Nov. 3, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Four members of the Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team took part in the 2012 U.S. Marine Corps All-Star Classic in Washington, D.C. All four of the Nittany Lions competing are returning All-Americans and ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 at their weights.
The dual, which is an exhibition meaning the results are not tallied in the wrestlers' win/loss record, was wrestled in front of a sold out capacity crowd at American University's Bender Arena.
At 125, No. 2 Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) took on No. 3 Jesse Delgado of Illinois. Delgado turned a low single into a takedown and a 2-0 lead at the 2:17 mark. Megaludis battled his way to an escape and a 2-1 deficit at 1:16. The duo battled evenly for the rest of the period and Megaludis trailed 2-1 after one period. The Lion sophomore chose down to start the second period and steadily worked for an escape. Delgado got hit with one stall warning before Megaludis escaped at 1:13. Delgado had built up 1:40 in riding time. Megaludis nearly scored at the end of the second period but Delgado turned the low single into a scramble that ended the period. Tied 2-2, Delgado chose down to start the third period and Megaludis maintained control long enough to kill the time advantage. Delgado escaped at the 1:14 mark to a 3-2 lead. Megaludis took another low single and once again, Delgado worked into control of the Lion's foot. The duo battled for nearly :30 as Megaludis worked for a go-ahead takedown and Delgado tried to hold on to his lead. Megaludis finished off the shot, working himself into the takedown and a 4-3 lead with just :06 left in the bout. A short ride-out later and Megaludis posted the 4-3 win.
Sophomore Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) ranked No. 2 at 157, met No. 3 Jason Welch of Northwestern. The duo battled through an even first minute with Alton setting the tempo and looking to connect on multiple shots. Welch was able to defend the efforts and keep the bout scoreless into the third minute of the opening stanza. The first period ended in a 0-0 tie and Alton took down to start the middle stanza. Alton quickly escaped, nearly turning into a reversal. Leading 2-0, Alton continued to set the pace, taking multiple shots that Welch was able to fight off. Welch took a shot at the :15 mark that Alton was able to defend and the Lion sophomore led 1-0 after two periods. Welch chose down to start the third period and escaped at the 1:41 mark to tie the bout at 1-1. Alton turned a low single into a takedown and near cradle at the :38 mark. While not finishing off the cradle, the move gave Alton a 3-1 lead. Welch would add a late escape but Alton posted the 3-2 win.
Junior David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio), ranked No. 2 at 165, met No. 1 Kyle Dake of Cornell. Taylor, the defending NCAA champion at 165, and Dake battled through an even two-plus minutes. Neither wrestler could find an opening to score and the bout moved into the second period tied 0-0. Dake chose down to start the second period. Taylor maintained control until the 1:10 mark, working up a :50 riding time edge before Dake escaped to a 1-0 lead. Taylor got in deep on a single leg and nearly scored at the end of the period. But Dake was able to fight off the effort and carry his 1-0 lead into the third period. Taylor chose down to start the third and quickly escaped to a 1-1 tie. He then continued to press the offense, forcing Dake towards the outside circle, looking for an opening to score. Taylor's pressure forced Dake into a stall warning and the bout moved into sudden victory tied 1-1. Neither wrestler scored in the first sudden victory period and action moved to the first tie breaker tied 1-1. Taylor could not break free of Dake's ride and action moved into the second tie-breaker still knotted up. Dake then took down and escaped midway through, taking a 2-1 lead. Taylor quickly turned in on a single, looking to grab a 3-2 win but Dake was able to back off the mat and wind out the clock, grabbing the 2-1 victory.
Senior Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), a three-time All-American and ranked No. 2 at his new weight of 197, met No. 3 Matt Wilps of Pittsburgh. Wright tried to strike for a quick pin with a shoulder throw, but Wilps was able to slide out of it and get a takedown to take an early 2-0 lead. Wilps controlled Wright for a minute before turning the Lion senior to his back for two near fall points. Wright was nonplussed, however, and reversed Wilps. He then turned the Panther to his back for three near fall points of his own and lead 5-4. Wilps was able to reverse Wright before the period ended and then rode him out to lead 6-5 after one furious period. Wright chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 6-6 tie. The duo then battled evenly for the rest of the period and action moved to the third tied at 6-6. Wilps chose down to start the third period and worked his way to a quick reversal. He then turned Wright for two near fall points and took a 10-6 lead with just over a minute left to wrestle. Wright escaped and pressed offensively, picking up a fast takedown to cut the lead to 10-9. He then rode Wilps long enough to erase the riding time advantage and trailed 11-9. Looking for the big finish, Wright looked to connect on another shoulder throw but Wilps slid out of trouble once again and caught Wright for a quick pin at the 6:50 mark.
Penn State will open up the 2012-13 regular season by hosting Lehigh on Friday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. For information on Penn State wrestling tickets simply call 1-800-NITTANY or check online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html. Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstateWREST and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2012-13 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.
2012 NWCA All-Star Classic, Penn State Agate
November 3, 2012 - Bender Arena - American University - Washington, D.C.
125: #2 Nico Megaludis PSU 4-3 dec. #3 Jesse Delgado ILL
157: #2 Dylan Alton PSU 3-2 dec. #3 Jason Welch NU
165: #1 Kyle Dake COR 2-1 (tb) dec. #2 David Taylor PSU
197: #3 Matt Wilps PITT WBF #2 Quentin Wright PSU (6:50)
Attendance: 3,376 (SRO Sell Out)
Records: Penn State 0-0, 0-0 Big Ten
Up Next for Penn State: Penn State hosts Lehigh in its 2012-13 season opener on Friday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall.