting high on Tasser's right leg. But Tasser was able to defend each Alton shot and keep the bout close two minutes in. Alton scrambled through a high single for a second takedown and a 4-1 lead. A short ride out allowed Alton to lead 4-1 heading into the second period. Alton chose down to start the second period. Alton worked for an escaped, with Tasser maintaining control for a minute before Alton escaped to a 5-1 lead. Alton fought off two Tasser shots in the last :30 and led 5-1 heading into the third period (riding time was not a factor). Alton was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty at the end of the second period and led 5-2. Tasser chose down to start the third, quickly escaped and cut the lead to 5-3. Alton fought off Tasser's pressure for the first minute. He then got called for a first stall warning at the :20 mark. The Lion freshman then held the Pitt junior off for the final seconds and posted a hard-fought 5-3 win.
165: All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 1 at 165, met Panther Tyler Wilps. Taylor came out of the gates fast, setting a fast tempo from the get go and forcing Wilps backwards for :90 before connecting on a high single and a 2-0 lead. Taylor tried to connect on a cradle but Wilps was able to step out of trouble for an escaped. Taylor, however, was undaunted, sliding behind Wilps for another takedown. The Lion sophomore cut him loose, took him down again and cut him once more to lead 6-3 with :40 left in the period. Taylor continued to pressure Wilps, picking up a fourth takedown with :30 on the clock. Taylor rode Wilps out to carry that 8-3 lead into the second period. Wilps chose down to start the second period and was cut loose by Taylor. Wilps was then called for a stall and Taylor then rolled through a high double for another takedown and a 10-4 lead at the 1:26 mark. Wilps escaped again, only to be taken down once more by Taylor with 1:05 on the clock. Taylor cut Wilps to a 12-6 deficit and then rolled behind him for another takedown and a 14-6 lead with :12 left. Leading 14-6 with 2:30 in riding time, Taylor chose down to start the third period. The All-American escaped to a 15-6 lead and then worked Wilps' shoulders to the ground for another takedown and a 17-6 edge. With the riding time point clinched, Taylor cut Wilps loose once again and notched another takedown for a 19-7 lead with :50 on the clock. Needing back points to secure a five-point technical fall, Taylor was not able to turn Wilps and gave up a reversal on a last turn attempt. With 2:33 riding time, Taylor posted the 20-9 major.
174: All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 174, was held out as a precaution, allowing red-shirt freshman Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) to meet Pittsburgh senior Ethan Headlee. Brown pressured the Pitt senior, a three-time NCAA qualifier, from the start and picked up a takedown on a scramble at the 2:08 mark. Keeping control of Headlee, Brown dominated the action from the top position, building up a sizeable riding time edge before Headlee escaped to a 2-1 deficit with :44 on the clock. Leading 2-1, Brown chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 3-1 lead (with 1:07 riding time). He then gained control of Headlee's ankle with 1:20 left, but the Panther was once again able to work his way out of bounds to keep the bout close. Headlee, a fifth-year senior, was called for a first stall warning with :40 left in the second stanza. Brown then used a swift move to work his way into a near pinning combination as the period ended, picking up a takedown and two near fall points at the buzzer to lead 7-1 after two. Brown chose down to start the third period and quickly reversed Headlee for a 9-1 lead. Headlee escaped with 1:02 on the clock, but Brown quickly took him down once more, moving out to an 11-2 lead with :35 on the clock. Brown then rode Headlee out to post the 12-2 major with 2:19 in riding time.
184: All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), ranked No. 2 at 184, took on Andy Vaughan. Wright wasted no time in taking Vaughan down, using a single leg to take a 2-0 lead at the 2:15 mark. Wright then turned Vaughan to his back for two near fall points and a 4-0 lead midway through the period. Vaughan escaped to a 4-1 deficit, but Wright used another swift trip to take the Panther down with :05 left to lead 6-1 after the opening period. Wright chose down to start the second stanza and quickly escaped to a 7-1 lead. Wright spent the second period, looking for a chance to lock up a throw. He blasted through a high double with :35 on the clock to move out to a 9-1 lead, a lead he carried into the third period. Vaughan chose top to start the third period, but Wright quickly reversed the Panther for an 11-1 lead with 1:20 on the clock. Vaughan escaped at the 1:05 mark but Wright coasted to the 12-2 major decision.
197: True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), ranked No. 12 at 197, met No. 4 Matt Wilps in one of three battles of ranked grapplers. The ranked duo battled through a scoreless opening period, with neither wrestler finding an opening to score. Wilps, a junior, chose down to start the second period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. McIntosh got in deep on Wilps' right ankle, forcing a scramble on the Nittany Lion logo that Wilps turned into a takedown and a 3-0 lead with 1:04 on the clock. McIntosh used a stunning roll to reverse Wilps with :20 left and, after a quick Wilps escape, trailed 4-2 after two periods. McIntosh chose down to start the third period and quickly escaped to a 4-3 deficit with riding time, at this point, not a factor. McIntosh shot low at the :50 mark and nearly connected, then skirted away from a Wilps counter. Trailing by one, McIntosh gained control of Wilps left leg and forced a scramble in the middle of the mat that nearly led to a takedown. But Wilps forced a stalemate with :09 left and then held McIntosh off to escape with a 4-3 win.
285: Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), ranked No. 6 at 285 and wrestling in the final dual meet of his Penn State career, took on Panther Joel Yahner. Wade countered a Yahner low single and worked his way to a stalemate with the match still scoreless and 2:05 on the clock. Wade took Yahner down with a high single at the 1:38 mark, taking a 2-0 lead. The Nittany Lion senior forced Yahner into a stall warning and then spent the next 1:38 looking for a turn. The ride out gave Wade a 2-0 lead after one period and Yahner chose neutral to start the second stanza. Wade quickly took Yahner down turned him to his back. After a brief bit of work, Wade got the pin at the 3:56 mark, ending his Penn State career with a pin and bringing nearly 7,000 fans to their fit.