March 15, 2012
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team began its quest for a second straight NCAA title today in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Wrestling Championships in St. Louis. Penn State sits in first place after session one in the Scottrade Center. The Nittany Lions went 8-1 and rolled to 9.5 bonus points in the process.
Nittany Lion true freshman Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), the No. 10 seed at 125, got Penn State off to a hot start with a 13-5 major over Wyoming's Michael Martinez, a fifth-year senior. Lion sophomore Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was pinned by No. 1 seed Jordan Oliver of Oklahoma State in his first match-up at 133 at the 2:06 mark.
Three-time All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), the No. 1 seed at 149, picked up a bonus point with a dominating 9-0 major over Cornell's Chris Villalonga. Molinaro racked up 4:27 in riding time. Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), the No. 7 seed at 157, continued Penn State's bonus point parade with an impressive 12-4 major over Columbia's Jake O'Hara in his NCAA debut.
All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), the top seed at 165, made short work of his first match, pinning Bucknell's Corey Lear at the 1:40 mark. Taylor notched a quick takedown and then rolled the Bison to his shoulders for the fall. All-American Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), the top seed at 174, matched Taylor's impressive effort, getting a quick pin over Rider's Jim Resnick as well. Ruth notched two takedowns in the first period, turning the second into a cradle and a pin at the 1:42 mark.
Defending National Champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), the No. 6 seed at 184, rolled to an 11-0 major over North Carolina's Thomas Ferguson, using a late takedown and three near fall points to get the bonus point. True freshman Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), unseeded at 197, made his NCAA debut in fine fashion, turning Oregon State's Taylor Meeks to his back twice in the third period and rolling to a 9-3 win. Senior Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio), the No. 6 seed at heavyweight, closed out Penn State's outstanding first day with a 17-2 technical fall over Clarion's Quintas McCorkle. Wade got a takedown with :04 left and picked up the riding time point for the 17-2 win.
All nine Nittany Lions will be in action tonight. Penn State's eight winners will see action in tonight's second round while Martellotti will begin the second session in the first round of consolations. The Nittany Lions rolled up an important 9.5 bonus points in going 8-1 on the day. Penn State had two pins, one tech fall and four majors.
The second sessions begins tonight, Thursday, at 6:30 p.m. CENTRAL/7:30 p.m. Eastern. The evening session is being broadcast live on ESPN3 and will feature the second round in the championship bracket as well as the first round of consolations. The three-day event runs March 15-17 in St. Louis' Scottrade Center.
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. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package. 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.
2012 NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS - Top 10 Team Standings Session 1
Thursday, March 15, 2012 - Scottrade Center - St. Louis, Mo.
1: PENN STATE - 25.5
2: Minnesota - 25.0
3: Oklahoma State - 17.5
4: Cornell - 17.0
4: Iowa - 17.0
6: Illinois - 14.0
7: Nebraska - 12.0
8: Edinboro - 11.0
8: Ohio State - 11.0
8: Oklahoma - 11.0
8: Purdue - 11.0
The following is a weight-by-weight breakdown/agate of Penn State's tournament to date:
125: Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), Fr. - #10 seed - 25-7 overall
1st Rd: W, 13-5 maj. dec. Michael Martinez, Wyoming
2nd Rd: Tonight
True freshman Nico Megaludis opened up his first NCAA Championship tournament with an impressive win over fifth-year senior Michael Martinez of Wyoming. Megaludis dominated the action from start to finish and posted the 13-5 major decision, picking up an early bonus point for Penn State.
133: Frank Martellotti (Pittsburgh, Pa.), So. - unseeded - 8-10 overall
1st Rd: LBF #1 Jordan Oliver, Oklahoma State (2:06)
Cns 1: Tonight
Sophomore Frank Martellotti made his NCAA Championship debut against the tournament's No. 1 seed, Oklahoma State's Jordan Oliver. Martellotti got taken down early by the top seed and then pinned at the 2:06 mark.
149: Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.), Sr. - #1 seed - 29-0 overall
1st Rd: W, 9-0 maj. dec. Chris Villalonga, Cornell
2nd Rd: Tonight
Top seed Frank Molinaro began his quest for an NCAA title and his fourth All-America honor with a dominating 9-0 major over Cornell's Chris Villalonga at 149. Molinaro recorded three takedowns, an escape, a stall point and a riding time point off 4:07 in time to coast to the win.
157: Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.), Fr. - #7 seed - 25-5 overall
1st Rd: W, 12-4 maj. dec. Jake O'Hara, Columbia
2nd Rd: Tonight
Red-shirt freshman Dylan Alton made his NCAA Championship debut in fine fashion with a dominating 12-4 major over Columbia's Jake O'Hara. Alton rolled up 3:01 in riding time for the important team bonus point.
165: David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), So. - #1 seed - 28-0 overall
1st Rd: WBF over Corey Lear, Bucknell (1:40)
2nd Rd: Tonight
Top-seed David Taylor opened up his run towards NCAA glory with a quick pin of Bucknell's Corey Lear. Taylor notched an early takedown and the turned the Bison to his shoulders for a quick first period fall at the 1:40 mark.
174: Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), So. - #1 seed - 27-0 overall
1st Rd: WBF over Jim Resnick, Rider
2nd Rd: Tonight
Top-seed Ed Ruth began his quest for an NCAA crown with a quick pin over Rider's Jim Resnick. Ruth turned his second takedown of the first period into a cradle and got the fall at the 1:42 mark.
184: Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), Jr. - #6 seed - 27-3 overall
1st Rd: W, 11-0 maj. dec. Thomas Ferguson, North Carolina
2nd Rd: Tonight
Defending National Champion Quentin Wright began the defense of his NCAA title with a resounding 11-0 major decision over North Carolina's Thomas Ferguson. Wright used a late takedown and three near fall points to collect the bonus point.
197: Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.), Fr. - unseeded - 18-8 overall
1st Rd: W, 9-3 dec. Taylor Meeks, Oregon State
2nd Rd: Tonight
True freshman Morgan McIntosh made his first NCAA Championship appearance against Oregon State's Taylor Meeks. McIntosh turned the Beaver to his back twice in the third period for three-point near falls and rolled to a 9-3 win in his NCAA tournament debut.
285: Cameron Wade (Twinsburg, Ohio.), Sr. - #6 seed - 27-4 overall
1st Rd: W, 17-2 tech fall over Quintas McCorkle, Clarion (TF; 7:00)
2nd Rd: Tonight
Senior Cameron Wade, the No. 6 seed at heavyweight, began the 2012 NCAA Championships with a superb 17-2 technical fall over Clarion's Quintas McCorkle. Wade picked up a last second takedown and, with the riding time point, picked up the tech fall at the 7:00 mark for 1.5 team bonus points.